Arianna Talamona's Story: How Disability Can Become an Opportunity

Arianna Talamona is a Paralympic swimmer and a new Aria Ambassador.

At the latest Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, Arianna won a silver medal, which added to her many international achievements in her sport. In fact, she started swimming when she was very young, but it was only at 14 years old that she found the strength to start competing at a national level. Results were not long in coming, and from then on, her desire to swim and compete never stopped.

In this interview, Arianna talks about her relationship with disability and with the wheelchair, which has never been a limit for her, but rather a means to move more freely. She has a very rare inherited disease called Strümpell-Lorrain syndrome, which forced her to move around in a wheelchair since childhood. Her story teaches us that disability should not be seen as an obstacle but as an opportunity to discover new paths and overcome difficulties. Even when it seems that everything is against us, we can always find a solution and move forward.

But how did Arianna manage to overcome difficult times? How did she find the strength to move forward and become a Paralympic champion?

First and foremost, Arianna has always had the support of her family and friends, who encouraged her to pursue her dreams and never give up. In addition, she learned to focus on the positive things in her life and not to be discouraged by difficulties. But what made the real difference for Arianna was her mindset. In fact, she has always believed in herself and her abilities and saw her disability as a part of herself but not as a definition of who she is. She accepted her situation and learned to live with it, but at the same time, she always sought to improve herself and achieve new goals.

I want to make it clear that disability is not a characteristic that defines us, like the colour of our hair and eyes, and to make society realize that disability is not so "disabling" after all. If there were fewer barriers or prejudices in the world, would disability even exist?

In addition to swimming, for Arianna, her work as a content creator on social media is of great importance. Through her social channels, Arianna shares her daily life, experiences, challenges, and victories. Through this medium, she has the opportunity to inspire and motivate many people, speaking about disability using a positive language of inclusion to the extent that she has been named one of the 150 Creators of Tomorrow by Meta.

Arianna has received her new Aria 1.0 wheelchair. In the new version, Aria 1.0 is a super-lightweight fixed frame wheelchair made of completely welded aluminium with a standard Aria postural backrest to ensure the best comfort. The frame is characterized by a front taper to best contain the legs and a rear ergonomic seat design to optimize pelvic stability and facilitate propulsion. The super-lightweight Aria 1.0 wheelchair can significantly improve the quality of life for those who use it, offering greater comfort and making movements quicker and less tiring. Its lightness and manoeuvrability make it ideal for daily use.

In conclusion, Arianna Talamona's story shows us that disability should not be seen as a limit, but as an opportunity to discover new paths and overcome difficulties. Thanks to her positive mindset!"