Giusy Versace is, by her own admission, a “troublemaker.” But this time, he swears, he’s not the only one to blame. For example: “I haven’t lost the habit of putting on prosthetics at 7 a.m. and taking them off at 1 a.m.” Not exactly the best for a double amputee since 2005, after a car accident on the Salerno-Reggio Calabria road Both of her legs were completely severed. He was 28 years old. He could have legitimately felt sorry for himself. And instead, he didn’t waste a single day from those who came later. She was the first Italian athlete to run with a double amputation of the lower limbs, she was the first competitor without legs to win an Italian edition of “Dancing with the Stars”, she jumped from the Campanile of San Marco, she did water skiing Roller, she published two books, she went on a theater tour. Among other things, she is a parliamentarian: she is already a member of parliament and now a senator of the republic. It formed the last parliamentary intergroup on disabilities.
Giusy, first of all: how are you? We saw his photos on Instagram from the Gemelli Polyclinic in Rome.
“Let’s say, a bit like Fantozzi with the cloud on his head… I forget that I have two false legs and always want to do things that even mere mortals don’t do.” As my brother says: To stop me, they have to admit me to the hospital.”
When did it happen?
“25. September, Monday. I was supposed to go to Lourdes with my mother for the 120th anniversary of Unitalsi, the association I volunteer for. Appointment in Fiumicino: She from Reggio Calabria and I from Milan.
And instead?
“I woke up with some kind of orange in a tree stump. It’s been giving me problems since August. I had my stumps operated on three years ago at the CTO in Milan because unfortunately I still have splinters from the accident and they get infected from time to time. So I sent a photo to my doctor and he told me to get an x-ray immediately.
That’s how it ended with Gemelli.
“Yes, and the tram to Lourdes was used for the hospital stay. My heroic mother quickly stopped by my home in Rome to pick up a few other things and then contacted me. They operated on me on Thursday. Yesterday (Monday, editor’s note) my brother picked me up and took me back to Milan. Mom is here to help me: without her I couldn’t do anything.
And Lourdes?
“I will come back as soon as possible to thank you again. Our Lady did not want me to go. Think of the blessing of having my mother with me.
– Giusy Versace, former Paralympic athlete
When did you become involved with Unitalsi?
“In 2006, a year after the accident. I went as a pilgrim. Since I’m not a lizard, I know my legs won’t grow back, so I didn’t want a miracle, I just wanted to say thank you: I was still alive. Then I finally cried and asked out loud: Why me? But I immediately changed my perspective: Why not me? Then I felt useless and asked the person responsible for Calabria, Amelia Mazzitelli, who unfortunately no longer exists, to help the Unitalsi volunteers.”
What did you force her to do?
“He assigned me to the refectory. I had to make coffee, spread Nutella on toast, play cards with the sick. I felt like I hadn’t done anything, but at the end these guys thanked me for the time, the smiles, the jokes. So I understood the value of my work and I haven’t missed a year since.”
Will he calm down now?
“The doctors screwed me over. They told me I had to live part time. How do you do that?”
Enjoy your friend! Is he still the same, Antonio Magra?
“And who will give him up? Holy now! Where can I find someone like him? I’m full of adrenaline, I throw myself into things, I would leave someone like that in a heartbeat. I’ve been expecting it for days.
Why don’t you get married?
“He lives in Catania and I live in Milan, maybe that’s why we’re still together. We never faced the problem, it was never the priority. And I never felt the biological clock, I’m too busy with life, I don’t like planning things. But of course you can never say never.”
How long will he return to the Senate?
“I navigate by sight: I try, with patience, to find friends again, that old friend that I haven’t seen in a long time. I was moved to see all the messages of love I received. I haven’t finished reading it yet.
Did the three police officers who helped her on the highway 18 years ago also write to you?
“Yes. They said to me: But will you stop making trouble?
How long will he recover?
“I have a nice wound, I don’t know when I’ll be able to use the prosthesis again. I’m afraid I may have to do it again too. Maybe in a month, in a month and a half.
Does he promise to slow down?
“Eh, I have to! I have to learn to listen to my body more. But I can’t promise to pull the handbrake. Life is too beautiful!”.