Bosio builds confidence amidst tough competition at Paris 2024

Italy captain Francesca Bosio is using her experience and leadership to instill confidence within Italy’s sitting volleyball team as they face tough competition at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. With a strong background in both volleyball and sitting volleyball, Bosio is guiding her team through challenging matches with a focus on growth.

Bosio, who transitioned to sitting volleyball in 2015 after a successful career in volleyball, has been a central figure in Italy’s rise in the sitting volleyball. Her parents, Giampietro Bosio and Monica Dal Corso, were both national-level volleyball players in Italy, and Francesca grew up immersed in the sport.

She quickly adapted to sitting volleyball, and her leadership skills have been recognized, particularly when she was named Most Valuable Player (MVP) at the 2023 European Championship in Caorle, Italy.

At Paris 2024, Bosio is leading her team through a tough pool that includes strong teams like China and USA. Despite the challenges, she remains focused on improving with each match. “We are getting better with every game that we play against the strong teams. The only way to get better is to play against teams that are stronger. This really helps us,” Bosio explained.

Bosio also emphasises the importance of maintaining team morale. “I am trying my best as the captain to cheer and motivate my team, to make them confident that we can get there,” she said.

Reflecting on the Paralympic experience, Bosio appreciates the unique atmosphere of the Games, particularly with the presence of supporters in the stadium. “This time we have friends and family cheering and the public here in the stadium. It’s an amazing experience here in my second time in the Paralympic Games,” she noted.

The energy from the crowd adds to the intensity of the competition, and Bosio thrives on the challenge. “It’s a crazy sensation when you’re on the court and you have all the people cheering,” she added.

Bosio’s approach to competition is shaped by her understanding that facing strong opponents is essential for growth.

“I really love playing against these teams because they really challenge us, and I really love to be challenged,” she said. “Maybe we cannot beat them now, but we are working on it along the right path.”

Photo: WPV/Sinisa Kanizaj.