Xenia Francesca Palazzo (born 29 April 1998) is an Italian Paralympic swimmer of Russian descent who competes in international level events, She competed at the 2016 Summer Paralympics,[1] and 2020 Summer Paralympics, in Women's 100m Backstroke - S8, Women's 200 individual medley SM8 winning a silver medal, Women's 4×100 freestyle relay P34 winning a gold medal, Women's 400 freestyle S8 winning a bronze medal and in Women's 50 metre freestyle S8, winning a bronze medal.[2]

Xenia Palazzo
Palazzo awarded by the Italian President Sergio Mattarella at Quirinale Palace in 2021.
Personal information
Full nameXenia Francesca Palazzo
National teamItaly
Born (1998-04-29) 29 April 1998 (age 26)
Palermo, Italy
Height1.69 m (5 ft 7 in)
Sport
SportParalympic swimming
DisabilityHypoxic ischemic encephalopathy
Disability classS8
Medal record
Paralympic swimming
Representing  Italy
Event 1st 2nd 3rd
Paralympics 1 1 3
World Championships 3 4 1
European Championships 5 4 2
Total 9 9 6
Paralympic Games
Gold medal – first place 2024 Paris Mixed 4×100 m freestyle relay 34pts
Silver medal – second place 2020 Tokyo 200 m indiv. medley SM8
Bronze medal – third place 2020 Tokyo 50 m freestyle S8
Bronze medal – third place 2020 Tokyo 400 m freestyle S8
Bronze medal – third place 2024 Paris 400 m freestyle S8
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 2022 Madeira 100 m freestyle S8
Gold medal – first place 2022 Madeira 100 m backstroke S8
Gold medal – first place 2022 Madeira 200 m ind. medley SM8
Silver medal – second place 2019 London 400 m freestyle S8
Silver medal – second place 2022 Madeira 400 m freestyle S8
Silver medal – second place 2022 Madeira 50 m freestyle S8
Silver medal – second place 2023 Manchester 100 m backstroke S8
Bronze medal – third place 2023 Manchester 200m medley SM8
European Championships
Gold medal – first place 2018 Dublin 400 m freestyle S8
Gold medal – first place 2018 Dublin 200 m medley SM8
Silver medal – second place 2018 Dublin 50 m freestyle S8
Silver medal – second place 2018 Dublin 100 m freestyle S8

Life

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She was born with hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy which has caused her to not have enough oxygen and blood due to disseminated intravascular coagulation and had a brain haemorrhage which has resulted in quadriplegia mainly on the right side of her body.[3][4]

Her highest achievements are becoming a World silver medalist and a European champion, in 200 meter medley and 400 meter freestyle.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Xenia Francesca Palazzo - Swimming | Paralympic Athlete Profile". International Paralympic Committee. Retrieved 27 August 2021.
  2. ^ "Swimming PALAZZO Xenia Francesca". Tokyo 2020 Paralympics. Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Archived from the original on 27 August 2021. Retrieved 27 August 2021.
  3. ^ "Xenia Francesca Palazzo - IPC Athlete Bio". ipc.infostradasports.com. 8 September 2020. Archived from the original on 4 September 2021.
  4. ^ "Biografia". Xenia Palazzo - Personal Website (in Italian). 8 September 2020.
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