PARIS - Paralympic superstar Bebe Vio was denied gold for a second time on Thursday as Italy had to settle for a wheelchair fencing team bronze medal.
Two-time individual champion Vio was defeated in her semi-final of the women's foil on Wednesday in one of the biggest shocks of these Games.
The Italian, who uses prosthetic arms having had all four limbs amputated as a child when she contracted meningitis, managed to salvage a bronze medal in that event.
On Thursday, Vio's hopes of taking advantage of a second opportunity to win gold in the team event were dashed as Italy lost 45-41 by China in a hard-fought semi-final contest.
The Italian went on to win a bronze medal by beating Hong Kong and Vio congratulated her teammates in her customary euphoric style, but despite increasing her overall Paralympic medal total to six these Games have undoubtedly been a disappointment for the 27-year-old.