In 2013 I went to the USA to search something for my spinal cord injury. I went there in Miami, you know the Chris Reeve Foundation, the old Superman, but there is not a clinic way for the spinal cord injury. I began my new life fully in that moment. In that moment I understood that my life was on the wheelchair, but it’s good anyway.

There is a big tragedy in my life that is not the accident, but is the loss of my first nephew. I have seen her die, so in that moment I understood that it’s not how you are, this is just a condition. Every day I have the gift from my Lord to do all that I want, and this is the most important thing of my life.

Now I am 45, so I am not so young for this sport. I think that I am near the end of my career. I travel all over the world with my coach, because after my accident I reunited with an old friend named Francesco Barchielli. He is also a coach in Florence and in Italy for other athletes. From 2013 to now we worked together because in 2013 I began again to compete.

I became a professional athlete in the USA, in the NPC, in Louisiana, in Pro Qualifier, then I won also a European Championship in Spain, in Santa Susana. Then I earned my pro card and now this is my life, because with the time I wanted just to find again my half-body.

But at the end I have done eight Mr. Olympia, three times I placed the second, I had 13 Arnold Classic and three times I won Arnold Classic. Arnold Schwarzenegger gave me the prize, the trophy. My life, yes, in the first part of my new life, maybe it was a tragedy but at the end it was a good story to tell to the people.

Today to be an athlete, a professional athlete, is not the only my work but I go in the schools. I make some projects also with a neuro linguistic programmation. I speak in many conferences in Italy and not only in Italy.

I think that we have to live our life because every day we can choose who we want to be.