Paralympic Swimmer Manuel Bortuzzo Denounces Broken Wheelchair on Flight

Paralympic swimming champion Manuel Bortuzzo has publicly denounced the damage to his wheelchair during a flight, describing the experience as the "worst flight of my life."

Bortuzzo took to Instagram to express his frustration, stating that the incident, which occurred on his return journey from Africa, involved unacceptable treatment from both cabin and airport ground staff in Addis Ababa. He shared that many followers reached out with similar stories, reinforcing his belief that such incidents "MUST NOT happen."

"A wheelchair for those who are forced to use it is something too important and delicate and must be treated with respect and care. It is our legs, our freedom," Bortuzzo wrote in a follow-up post. He stressed that it is "not acceptable" for wheelchairs to be treated with such "superficiality" in 2026.

While Bortuzzo acknowledged his own fortune in being able to replace the damaged chair, he questioned the plight of others who might only have one. He shared his personal history, becoming wheelchair-bound after being shot in the back in 2019, an incident unrelated to him but resulting in paralysis. Two individuals were definitively convicted for the retaliatory shooting.