Francesco Bettella: Paralympic Swimming Champion to the CYBATHLON BCI Race
30th January 2025Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) Race team WHi from Italy with their pilot Francesco Bettella during CYBATHLON 2024
Francesco Bettella, a Paralympic champion, researcher, and advocate for assistive technologies, once again showcased his determination and versatility at CYBATHLON 2024. Competing in the Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) Race as the pilot for the WHi Team, Francesco demonstrated the strength of collaboration between technology and human willpower. This marks Francesco’s third participation in CYBATHLON, having been part of every edition since its launch in 2016.
A Champion in the Pool and Beyond
Francesco, born in Padua, Italy, was diagnosed at the age of two with Charcot-Marie-Tooth Syndrome, a genetic disorder causing nerve degeneration and muscle atrophy in the extremities. Despite these challenges, Francesco turned to swimming at the age of three, a passion that has driven his life ever since. Over the years, his commitment to excellence earned him two silver medals at the 2016 Rio Paralympic Games, participation in Tokyo 2020, and most recently, silver and bronze medals in the 50m and 100m backstroke at the 2024 Paris Paralympics.
As a seasoned athlete and coach for the Italian Paralympic swimming team, Francesco values the discipline and teamwork required to succeed. “Swimming taught me the importance of setting goals and achieving them. The process of training, competing, and sharing the experience with others has shaped me as a person,” he reflects.
BCI Race: A New Kind of Challenge
At CYBATHLON, Francesco embraces a completely different challenge: mastering the BCI Race, which involves controlling a virtual avatar using only brain signals. For someone used to physical challenges in the pool, the mental demands of this event are unique.
“Swimming allows me to channel my emotions and use adrenaline to enhance my performance. In the BCI Race, it’s about staying calm, controlling my thoughts, and giving precise commands,” Francesco explains. The event requires intense focus and mental discipline, as pilots navigate tasks such as moving a virtual wheelchair or guiding a key into a lock.
Francesco’s success is made possible by the close collaboration with his WHi Team, a neurorobotics group from the University of Padua led by Professor Luca Tonin. Their work focuses on non-invasive brain-computer interfaces, utilizing advanced machine learning algorithms to decode brain signals for practical use. “Francesco’s feedback as a pilot has been invaluable,” says Tonin. “He brings the unique perspective of someone who not only understands physical challenges but also thrives under competitive pressure.”
Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) Race team WHi from Italy with their pilot Francesco Bettella during CYBATHLON 2024
Combining Research and Personal Growth
Outside of sports, Francesco is deeply invested in academic research. After earning degrees in public health innovation and genomics, he now pursues a career in bioinformatics and teaching. His background in research gives him a unique edge at CYBATHLON, where problem-solving and innovation are key.
“Collaborating with engineers and researchers has been an incredible experience,” Francesco shares. “As a researcher myself, I understand that setbacks are part of the process. Testing, adjusting, and refining the system with my team has made our work even more meaningful.”
Francesco also credits his coach and the broader Italian swimming community for instilling in him the values of teamwork, resilience, and adaptability. These qualities have carried over into his work with the WHi Team, where collaboration and mutual respect drive their success.
Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) Race team WHi from Italy with their pilot Francesco Bettella during CYBATHLON 2024
CYBATHLON: A Platform for Inclusion
For Francesco, CYBATHLON is more than a competition; it’s a platform to raise awareness about disabilities and the transformative potential of assistive technologies. “This event allows us to showcase what’s possible when technology and human determination come together,” he says.
At CYBATHLON 2024, Francesco’s calm demeanor and focused performance earned him and the WHi Team a silver medal in the BCI Race, adding another accolade to his impressive list of achievements. Beyond the podium, his journey at CYBATHLON highlights the power of inclusion, innovation, and perseverance.
As Francesco looks ahead, he remains committed to advancing assistive technologies and inspiring others to pursue their dreams. Whether in the pool or the lab, Francesco Bettella continues to redefine what’s possible for individuals with disabilities, proving that determination and collaboration can break any barrier.
Watch Francesco in Action
Relive Francesco Bettella’s inspiring performance at CYBATHLON 2024 in the BCI Final Race video and the CYBATHLON 2024 Highlights video, showcasing the extraordinary moments that made this edition truly unforgettable.
Highlights of CYBATHLON 2024: Witness Excellence
The third edition of CYBATHLON is now part of history. Held from October 25–27, 2024, at the SWISS Arena in Zürich, the event brought together 67 teams from 24 nations to compete in eight disciplines, showcasing state-of-the-art assistive technologies designed to help complete everyday tasks.
WHi - Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) Race CYBATHLON 2024
This video features pilot Francesco Bettella from the WHi team from Italy who participated in the Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) Race in the CYBATHLON 2024. More specifically, it shows how the pilot completed ten designated tasks in the race.