At 15, Edoardo is training for a future that could take him from the swimming pool to the Paralympics – and one day, into the world of Formula 1 engineering. 

It’s an ambitious path for a high school student at the International School of Como in Italy, but Edoardo’s goals are rooted in the same qualities that define his everyday life: curiosity, discipline and a steady belief that possibility is an open swim lane. He speaks three languages, balances school with competitive swimming, music and motorsports and is already building the life he dreams about. 

“I’m making space for my future,” says Edoardo. “I’m training with hopes of competing in the Paralympics; whether in Los Angeles in 2028 or Brisbane in 2032. But I also dream of someday working in motorsport, maybe even with a Formula 1 team.” 

BioMarin’s Making Space series spotlights people like Edoardo – individuals, caregivers and advocates of individuals living with skeletal conditions whose daily lives reflect drive and determination. 

Edoardo trains almost every day, finding balance between school, sports and creativity. Beyond swimming, he spends his free time DJing, cycling and practicing on his racing simulator, always looking for something new to learn. He listens to everything from piano music to emerging Italian rap artists. 

Swimming has become both a discipline and a source of freedom for him.  

“In the water, he feels strong and independent,” says his mother, Isabella. “He’s free from assumptions and full of focus. When he swims, listens to music or talks about cars, his joy fills our home.”

Behind Edoardo’s quiet confidence is a family encouraging and supporting his ambitions.  

“As his mom, I’m making space for his full potential – his right to be seen as an athlete and a teenager, not a diagnosis,” Isabella says. “Our goal has always been to help him see himself as capable and fully part of the world around him.”

Edoardo’s two younger brothers, Lorenzo and Filippo, along with his mom and his father, Denis, encourage him to pursue new experiences, celebrate progress and keep pushing toward what’s possible.  

The family has become deeply involved with Association for Information and Study of Achondroplasia Conference (AISAC), Italy’s national association for achondroplasia, which has shaped their approach to advocacy and inclusion.  

“AISAC helped us understand achondroplasia not as a limit but as a condition that calls for awareness and respect,” Isabella says. 

As Edoardo’s goals continue to come into focus, he also emphasizes that he’s grateful for the life he’s living, not just the one he’s working toward. 

“I’ve never had a favorite part of the day,” he says. “Every part of it is good – school, swimming, time with friends and family. I wake up happy and try to make the most of it.”