Susannah Scaroni is no stranger to heartbreak and challenges. Like most athletes, she has had big dreams and goals ever since she was young. The only difference in her story is the sport that she competes in: Wheelchair racing. Ever since Scaroni was in a car accident when she was five, injuring her T12 vertebrae, she has been using a wheelchair.
Despite her injury, Scaroni’s competitive drive led her to pursue wheelchair sports. “Fortunately for me, I learned about adaptive sports when I was ten. So I started with wheelchair basketball and was happy to do whatever I could, so when I learned about wheelchair racing I started doing that," she told FOX 32 Chicago. Scaroni soon got hooked on wheelchair racing and began her journey to make the Paralympic team.
Paris 5000m T54
Through her efforts, Scaroni qualified for the Paralympics in London 2012, Rio 2016, Tokyo 2020, and now Paris 2024. In Tokyo, she earned a gold medal in the 5000m and a bronze in the 800m. Since those games, Scaroni has grown and changed. “I am so much more acutely aware of my own strengths and weaknesses,” she told NBC sports. “I have more confidence in myself than I've had in other Games.” When she arrived in Paris, Scaroni had belief in herself and was ready to take on her competitors.
On Saturday, she entered the stadium with her eyes on a medal in the 5000m T54. From the gun, Scaroni was at the front of the race, along with her toughest competitor, Catherine Debrunner. The two women started to gain separation from the rest of the racers, and on the final lap, they were neck and neck. Down the last straightaway, Debrunner managed to pull away from Scaroni, winning gold by 1.5 seconds. Scaroni took silver, securing her third medal in her Paralympic career. The following day, Scaroni was back on the track racing the 800m T54. She placed third, earning a bronze for her second medal in Paris. Scaroni is set to race two more events: The 1500m and the marathon before she leaves Paris.
Overcoming Her Eating Disorder
Before Scaroni achieved her success in wheelchair racing, she dealt with a severe eating disorder in high school that could have prevented her from making it to an elite level. From not eating enough, Scaroni suffered a stress injury and was forced to rest. It was during this time that she was advised to work with a registered dietitian to help her fuel properly. “It was through eating more food and feeling stronger and getting faster that I actually realized the essential role and function of food for athletes,” she said.
“It was through eating more food and feeling stronger and getting faster that I actually realized the essential role and function of food for athletes.”
When Scaroni realized the impact that proper fueling had on her performance, Scaroni decided to pursue a degree in dietetics and become a registered dietitian. “Ever since then, it’s sparked this interest in the ways in which food can function as a tool in sports,” Scaroni said. “I love the ability to learn and then as an athlete to apply what I learned and help others also benefit from a great nutrition strategy.”
Looking back on her journey with fueling, Scaroni wishes she could tell her younger self the importance of eating enough. “Try eating more and then look at your times and look at your speeds,” she said. “You’re an eighth grader but you have a growing body that’s an incredible powerhouse. You need to fuel that growth and it will serve you to get stronger and faster, which are your ultimate goals.” Scaronis offers a great reminder of the value of proper fueling, to any young girls who are struggling with nourishing themselves sufficiently.
Scaroni’s Current Mindset
In the years it took Scaroni to become a registered dietitian, she learned about proper fueling for athletes, causing her to change her own nutrition plan. Now, she has several tips for athletes:
Eating more carbohydrates: Fueling with more carbs improved Scaronis performance in her sessions. Some of her favorite snacks before training include “easily digestible carb sources like fruits, Clif bars, or breakfast cereal,” she told Insider.
Protein and carbs post workout: Protein helps to rebuild muscle and carbs to replenish glycogen stores. "Chocolate milk right away is something that I know helps me recover," she said.
Rest, recovery, and easy days: Scaroni takes two complete rest days after big events. She also includes active recovery to promote blood flow to muscles, helping them repair, and lower intensity days of long, slow sessions to build aerobic fitness.
Scaroni’s journey in sport reminds young girls to chase their dreams no matter how big they may seem. She brings VISibility to athlete’s recovery from eating disorders and the power of finding our passion in educating the younger generation of girls and women in sport.
