Massimo Saputo's Journey to International Para Athletics, 100m Personal Best

Luxembourg para-athlete Massimo Saputo set a new personal best of 12.78 seconds in the T47 100m sprint at the Para Heimspiel meeting in Leverkusen, Germany, in July 2026, continuing his steady progress on the international stage.

The 50-year-old has represented the Luxembourg Paralympic Committee (LPC) since 2021. Competing in the T47 classification for athletes with upper limb impairments, he specialises in the 100m and 400m sprints, while also taking part in cross-country races and having previously competed in the javelin.

Chronicle.lu spoke with Massimo Saputo about his journey into para-athletics, the accident that led to the amputation of his forearm, balancing elite sport with a part-time government job, and the goals that continue to drive him.

Asked about the accident that led to the amputation of his forearm, Massimo Saputo recalled that he was just nine years old when he was injured by a machine in 1985. However, he said the physical injury was not the greatest challenge. "I didn't really have to adapt myself to a new life. I continued the life I already had, whether with my family, in my private life or in society," he explained. Instead, he said, the hardest part was dealing with "the stereotypes and the way people looked at me, expecting me to limit myself."

Although Massimo Saputo has represented Luxembourg internationally only in recent years, he first discovered competitive athletics during the COVID-19 pandemic. "I took up athletics during the COVID pandemic," he recalled. He credited his former coach, Brahim Raggui, with encouraging him to explore para-athletics. "He was the first person to believe in my potential," the Luxembourg representative said.

After obtaining a French athletics licence with Metz Métropole, he later joined ULA Arlon in Belgium, where he completed his national para-athletics classification in the sprint and javelin. Through the Luxembourg Paralympic Committee, he went on to complete his international classification in Nottwil, Switzerland, and has since represented Luxembourg in the T47 category. He also credited his current coach, Sid Chougrani, with helping him continue to develop. "He has pushed and continues to push me in this discipline," he said.

Despite taking up the sport only a few years ago, the Luxembourg para-athlete now follows a demanding training schedule. He trains six days a week, combining three strength sessions with two track sessions, a long run and regular recovery work at the Luxembourg Institute of High Performance in Sport (LIHPS).

During competitions, the Luxembourg para-athlete wears a 3D-printed prosthesis on his amputated arm. He explained that the device, produced by German company Kersting Orthopädie und 3D Print, "provides better symmetry and stability in the starting blocks and while running.”

Away from the track, Massimo Saputo works part-time for the government. He explained that balancing work and elite sport is made possible thanks to Luxembourg's sports leave legislation, which allows him to attend training camps and international competitions without having to sacrifice his professional career.

Speaking about the people who have supported him throughout his journey, the 50-year-old said his greatest encouragement comes from friends and teammates, both past and present. "They are my loyal fans," he said.

Looking ahead, the Luxembourg para-athlete hopes to build on the progress he has made this season. "My goal for the coming years, together with my coach, is to maintain the same level of progress I achieved this year," he said. For the Luxembourg para-athlete, the season also represented "fully recovering my health and fitness following last year's injury", while recognising that "teamwork under my coach's guidance was the foundation of this great success”.

Despite his demanding training schedule, Massimo Saputo said he still enjoys every competition. "An important point is sticking to basic nutritional guidelines, smiling a lot to reduce stress, and having fun competing," he said. He particularly enjoys the moments when younger athletes ask how fast he can run before the start of a race. "In those moments, I forget I am fifty."

Asked what he would say to people living with an amputation who may be considering taking up sport, Massimo Saputo did not hesitate. "I am waiting for them with open arms," he said, inviting anyone interested to join him, his teammates and his coach for a training session. "Fun and hard work guaranteed."