Arielle Bonnici - double amputee completes her first 5km road race

Malta Paralympic Committee congratulates Arielle Bonnici who completed here first 5km road race organised by Żurrieq Wolves Athletic Club!

Arielle's story

Arielle is guided by her philosophy that “everyone has their own abilities and should be empowered to move ahead in life; not just live but thrive and live their best life”.

The 39-year-old Para athlete was born with a rare genetic medical condition - congenital insensitivity to pain, Bonnici was unable to feel any aches and discomfort in her arms and legs. Her physical problems started age five: she would injure her ankles and would not be aware, and she suffered fractures and would just continue walking. At that stage, however, she had not yet been diagnosed and would spend months in hospital in London undergoing surgery. It was not until she was 25 that Bonnici had her first amputation.

Photo credits: Times of Malta

Completing her first 5 km road race

In January 2026, Arielle completed in a 5km road race in Żebbuġ, organised by the Żurrieq Wolves Athletic Club - marking her first competitive run since sustaining a femur fracture in 2023, followed by a hip replacement in 2024 and the serious infection last year.

None of those obstacles stopped Bonnici from returning to running on prosthetic blades, and she began structured training for the five-kilometre distance in October.

Personal trainer and fitness instructor Martin Beyer, who was matched to Bonnici via the Malta Paralympic Committee, has been working with her from the beginning, pushing her step by step to improve her athletic run technique and her functional and movement skills, using “low-stress and smart” exercises. Meyer said he admired her mental attitude and the fact she was always ready to work to realise her dream and her targets.

Simon Cilia, her physiotherapist, who works with amputees and referred Bonnici to the Malta Paralympic Committee to seek out a coach for her, said she had shared a dream with him, and he told her he thought “we could make it work”. "There is nothing that holds her back, she works really hard, she does not miss a session, and she always wants more… Believe me, she can do it all,” Cilia said. “The only thing she - and anyone with a disability – needs is a chance to do it and someone to guide them,” Cilia said, encouraging everyone with or without disability to just get out and do whatever sport or activity “ignites a bit of fire in your heart."

Video series in collaboration with the Ministry for Inclusion and the Voluntary Sector

Malta Paralympic Committee documented Arielle's journey in preparing for her 5 km road race through a three-part video series, in collaboration with the Ministry for Inclusion and the Voluntary Sector Watch the videos on our official YouTube Channel on: https://www.youtube.com/@ParalympicsMalta/shorts.

Malta Paralympic Committee extends its gratitude to the Ministry for Inclusion and the Voluntary Sector, for the support provided through the 2025-2028 Collaboration Agreement aimed at supporting grassroots and impact initiatives for Paralympic Sport, leading up to the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympic Games.

This support enables Malta Paralympic Committee to spread awareness on Maltese Para athletes and the Paralympic Values, to inspire other persons with disabilities to write their own story through the transformative power of Paralympic Sport, creating a more inclusive and accessible society.

Photo credits: Arielle Bonnici

Malta Paralympic Committee

Published on 15 February 2026