Milla Star Bizzotto, a 9-year-old from Miami, completed an extreme race on March 4 that was meant to test the limits of the very fittest adults.
An event called BattleFrog’s 24-hour Xtreme race is an obstacle course designed by a Navy SEAL. It consists of a 5-mile run with 25 obstacles, and a swimming portion that is around 30 miles long.
Not only did Milla complete the race, but she was the only person under the age of 18 to even participate.
Milla told The Miami Herald that she thrives on physical activity.
I don't want to play video games, I don't want to Hoverboard. I don't want to do things to make life easier. I want to be comfortable being uncomfortable. I have one body and it's all I want and all I love.
She completed the race with the help of her father, Christian Bizzotto, with whom she has competed in several other events. BattleFrog allowed her to participate in the race despite her age as long as her dad stayed by her side.
Bizzotto told the Miami Herald that he thought the race would be a little too much for Milla, but she went on to prove him wrong.
“She literally murdered it. I was so convinced the race was going to crush her. I wanted to prove to her that it’s tougher than she thought. But when we finished it, all she wanted to do was another lap.”
To prepare for the race, Milla trained relentlessly five days a week, three hours a day, for months.
There is even a video detailing the aspects of her training.
View this video on YouTube
She also has an active GoFundMe page to help cover the cost of her equipment and training for upcoming races, and she includes her statement of her purpose and a message about bullying:
My name is Milla Star Bizzotto, I'm 9 years old.
I don't spend all day playing videogames.
I have a mission.
I obstacle course race with a purpose.
I DON'T RUN THE KIDS COURSE!
I want to inspire a generation. #InspirationForTheIPadGeneration
I want to inspire kids to eat healthy and get outside and play.
I want kids to stand up to bullies.
I was bullied at school, kids get bullied all the time.
I no longer get bullied, now #IAmTheAntiBully!
We are all made in different shapes and sizes, we need to love our bodies! #LoveYourBody.
Milla went on to tell the Miami Herald the impact training and racing has had on her. “I don’t get bullied anymore. I know how to stand up for myself now. And I love what I do. I want to do it forever.”
Moving forward, Milla plans to keep competing, training, and kicking ass.
BuzzFeed has reached out to Christian Bizzotto for comment.