The 26-year-old smashed the 15-second barrier in last year’s 100 metres T42 World Championship final in Doha, clocking a time of 14.61sec to lower her own world record mark by 0.4 seconds.

However, an injury to her leg earlier this year meant Caironi was unable to wear her prosthetic leg for two months.

The Bologna-based athlete has only been able to train for the last four weeks, but her enforced absence from the track has made her even more focused on going faster ahead of the last major international gathering of European athletes before the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.

"I really discovered the importance of running, how much I love it, how much I care for my career," said Caironi.

"I really discovered the pleasure to run again.

"I can’t say it now, because it’s early, but of course my aim in Rio is to go below 14.61, and it will be great of course to set a new world record."

Caironi will also take on the long jump in Grosseto, but having only just begun jumping again for the first time since February, she admits she may not be entirely ready.

"As usual I will do the best that I can," said the home favourite, who set six world records last year across the 100m, 200m and long jump T42.

"I feel good now - not good enough to compete at a high level but we will see.

"After my injury I was scared about not being able to compete again, so now I’m trying to live day by day."

One competitor Caironi will have to get past in Grosseto is Germany’s Vanessa Low, who also improved on her 100m form last year, setting a new personal best at the World Championships to take silver.

She also obliterated the long jump T42 world record, beating Caironi, who won the world title in 2013, to global gold with a massive leap of 4.79m.

The week-long 2016 IPC Athletics European Championships are set to be the biggest ever with more than 600 athletes from 36 countries competing in 171 medal events.

The number of athletes exceeds that from the 2014 edition in Welsh city Swansea, where 560 athletes from 37 countries took part.

Russia, who topped the medals table two years ago, will have 100 athletes in Grosseto making them the biggest team.

Other star names bidding to defend their European titles include Germany’s Markus Rehm, Great Britain’s Aled Davies and Russia’s Margarita Goncharova.

Rehm is the reigning long jump F42/44 champion, while Davies is looking to retain his shot put and discus F42 crowns.

Goncharova currently holds continental titles in the 100m, 400m and long jump T38, and the 4x100m T35-38.

The IPC has confirmed it will broadcast the Championships live on www.grosseto2016.com.