Italian
Alice Bellandi wins the European gold for a historic hat-trick. Gold also for Gennaro Pirelli, bronze for Asya Tavano
TSIBILISI (GEORGIA) – Never before had an Italian athlete succeeded in winning all the major international competitions. A historic Alice Bellandi achieved this yesterday. After the gold at the Paris Olympics and the World Championship, the European gold has finally arrived as well.
The final day of the European Judo Championships held in Tbilisi brings two more joys. Gennaro Pirelli triumphs in the -100 kg category, while Asya Tavano wins bronze in the +78 kg category.
A perfect conclusion for this blue shipment that ends with a total of four medals thanks also to the bronze of Odette Giuffrida in the -52 kg category.
Bellandi History
She started as the favorite in the -78kg category, but once before the continental title had slipped away by a whisker. This time, however, Alice Bellandi made it. Four consecutive victories that propel her directly into the history of this sport.
First the victory against the British Shelley Ludford, then the Russian Aleksandra Babintseva and the French Kaila Issoufi. Finally, the other judoka from the United Kingdom, Emma Reid. Thus, she also achieves the only title that was missing, a European gold that makes her the first athlete to win all three international crowns.
This is his comment at the end of the match: “It’s a great satisfaction, it was the title that was missing and that slipped away from me a few years ago just seconds before the end. Every result has a different flavor and a different story for me. This day has been tough, I was aware that I was missing this title and so it had a greater impact.”
Pirelli Triumph
Great joy also for Gennaro Pirelli in the -100 kg category. Five victories for the athlete of the Fiamme Oro against the Montenegrin Danilo Pantic, the Pole Piotr Kuczera, the Swiss Daniel Eich, the Russian Niiaz Bilalov, and the Dutch Simeon Catharina.
An emotional Pirelli commented: “I am happy, so much that I can hardly speak properly. I feel I have really matured a lot. Every movement is measured, less impulsive. I feel better on the tatami. Being European Champion (and it still feels strange to say it) is the result of a lot of work, done with heart. After the injury, it has been two months of physiotherapy and training. I thank Nippon, the Fiamme Oro, the Federation, and Masters Lello, Enrico, Massimo, and Pino.”
Bronze Tavano
The third medal of the day comes in the +78 kg category. It is won by Asya Tavano, who wins the first match against the Ukrainian Ruslana Bulavina before being defeated by the Croatian Helena Vukovic. In the repechage, she starts her chase for the podium with a victory against her teammate Erica Simonetti, followed by a win against the Estonian Emma-Melis Aktas, which secures the European bronze thanks to the shime waza during the golden score.
The blue one then commented:
“This is not my first European medal but I am very happy. It’s a shame about the second match, I still tried to stay focused. This is a very important medal, I take it and bring it home, even though I wished it were a different color. I think I always need to improve, sooner or later the heavy medals will come.”
Photo Credits: IJF/fijlkam.it
