It is a bronze medal that shines like gold the one around Morgana De Paoli’s neck. The athlete of the Judo Polisportiva Riccione section wins her with the Italian national jersey at the EYOF, European Youth Olympic Festival, the great multidisciplinary event that brings together the best young athletes in Europe staged in the Slovak city of Banska Bystrica. Over the years, many athletes who have made the history of sport have passed through this competition, very often a prelude to the Olympics.
Even Morgana De Paoli from Riccione, a 17-year-old judoka with Polisportiva Riccione since she was 8, not only fulfilled her dream of being part of the Italian delegation to the Eyofs, but also gave a bronze that shines like gold for the Rimini judo movement. . In fact, De Paoli is the first athlete belonging to a sports club in the province to participate in an event of this level.
Morgana began her competition path in the Women +78 kg category by facing the strong Frenchman Lang Bintibe, unfortunately suffering from the beginning of the match the high grip of the French without being able to find the space for her attacks. After falling behind in the first minute, the Frenchwoman managed to maintain the lead that led her to victory. The second match against Azerbaijani Suleymanova Nigar, saw De Paoli the winner for ippon (the KO of Judo), for an immobilization technique, although she initially went at a disadvantage for having suffered a counterattack. Morgana was thus awarded the right to compete in the final for the bronze against the very strong Croatian Marcelina Vranjes.
This last meeting on paper appears to be marked by the advantage of the Croatian, for a better position in the world rancking list, participation in the recent European championships and a greater number of international competitions. Morgana, who until then had done well but did not shine as she is in her potential, exploded into an action performed perfectly against the Croatian, marking the most beautiful ippon in her weight class about 5 seconds from start of the match.
On the last day of competition, the athlete from Riccione was busy with the national team in the mixed team competition, 3 men and 3 women. The Italian athletes finished in 7th place by defeating the Netherlands in the first round, but were then denied access to the semifinals by the very strong Georgians. After the repechage, nothing can be done for the Azzurri, who have narrowly lost against Israel.
“It is a historic medal for Rimini judo and for our young section – explains Maestro Giuseppe Longo, technical director of the Polisportiva Riccione judo section -. Thinking that we are about to celebrate the first 10 years with this medal fills us with joy. I have always been convinced that winning is not essential. What really matters is the path that leads a young athlete to a deep understanding of their abilities and also of their limits. Morgana in recent months, especially after the end of school, has strongly believed in this medal. She trained hard in the gym with us, she participated in several internships and was in Turin for two weeks to optimize her performance. So it is only right to thank all those who have been close to us in recent months, because on the mat you can climb alone, but the competitions are prepared with your coaches and training partners ”.
