The sensational European junior silver obtained at the age of 16 at the end of 2020 was already a clue, but Giulia Carnà has been able to continue its bursting rise also in the following two seasons by establishing new precocity records for Italian judo and becoming the most interesting young emerging on the global scene in the category up to 52 kg.
The Palermitan born in 2004, who is about to turn 18 on 5 October, two days ago he won the gold medal at the Junior World Championships in Guayaquil fighting against opponents up to two years older and hitting the first major international success of his career.
The talent of the Azzurri is truly boundless, as evidenced by the final reached a month ago in the Grand Slam in Budapest by defeating, among others, the British Chelsie Giles, Olympic bronze medalist in Tokyo 2021 and reigning European champion. Carnà is forging ahead and, unlike what one might have thought at the beginning of the new Olympic cycle, is a strong candidate for the role of Italian co-star in the 52 kg from now to the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
Judo, Giulia Carnà is the new junior world champion in 52 kg! Silver scutto in the 48 kg
The national supremacy of Odette Giuffrida in this weight category, for the first time in over seven years, it is likely to falter. It is not an easy time for the Roman champion, twice medalist in five circles with the silver of Rio 2016 and the bronze of Tokyo 2021, returning from a long period of stop due to physical problems accused after the European Championships at the end of April.
In any case, the 27-year-old standard bearer of the Army Sports Center has already got up in the past from serious injuries and difficult moments, returning each time stronger and stronger first of all from a mental point of view. At this point, a splendid internal challenge (also generational) is looming on the horizon starting from the Senior World Championships in Tashkent to represent the Bel Paese in the 52 kg in Paris.
Photo: IJF
