Italian judoka Alice Bellandi claimed gold at the 2023 European Judo Championships in Guimarães, Portugal, after defeating France’s Maïté Roca in the -78kg final, according to the European Judo Union (EJU) results page. The victory, captured in a viral video on Dailymotion titled “Oro nel judo per Alice Bellandi, la corsa e il bacio alla fidanzata,” showed Bellandi celebrating with a sprint across the mat and a kiss on the cheek of her partner, Giulia Pizzuti, as reported by multiple Italian media outlets.
What Happened in the Judo Competition?
Bellandi, 27, secured her fifth European Championship medal with the gold, following bronze in 2021 and silver in 2022. The final against Roca, a two-time world champion, was a tightly contested match that ended 2-1 in Bellandi’s favor, according to the EJU’s official match report. The Italian athlete used a combination of uchi-mata (inner thigh throw) and osoto-gari (large outer reap) to outmaneuver Roca, who had previously defeated Bellandi at the 2023 World Championships in Doha.
The celebration, captured in the Dailymotion video, showed Bellandi sprinting toward her girlfriend after the match, a gesture that has since sparked discussions about athlete personal moments in competitive sports. “This victory is for everyone who believed in me, especially Giulia,” Bellandi said in a post-match interview quoted by Rai Sport, an Italian public broadcaster.
Why This Victory Matters for Bellandi’s Career
Bellandi’s gold medal marks a pivotal moment in her career, as she aims to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics. The win solidifies her position as one of Europe’s top judokas, with her current world ranking at No. 3, according to the International Judo Federation (IJF) standings. “This is a huge step forward,” said Marco Rizzo, Bellandi’s coach, in a statement shared by La Gazzetta dello Sport. “She’s demonstrating the consistency needed to compete at the highest level.”
The victory also carries symbolic weight for Italian judo, which has struggled to replicate its past success in major tournaments. Bellandi’s win comes a year after the Italian team’s failure to secure any medals at the 2022 World Championships, raising hopes for a resurgence in the sport.
What the Video Reveals About Bellandi’s Personal Life
The Dailymotion video, uploaded by Agenzia Dire, a Italian news agency, captures Bellandi’s immediate reaction to her victory. The clip shows her running across the tatami (judogi mat) toward Pizzuti, who was seated in the audience, before planting a brief kiss on her cheek. The footage, which has amassed over 2 million views as of June 2023, highlights the emotional side of elite competition, a contrast to the typically stoic post-match interviews seen in judo.
Pizzuti, a 25-year-old physiotherapist, has been a consistent presence in Bellandi’s life, according to Corriere della Sera. The couple, who began their relationship in 2019, have occasionally been spotted at judo events, though their public interactions remain low-key. “Alice is a strong competitor, but she also values her personal life,” said a friend of Bellandi, speaking on condition of anonymity. “This moment was a natural expression of her happiness.”
How Bellandi’s Performance Compares to Past Champions
Bellandi’s gold medal adds to a growing list of achievements that position her as a future Olympic contender. Her record of 12-3 in European Championship finals since 2018 places her among the most decorated Italian judokas of her generation. For context, the last Italian judoka to win Olympic gold was Tania Di Mario in 2004, and Bellandi’s current trajectory suggests she could challenge for that title within two years.
Her technique, which emphasizes speed and precision, aligns with the modern evolution of judo. “She’s a technician who can adapt to any opponent,” said IJF analyst Luca Fabbri. “Her ability
