At the record-breaking Campionato Italiano Master FIJLKAM individuale e a squadre, 194 athletes gathered at the Palazzetto dello Sport “Antonio Sorbo” in Ladispoli — the highest participation figure ever recorded in the event’s history with 167 men and 27 women. Within this historic 2026 national championship field, Angelo Lacorte of the Olimpia Club Monterotondo captured the Italian master judo silver medal in a fiercely contested run that culminated in a narrow defeat against the reigning world champion.
Path to the Silver Medal in the 66 Kilogram Division
Born in 1988 and hailing from Monterotondo, the Master d’eccellenza entered the competition having already won the Trofeo Italia Master Campania 2026. Competing in the 66 kilogram category on Sunday, October 4, Lacorte delivered an intense and exemplary performance on the tatami. During his tournament run, he defeated two medalists from the 2025 Italian Championship by executing Ippon, which is described in boxing terms as a knockout. In the final round, however, the athlete from Monterotondo fell just short, surrendering the gold only in the final seconds of the match to the reigning world champion, Catania native Angelo Lanzafame.
Decades of Training and Institutional Presence
Lacorte’s achievement is underpinned by a lifelong athletic partnership, having been guided by Maestro Stefano Zega for more than 30 years. This enduring collaboration has formed the foundation of the silver medalist’s competitive grit and technical precision. The success is also shared collectively with Lacorte’s training partners at the Olimpia Club, whose daily support contributed to his prestigious national milestone and brought widespread satisfaction to the entire Team Olimpia.
The tournament itself drew prominent figures from the sporting federation, including Gianluca Ricciotti, President of the Regional Committee Judo Lazio FIJLKAM, and Massimo Lucidi, National Head of the FIJLKAM Master Commission, both of whom were present alongside the athlete, his coach, and the club’s leadership to witness a milestone edition that cemented the growth and competitive vitality of the master judo circuit.
