Italian judoka Gennaro Pirelli claimed the bronze medal in the -100 kg category at the World Judo Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan, securing his first career podium finish at the global tournament. Competing as the top-ranked athlete in his division, the 26-year-old representative of the Fiamme Oro sports group capped off a dominant international season with a hard-fought victory on the international stage.
Road to the World Championship Podium in Baku
Pirelli entered the World Championships in Baku following a series of significant victories throughout the competitive calendar. His run to the medal rounds began with wins over Switzerland’s Daniel Eich, Spain’s Nikoloz Sherazadishvili—the 2021 world champion—and Ukraine’s Anton Savytskiy. His only defeat of the tournament occurred in the semifinal match against Georgia’s Ilia Sulamanidze, the reigning Olympic silver medalist who ultimately claimed the world title in Baku.
Rebounding in the bronze medal match, Pirelli faced Uzbekistan’s Turdiev. Controlling the tempo of the bout through a sustained series of attacks, the Neapolitan judoka secured a yuko score that guaranteed him the bronze. The result marks a career milestone in one of the sport’s most competitive weight classes, adding to a year that previously featured gold medals at the European Championships in April, the Ulaanbaatar and Budapest Grand Slams, and the Lima Grand Prix.
Men’s -100 kg Division Standings and Key Results
- Gold: Ilia Sulamanidze (Georgia)
- Silver: Competitor placement confirmed via tournament brackets
- Bronze: Gennaro Pirelli (Italy)
The performance in Azerbaijan reinforces Pirelli’s standing at the summit of international judo.
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