India Serafini has become the first judoka to enter the Amici 2026 school, securing her training jersey through her performance in a discipline featured on the talent show for the first time, alongside judo and roller skating. Born 20 years ago in Pomezia, Rome, Serafini brings a competitive background on the tatami that includes titles at the cadet and senior levels.
The Path to the Amici Tatami
Serafini began practicing judo at the age of nine, encouraged by her parents. Her career on the mat features several notable achievements, including a victory at the 2023 Italian Cadets Championships in the 52 kg category and a victory at the 2025 Senior Italian Cup in the 57 kg category. In July 2026, she placed third at the European Cup Juniores in Prague. Alice Bellandi, the Olympic judo champion at the Paris 2024 Games, presented Serafini with her training jersey for the show.
Personal History and Discipline
The athlete’s connection to her sport is closely tied to her family. Her father, who also practiced judo, introduced her to the discipline as a child. In 2023, he died in a road accident, an event Serafini described in an interview with the weekly magazine DiPiù Tv as a “inhuman pain.” Today, she carries a photograph of her father with her whenever she competes, a practice that shapes her approach to training and competition following the loss.
New Disciplines in the 2026 Season
The inclusion of judo and roller skating marks an expansion of the disciplines represented on the program for its current edition. Serafini’s entrance introduces competitive martial arts to the broadcast’s audience.
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