Italian judoka Matteo Piras is targeting the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles after experiencing a difficult period following the Paris 2024 Games, oasport.it reported.
Early Beginnings in Turin and Multi-Sport Roots
Born in Turin in 1993, Piras first encountered judo before the age of three by following his older brother, who trained in the discipline. Initially, the sport did not capture his immediate interest. His parents required him to participate in a wide variety of introductory athletic activities, leading him to try swimming, football, rugby, volleyball, and basketball.
Eventually, Piras returned to judo with renewed intent after his parents established a strict condition that he commit to it seriously. Reflecting on that pivot, Piras noted that he quickly fell in love with the sport. As he progressed through his training, the Olympic dream became a central motivation, sparked by watching the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games as a child.
The Road to Paris 2024 and Emotional Qualification
For a long stretch, Piras and compatriot Elios Manzi traded positions in a tight head-to-head race. Piras recalled discussing the uncertainty with teammate Odette Giuffrida just a year before the Games, noting at the time that he was the lone member of the historic group who had not yet competed in an Olympics.
The definitive turning point arrived during the World Championships. Piras described watching his direct rival lose a critical match, which mathematically sealed his Olympic qualification. Overcome with emotion on the tatami, he realized his lifelong aspiration had materialized at age 29—a stage in a career where many athletes face retirement. Piras credited his persistence to staying true to his own internal visualization of his athletic level rather than yielding to outside doubts.
Post-Olympic Crisis and Recovery
The aftermath of the Paris Games brought unforeseen psychological hurdles. Piras admitted that he struggled for two years because he had invested his entire athletic identity into reaching the Olympics, leaving a psychological void afterward. The toll included returning to live with his parents and seriously contemplating retirement.
Compounding the mental strain, a knee injury temporarily sidelined him. Having recently recovered from the setback, Piras has officially restarted his competition cycle with renewed focus and energy directed toward the Los Angeles 2028 qualification pathway.
