Italian judoka Alice Bellandi captured the women’s -78kg Olympic gold medal at the Paris 2024 Games, defeating Inbar Lanir of Israel by ippon in the final at the Champ-de-Mars Arena. According to official International Judo Federation records, the victory delivered Italy its first-ever Olympic title in the women’s half-heavyweight division and cemented Bellandi’s status atop the global rankings.
Path to the Paris 2024 Gold Medal
Entering the tournament as the world number one in the International Judo Federation standings, Bellandi navigated a demanding bracket on August 1, 2024. Her campaign culminated in the gold-medal match against Israel’s Inbar Lanir, the reigning world champion in the weight class. Bellandi secured the decisive score with a powerful transition that earned an ippon, sealing the match and sparking celebrations within the Italian delegation.
To reach the final, the 25-year-old Brescia native displayed the tactical composure that defined her rise through the international circuit. According to tournament results published by the International Olympic Committee, Bellandi managed distance and grip fighting effectively against high-level opponents, neutralizing counter-attacks before executing her scoring techniques in the latter rounds.
Historical Significance for Italian Judo
Bellandi’s triumph marked a milestone for the Italian Judo Federation (FIJLKAM). While Italy boasts a rich Olympic combat sports tradition, the women’s -78kg division had previously yielded European and world championship medals, but never an Olympic gold. Records show that Bellandi’s victory added to a successful overall campaign for the Italian combat sports contingent in Paris, elevating national expectations heading into the closing weekend of the Games.
The win also provided personal redemption for Bellandi after a challenging quarterfinal exit at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, where she competed in the -70kg category before moving up to the -78kg limit. Following the Tokyo Games, her transition to the heavier division unlocked consistent podium finishes on the IJF World Judo Tour, culminating in her top-seeded arrival in Paris.
Final Standing and Medalists
In the -78kg podium ceremony at the Champ-de-Mars Arena, Inbar Lanir received the silver medal after her hard-fought run through the bracket. The bronze medals were awarded to China’s Ma Zhenzhao and Patricia Sampaio of Portugal, who prevailed through the repechage rounds to secure their respective podium finishes.
The competition underscored the depth of the division, featuring active world champions and continental titleholders. Lanir’s silver matched the best-ever Olympic result for an Israeli female judoka, adding historical weight to a final that pitted two of the sport’s most dominant athletes against one another.
What Comes Next
Following the conclusion of the Paris 2024 judo tournament, Bellandi and her fellow medalists return to the IJF World Judo Tour calendar ahead of the upcoming Grand Slam events and the world championships. FIJLKAM officials confirmed that national team selections for subsequent international fixtures will factor in post-Olympic recovery and rankings updates. Share your thoughts on Bellandi’s historic performance in the comments below.
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