The opening ceremony of the Open European Adapted Judo Championships 2025 in Conegliano was filled with energy and pride. Yet, amid the bright lights and celebration, there came a moment that stilled the arena, a moment of profound emotion and remembrance.
Dr Tóth László, President of the European Judo Union, took to the stage to honour one of Italian judo’s most respected figures. In a moving tribute, he awarded a 9th Dan certificate posthumously to Bernardino De Carlo, a man whose life had been dedicated to the growth and spirit of Italian judo. For over two decades, Bernardino served as a board member of the Italian Judo Federation, contributing tirelessly to the sport he loved with all his heart.
A Son’s Tears, A Father’s Legacy
As the certificate was presented, his son, Enzo De Carlo, stood before the crowd, visibly moved. “I have a lot of emotions,” he said softly, his voice trembling as memories flooded in. “My father died in 2021, and his great, great dream was to reach the 9th Dan but it was not possible. Now, for me and my family, this is a great day.”
The award came as a complete surprise to Enzo, who had not known it was planned. “It was unbelievable,” he said, smiling through his tears. “My brother couldn’t come as we did not know about it, but my family, my wife, my daughters, everyone was here. It was an incredible emotion.”
As a tribute video played on the screen, the audience watched in silence while Enzo stood, reliving decades of memories. “In my mind, it was all my life,” he said. “The first time I stepped onto the tatami, I was four years old. I tried to walk away from judo but it’s impossible. It’s part of me, it’s part of us.”
A Life Woven into the Tatami
Bernardino’s influence was deeply felt throughout Italian judo. His athletes, colleagues and friends, many of whom were present, could not hold back their tears. “Down there,” Enzo said, pointing toward the stands, “those are my father’s athletes. Everybody cried. It was beautiful.”
For Enzo, the moment was like hearing his father’s voice again. “He used to tell me the same stories a thousand, maybe two thousand times,” he said with a fond laugh. “The same stories, always the same, but now I remember every one of them. It feels like he is still here.”
When asked what his father might have been like if he could have seen this moment, Enzo’s eyes lit up with warmth. “My father wasn’t tall,” he said, “but he was full of life, very particular. He always wanted to eat at exactly twelve o’clock. When he went to competitions, he wouldn’t eat anything, just drink a coffee and walk around, full of energy. He was taller in spirit on those days, happy, proud. Judo was his life.”
A Lasting Inspiration
The ceremony in Conegliano became more than a formal recognition, it was a reunion of memory and gratitude. For the De Carlo family, this 9th Dan was the fulfilment of a dream, a celebration of a lifetime devoted to judo, and a son’s heartfelt promise that his father’s legacy would never fade.
Author: Szandra Szogedi