The Italians are on fire! At the 2025 Junior European Championships they absolutely smashed it, topping the medal table with four gold, two silver and three bronze medals.
One of the stars of the show was Cristiano Mincinesi (-90kg), and wow, did he deliver. The 19-year-old judoka bulldozed his way through the category, winning every single fight by ippon. Sometimes it was cool-headed tactics, forcing his opponents into three penalties. Other times it was pure fireworks, like the spinning uchi-mata that sealed his final against Poland’s Derek Marczak.
That final kept everyone on the edge of their seats. Both judoka left everything their had on the mat, and their close head-to-head landed in golden score. The tension was so thick you could cut it with a knife. Mincinesi pounced, catching Marczak on the move. The crowd erupted. That’s how it’s done, the Italian way.
Afterwards, the celebrations were loud, and the new European Champion was still buzzing: “Elio Verde [his coach] brings me… emotion. Emotion of judo, to enjoy and keep my feeling,” Mincinesi smiled, giving credit to his coach.
“I actually fought Derek before, in Sarajevo at the European Cup final. I lost that one but it was the best warning I could get. This time, I knew exactly how to beat him.”
And then, with a grin: “I am from Rome, but I train a lot in Naples too, maybe you can say I have got a bit of Naples style! Today’s gold medal was a kind of redemption for me. I have not had the best period lately, so this victory is for me, for my friends, and for my club who came here to support me.”
Next stop? Junior Worlds in Lima, then the Grand Prix in Peru. And of course,… if any sponsors are watching, I am still available!” – he laughs.
The bronze medals went to Luka Javakhishvili (GEO) and Vadim Ghimbovschi (MDA).
Author: Szandra Szogedi