Assunta ‘Susa’ SCUTTO is a gem in the crown of the Italian team. In her four times participating in Senior World Championships, she has left with four medals. First, two bronze, in 2024 a silver medal, and today on Friday 13th June 2025, she will be standing on top of the podium, listening to her national anthem and taking home the ultimate gold medal.
Both Scutto and her final opponent, Abiba ABUZHAKYNOVA (KAZ) were steely in their approach to the tatami, both perfectly capable of becoming World Champion today, but after living with the silver feeling since Abu Dhabi last year, it was clear that Scutto did not want to repeat it. Both picked up two shidos each, but in to the final minute, Scutto found her moment and scored yuko with a drop morote seoi nage, which made Abuzhakynova desperate. This worked in favour of Scutto, who was moments from winning the gold, but a flurried attack from the Kazakhtan judoka allowed for Scutto to score the ultimate ippon with an o uchi gari.
We can always expect an emotional celebration from our Susy, but today it meant something different. The top seed of the category proved her weight, quite literally in gold today.
I don’t know! I don’t believe it! Glory to God! Oh my God! I’m very happy! I don’t believe it! Thank you for my coach, my family, my team, my church, everybody! Thank you, thank you! This is a really… with Aviva I had such a wonderful moment!
Susy also embodies what it means to be a top judoka, not only in her success, but demonstrated it in her empathetic manner toward her opponent. All judoka suffer the fate of losing, and it is what brings them back stronger than ever, but in a sweet moment following the contest, the pair shared an emotional moment of understanding.
I told her she was strong. I know this feeling of silver, and I was in the same position last year with two shidos, I told myself, ‘not again’. I cannot wait to have that red back patch. Last year, Odette [Giuffrida] told me that this year would be my turn. I think I have more experience and more faith now, and I won.
Coach, Antonio CIANO was out of the coaching chair the moment the ippon was scored. It was an incredibly emotional conclusion for Team Italy,
It was such a great day, I had my faith, and this morning, we feel God with us. Susy today had a spirit of a warrior and during the warm-up, I felt it, oh my God, I think, oh my God, Susy today, I think, can win. And she’s done it.
Judoka
Author: Thea Cowen