Autumn marks a moment of redemption for Giacomo Gamba, a judoka from Brescia, son of an artist, who after a disappointing spring and a summer spent as a spectator, is back on the tatami in great shape. Gamba obtained a prestigious bronze medal in the 81 kg category at the Military World Championships in Tashkent, representing the Carabinieri. This result confirms the excellent performances already shown two weeks earlier at the European Open in Prague, where he had won another bronze.
Gamba’s evolution, not only from an athletic but also mental point of view, was already evident in the European Open in Prague, where he managed to reach the third step of the podium. Here, the judoka had achieved four victories, easily defeating the Swiss Thien Oulevey and the Frenchman Spiros Eleftheriadis, only to face a defeat in the quarterfinals against the Georgian Iraki Beroshvili. However, determination pushed him to bounce back in the later rounds, beating Czech Jan Svoboda and Hungarian Botond Toth. This consistency and ability to get up after falls testifies to a radical change in Gamba’s approach to competitions.
At the Military World Championships in Tashkent, Gamba demonstrated great competitive intensity. In the tournament reserved for military athletes, Italy shone, bringing home numerous medals. Gamba, a twenty-five year old who grew up in the Forza e Costanza club, faced a challenging journey, winning against the Armenian Andreas in the first round and suffering a defeat in the quarterfinals against the strong Uzbek Sobirov. In the repechages, however, he was able to make up for it, beating in succession the Turkmen Myradov, the Hungarian Toth, the Russian Kakharov and finally the Kazakh Narkulov, thus ensuring a well-deserved bronze.
This medal represents not only a sporting achievement, but also a sign of rebirth for Gamba. After a disappointing start to the year, which culminated with the elimination in the first round of the European Championships in April, Gamba now appears regenerated. “I’m happy with the sensations I’m feeling, I want to enjoy every moment of this adventure,” he declared, underlining how he has found the serenity and joy of practicing the sport he loves. The smile on his face at the moment of the award ceremony and the relaxed tone with which he spoke to the media demonstrate a newfound inner balance.
Success is never the fruit of a single individual, and Gamba is fully aware of this. “Thanks to all the people who help me express the best of me, it’s a team effort,” he said, expressing gratitude to the Carabinieri sports center for the support received.
