Judo: Maria Centracchio, a book to inspire young people

“I won. I should let loose, scream with joy, instead I find myself totally blown away. I put my hands to my face and I ask myself: Did it really happen?”. In these two lines, accompanied by the four images of Maria Centracchio who covers her face with her hands before raising them to the sky, there is the most exhaustive and effective message of what the emotional storm triggered by the conquest of this incredible medal may have been at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Yes! It really happened. And this extraordinary masterpiece that Maria made in the Nippon Budokan on 27 July 2021, crowning a long and tortuous journey, is now witnessed by the book by Antonino Morici of the Gazzetta dello Sport, published by Volturnia and now available on Amazon: “Cadi seven times, get up eight “.

History

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Casi della vita, the Olympic medal of Molise Maria is the first for her region and Antonino, who was the correspondent of Gazzetta in Tokyo to also follow judo, is also from Molise. Both from Isernia. And therefore, not only does Molise exist and drive strong, as Maria had observed hotly, but it is also present and very ready when memorable events like this happen, despite being ten thousand kilometers away. In fact, asking Maria Centracchio how the idea for this book was born, he said … “The idea for the book was born to Antonino Morici, journalist of La Gazzetta dello Sport, from Molise, who became passionate about my story after following martial arts in Tokyo. Together we retraced the path that from the summer of Rio de Janeiro led me to that of Tokyo 2020. Antonino told about the difficult moments that I had to face, the disappointments, the injuries, also offering some flashbacks about my childhood and my experience “.

Is there a particular goal that you have set for yourself?

“The aim of the book is to encourage everyone, but especially young people to believe in their dreams and never give up. Because just as I did it, everyone can do it through dedication, work and love for what you do. But the book is also an opportunity to highlight all the figures who have accompanied me on this path, contributing to the realization of my dream, and I mention for example my sports group and the federation, but I really think of all those who they have been helpful and they are many ”.

What kind of response do you expect from the audience, do you already have feelings?

“I am very happy with the response I am gathering from the public, based on the messages I receive, the phone calls, the people I meet and who stop me on the street, but I hope this book will inspire the many people who, especially in this period, they go through difficult times and can also be a guide for the youngest, so that they never stop dreaming and remain available to fight to make all their dreams come true. Even those who will then make you say: did it really happen? “.