Comeback after the Olympic disappointment: Judo ace Giovanna Scoccimarro from Lessien wants to defend her German championship title. But your gaze is already moving further.
Hollywood is secretly known as the dream factory. The blockbusters of tomorrow are being created in the Los Angeles district. Giovanna Scoccimarro’s dream is to make a cinematic appearance at the Olympic Games there in 2028. A distant goal for the judoka from Lessien. However, her first appearance after a five-month break from competition is relatively close: The fighter from MTV Vorsfelde wants to defend her title at the German Championships in the weight class up to 70 kilograms on Saturday in Stuttgart.
The restart represents the 26-year-old’s first opportunity to deal with the disappointment of missing out on a ticket to the Olympics in Paris. She hasn’t been depressed since the last competition in May at the World Cup in Abu Dhabi. “Of course I can barricade myself and cry. But what happened happened. I have to look forward. The best athlete rode, that was it, end of story.” As is well known, Miriam Butkereit was sent under the Eiffel Tower, who had excelled in the qualification phase and crowned this perfect wave with the sensational silver medal in Paris. In and of itself, Scoccimarro wanted to ignore the Olympics. Ignoring your passion for this period of time. “But I was too curious,” she replied in front of the DM. Also to cheer on with her friends Pauline Starke and Igor Wandtke from the couch at home.
Now the sofa is replaced with the mats again. The reigning German champion confirmed that the five months went quickly. “I was on vacation and traveling a lot. Time passes quickly.” She wouldn’t have completely scaled back her sports program. “Of course it was a little less. But you’ve got so much trouble in your ass that you have to move.” She’s been training judo-specific for about a month and a half now. The Lessien native also used the breakdown, in coordination with her coaches, to regenerate her left knee. There, just over a year after tearing her right side, she suffered the second cruciate ligament of her career. Nevertheless, Scoccimarro left no stone unturned to somehow get on the train to Paris. Vain. What she never disclosed was that the damaged knee continued to cause problems after the operation. “We just didn’t make it public.” But now everything is fine.
To make a new beginning with fresh enthusiasm. In any case, the anticipation for the event in Stuttgart is great, assured the current No. 17 in the world rankings. She “definitely wants to fight for the medals” in the national title fight. If possible, get back to first place. The German Olympic team will still be taking a break, meaning: their stubborn competitor Butkereit will not be there. There were 28 other aspirants in the weight class up to 70 kilograms. A success there would also give a boost of confidence for the European Open in Rome at the beginning of November. The next local target. But somewhere in the back of our minds, LA 2028 also plays a supporting role.
