Maria CENTRACCHIO (ITA) reached her ultimate career goal in the Tokyo Olympics and stood on the -63kg podium. Following her achievement in 2021, Maria has focussed her energy in various areas, but one stands out, coaching.
Already she has been sighted in numerous events with younger brother Luigi, who has already asserted himself on the tatami and is certainly not living in the shadow of his older siblings, EYOF Champion as well as a finalist in both the Cadet and Junior European Championships. Stepping on to the senior circuit in the -73kg category is no easy feat, but already he secured a medal in the Prague European Open last year.
Maria isn’t the only sibling who is on the tatami with Luigi, but in the Mittersill OTC, we also found Emidio, the Performance Analysis Manager for Italian Judo, and the force behind Judo Data.
Today in the Warsaw European Open however, was a special day for Maria, as her first out of the stands and in to the coaching chair.
It was actually okay, when I’m in the stands I can go on and on and I think I get more emotional but in the chair you need to stay calm.
Brother Luigi interjects, “She was only told once by the referee!“
Yes, yes, only one time! Not so bad for my first time though… Next we will be in Nymburk for the training camp and I don’t know yet as for competitions, the next Open is in June so we will see, but I was really happy to be here today.
Judoka
Author: Thea Cowen