Sara LISCIANI, a familiar name among judo fans following the route of the next generation as she has long been a standout in the younger divisions. A double junior European medallist (2021, 2022), she has also tested herself on the IJF World Tour in recent years. Yet, despite her potential, things hadn’t fallen into place for her, until now.
Just as she was poised to transition from a successful junior career to senior competition, Lisciani faced a major setback: two knee surgeries. This disrupted her momentum, forcing her to rebuild and refocus.
Reflecting on her victory today in Podgorica, Lisciani shared: “It was a difficult period, and I had been waiting for this medal for a long time. Today, everything finally came together. Since the surgeries, I have struggled to get back on track. This medal means so much to me. I want to thank the Carabinieri Sports Group for always supporting me, my coach Gianluca Ferro for being by my side, and my uke, Ylenia, who helped me through everything. And of course, my family, who is everything to me.”
Her performance appeared effortless from the outside, but did she feel the same? “Yes, absolutely. I worked hard for this. The semi-final was challenging, but I felt strong inside. I knew I could reach the gold medal.”
As for what’s next in her journey, Lisciani has her sights set on bigger goals: “I will be fighting at the European Open in Rome and focusing on working my way back onto the IJF World Tour with success.”
After overcoming surgeries and setbacks, Sara Lisciani is back and determined to rise through the ranks under a well-decorated Italian team and this long-awaited medal is just the beginning.
Full results from the Podgorica Senior European Cup are available on judotv.com
Author: Szandra Szogedi