The 17 years old Michela TERRANOVA (ITA) gained today her first gold medal in -52kg category at the Cadets international circuit in home soil.
Coming from the small, dreams island of Ischia, close to Naples (Italy) today she was clearly in a mission for gold. After a hard final with her teammate, Gaia MASSIMETTI (ITA), she gave space to emotions.
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About two years ago her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer, at that time Michela was fighting in the U15 class and wanted a medal at the national championships to dedicate to her mom: she won the competition. Since that day Michela and her mother have fought together, in the hospital and on the mat.
My mom’s illness gave me an edge. I have been as close to her as possible and she has given to me the strength to push ahead on every occasion. During the pandemic I did not give up, I trained three times a day and all that efforts I made are now being paid off, little by little.
In the meantime, her mother has also recovered and continues to cheer on her daughter.
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Anyway, judo is a family business for the Terranovas. Living on a small Island with ca. 60.000 inhabitants and all in all 50/60 judokas, it is not easy so, especially during the pandemic, Michela could only count on her brother Rocco,
Periodically we take the ferry to the mainland to make randori on a higher level. Throughout this period my point of reference has been my dad, Rosario, who has always believed in me and I am very happy that he was sitting at my edge today.
At the end of the competition her father let his emotions flow as well,
I am moved, not just for the gold medal, but most of all for the strength and determination Michela conveyed to her mother all the time, they’ve fought together.
Author: Cinzia Valle
Judoka
Author: Thea Cowen