Judo, Assunta Scutto aims for a world championship encore: "I want to make history and give hope to Scampia"

A gold to make history. But also to give hope to many young people who, due to complicated situations, risk keeping their dreams in a drawer without ever having the chance to realize them. An objective, that of Assunta Scutto, reigning world judo champion in the 48 kg category, which starts from afar. Raised in Scampia, the Italian judoka will be involved in the world championship which will start in Baku on October 4th with "the aim of confirming myself as world champion again this year. I will give my all to achieve this and I hope to give this joy to all of Italy", her words to ANSA before leaving for the Azerbaijani capital.

A medal from the most precious metal, in fact, would allow the young Italian judoka to equal the record of Emanuela Pierantozzi, the only Italian in the history of the discipline to have won two individual world gold medals. "But I don't feel the pressure of records or results, I don't set limits for myself and I believe in my abilities", assures Scutto. A story, that of the young judoka, which represents an example for many because, as Scutto underlines, "for me judo was salvation. My neighborhood, Scampia, can drag you into dark places and make you make choices that don't reflect what you actually want. Thanks to judo I was free to choose my destiny and believe in it, without giving in to the mentality of the neighborhood. I see many young people who have dreams but who think that, just because they come from that area, they cannot come true".

And inspired by Pino Maddaloni, Olympic gold medalist in Sydney 2000 whose story also gave life to a film, because "if he could do it, I can do it too. My goal is to bring a female Olympic gold medal to my neighborhood because there hasn't been any woman who has done it so far", admits Scutto.

First the world championship, to confirm herself as champion and equal Pierantozzi, then the Olympics, with the Los Angeles Games already in her sights. "I'm already thinking about it because it's right to have immediate goals, but also long-term ones. They've been on my mind since the day after the elimination in Paris, which left a bad taste in my mouth. And even if this world championship doesn't go as I hope, my final goal remains the gold medal at the Games." A pact of steel, that of Scutto, with itself and its roots, to reiterate to the world that, even starting from Scampia and following the example of Maddaloni, history can be written.