Born: 1966 (Rome, Italy)
Biography:
Alessandra Giungi, born on May 5, 1966, in Rome, Italy, is a former Italian judoka who made a significant impact on the sport during her career. She began practicing judo at the age of 8 and quickly displayed remarkable talent and determination. Throughout her competitive career, she competed in the 52 kg weight class, consistently showcasing her skills and becoming a prominent figure in the world of judo.
At the young age of 21, Giungi achieved her first international successes, winning bronze medals in 1987 at both the European Championships in Paris and the World Championships in Essen. These victories marked the beginning of a series of remarkable accomplishments that would span her career.
In 1988, Giungi became the European champion in Pamplona, Spain, and went on to participate in the Seoul Olympics in the same year. Women’s judo was only a demonstration sport at the time, but Giungi defied expectations and won the bronze medal. This triumph further solidified her status as a rising star in the world of judo.
The following year, Giungi won a silver medal at the World Championships in Belgrade, narrowly losing in the final to Britain’s Sharon Rendle. However, she quickly bounced back and secured her place in history by becoming the world champion in Barcelona in 1991. In an epic final, Giungi emerged victorious, avenging her loss to Rendle and etching her name in the annals of judo.
At the age of 26, Giungi returned to the Olympic Games, this time held in Barcelona in 1992, where women’s judo was officially recognized as a medal sport. Although she faced tough competition, Giungi showcased her exceptional skills and determination. She advanced to the quarterfinals but was ultimately defeated by the Japanese Noriko Mizoguchi, who went on to win the silver medal. In the bronze medal match, Giungi fought valiantly but narrowly missed out on a podium finish, losing to China’s Li Zhongyun. Despite falling short of her goal, Giungi’s performance affirmed her status as one of the world’s top judokas.
In the same year, Giungi continued to make her mark on European judo by winning a bronze medal at the European Championships in Paris. She replicated this result in 1993 in Athens, solidifying her status as a formidable competitor on the European stage. In 1994, Giungi reached the final of the European Championships in Gdańsk, only to be defeated by Poland’s Ewa Larysa Krause, settling for the silver medal. However, she quickly bounced back and reclaimed her European title the following year in Birmingham, defeating Belgium’s Heidi Goossens in the final.
Despite facing new challenges and competitors, Giungi’s determination remained unwavering. At the age of 30, she won her final international medal, a silver at the European Championships in The Hague. However, once again, it was Sharon Rendle who proved to be her toughest adversary, denying Giungi the gold medal. Following her last international competition, Giungi decided to retire from judo and transitioned into a coaching role. She continued to contribute to the sport by coaching Rosalba Forciniti, who went on to win the bronze medal at the London Olympics in 2012.
Outside of judo, Giungi is also a devoted mother to Andrej Ferro and an aunt to Emanuele Bruno. She currently runs the Fitness Club New Florida gym, where she continues to inspire and motivate others to pursue a healthy and active lifestyle. Alessandra Giungi’s contributions to the sport of judo and her lasting impact on the lives of athletes she has coached make her a true icon in the world of women’s sports.
Awards:
– European Champion (1988, 1995)
– World Champion (1991)
– Olympic Bronze Medalist (1988)