The opening day of the Junior European Judo Championships 2025 saw the -52kg division deliver an all Italian final with Gaia Stella catching the title in a thrilling final against Ilaria Finestrone.
This weight category has a rich history for Italy, with several of the nation’s biggest names beginning their journey with junior European titles. Rosalba Forciniti stood on top of the podium as a junior before going on to win Olympic bronze in London 2012. Odette Giuffrida, today a double Olympic medallist, claimed the junior crown twice, underlining her class early on. More recently, Giulia Carne won the junior European title in 2023, and now Gaia Stella steps forward as her successor, with the same pathway towards greater international success.
The early rounds in Bratislava were marked by upsets. Alyssia Poulange (FRA), the 2024 junior world bronze medallist and one of the day’s favourites, fell in the quarter-final to Hungary’s Szabó Réka. Riding the momentum of that surprise win, Szabó battled through to secure bronze, her determination and sharp judo rewarded with a place on the podium. Serbia’s Bojana Savić joined her, after eliminating several high seeds including Germany’s number two, Tabea Nika Mecklenburg.
The final, however, belonged to Italy. Training partners and best friends Ilaria Finestrone and Gaia Stella faced each other for gold in an emotional all-Italian showdown. Finestrone thought she had the advantage when a yuko was briefly awarded, but the score was overturned on review. With tension rising, the contest went into golden score. It was here that Stella struck, launching a lightning tai-otoshi that sealed victory and the European junior crown.
For the two Italians, there was no bitterness, only joy. “We would not have it any other way,” they laughed together after the match. Finestrone admitted, smiling: “She always wins against me, so it was no news… but I still love her.”
Though training on opposite sides of the country, Stella in Rome, Finestrone in Puglia, their friendship has only deepened through years of camps and competitions. Both look up to Odette Giuffrida as their model of success. “She’s not only a champion in our weight category, but also such a kind person,” they said. Their international inspiration? Japan’s Olympic champion Abe Uta.
With medals earned and ambitions sharpened, both Stella and Finestrone already have their sights set on the Junior World Championships in four weeks’ time, where they hope to meet again, this time with the world title at stake.