Maria Centracchio Brings Judo’s Values to a New Generation

Maria Centracchio is using her experience in European Judo to support young judoka on and beyond the tatami. During the U23 European Judo Championships Naples 2026, the former U23 European medallist spoke about coaching, mentoring and the importance of giving emerging athletes a platform.

Centracchio is balancing several roles. Alongside coaching at her club, Fiamme Oro, and working with the European Judo Union as a European Judo Hero at Judo Hopes tournaments, she has taken on a new television role in Italy.

She is the Judo teacher on Amici, a well-known Italian programme and school traditionally focused on dancers and singers. Judo, boxing and roller skating have now been added, and Centracchio trains a student who competes in the –52 kg category.

For Centracchio, the role is about more than technical training. She wants to make Judo more visible to younger people while sharing the sport’s values and principles. That aim connects directly with her work at Judo Hopes events, where she encourages young athletes to follow their ambitions.

Centracchio’s work links coaching, mentoring and a wider audience for Judo.

Naples also carries strong personal memories for the Italian judoka. Around the time she won her U23 European medal, she spent many days training in the same sports hall hosting the championships. She described the venue as a second home.

Watching European athletes compete there now has special meaning for her. Centracchio sees the U23 European Championships as an important stage: a place where athletes can show themselves, be noticed and take a significant step towards senior Judo.

She also highlighted the impact the event can have on young spectators supporting their teammates. Seeing athletes fight for their goals, she believes, can give other young judoka the motivation to pursue their own dreams.

For Centracchio, that message sits at the centre of her growing role as a mentor. Whether she is coaching in Italy, working with the EJU or teaching on television, her focus remains clear: help young people discover what Judo can give them and encourage them to believe in their own path.

Source: EJU.net

Image source: EJU / European Judo Union