Naples Prepares for Europe’s Next Generation of Judoka

The European Judo Championships U23 will arrive in Naples from 30 October to 1 November 2026. Young judoka from across the continent will compete in southern Italy for one of the final major European titles of the year.

For the host city, the tournament is more than a new date on the international calendar. Naples and its surrounding region have a long connection with Judo, producing champions, coaches and families whose stories have shaped Italian Judo over several generations.

Nicola Tempesta stands among the earliest major figures of Neapolitan Judo. A pioneer of the sport in Italy, he reached ninth dan, won European titles in 1957 and 1961, and represented Italy at Tokyo 1964, where Judo made its Olympic debut.

Another important name is Nicola Angelo Fetta. A World University Games silver medallist in 1980, Fetta was known for his ne-waza expertise before later working alongside Olympic champion and respected coach Ezio Gamba.

Naples also gave Italian Judo one of its most recognisable Olympic champions. Giuseppe Pino Maddaloni claimed the -73kg Olympic title at Sydney 2000, adding gold to European titles won in 1998 and 1999.

Maddaloni grew up in Scampia, a neighbourhood in northern Naples where his father, Gianni Maddaloni, made the dojo about far more than sporting results. The club offered young people discipline, a community and an alternative to the influence of organised crime.

In Naples, Judo history has often been closely tied to family and community.

The impact of the Maddaloni family became widely known beyond the tatami. Their work at the Judo school loosely inspired the 2014 television film L’Oro di Scampia, also known as The Gold of Scampia.

Pino’s younger brother, Marco Maddaloni, added another chapter to the family record by winning the U23 European title twice before continuing his career in various television programmes.

When the U23 European Championships reach Naples in 2026, a new group of athletes will compete in a city that already understands what Judo can mean: elite success, long-term commitment and a place for young people to build their future.

Source: EJU.net

Image source: EJU / European Judo Union