Odette Giuffrida Faces a New Challenge on the Road to LA 2028

Odette Giuffrida is approaching the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic cycle with the same competitive drive that has defined her judo career, but with a changed perspective. The Italian world champion and two-time Olympic medallist says the athlete she is today matters more than trying to recreate a past version of herself.

Giuffrida arrived at Rio 2016 with limited international expectation and left with Olympic silver. She later claimed bronze at Tokyo and became world champion, but her journey has also included setbacks, physical interruptions and the disappointment of losing the Paris 2024 bronze medal contest.

In 2026, she is navigating another demanding phase. Giuffrida said she has grown especially on a mental level after a season of ups and downs, and sees every difficult period as preparation for her next major goals. An injury has been another test, yet she remains focused on working hard and moving forward positively.

For an athlete who once felt able to train without limits, adapting to what her body needs has not always been easy. Giuffrida admitted there were moments when she considered stopping judo because she did not feel she was doing enough. But time away from normal training also gave her a sharper appreciation for the routine that elite athletes can easily take for granted.

Training, sweating and preparing for competition are no longer simply parts of the job. For Giuffrida, being able to do judo is something to value.

Giuffrida is building toward LA 2028 with experience, patience and her fighting spirit intact.

Her message reaches beyond medals. She believes achievements are not reserved only for champions or people born with exceptional talent, and encourages others to create their own story rather than trying to become someone else. Inspiration can be useful, she says, but imitation should not replace individuality.

That mindset is matched by the intensity she still feels on the tatami. Even after more than a decade among the world's leading judoka, Giuffrida says she approaches each competition with the feeling of a first event while carrying the lessons of her career. Her past titles and medals do not fight for her in the next contest; what remains is the desire to compete, to feel the work behind the performance and to bring out the warrior within.

For Giuffrida, the road to Los Angeles is not about returning to who she was at 20. It is about taking the person she has become as far as possible.

Source: EJU.net

Image source: EJU / European Judo Union