September 18th 24 years ago was a Monday; on that magical day for Italian sport, Pine Maddaloni – a 24 year old Neapolitan boy who was unknown to most people at the time – he gave to his city and to all of Italy one of the most beautiful victories ever achieved at the Olympic Gamesthat in that year, 2000, were held in Sydney, Australia.
However, so many years have passed since then, the feeling – even today – is that the real and most important victories Pino Maddaloni only conquered them in the following years. And right in her Naples; in the Scampia district, to be precise. It is here – in fact – that he taught many young people the ancient and wonderful art of Judo, literally taking them off the streets and giving each of them an opportunity for redemption and a reason to fight for..
In recent days, Pino was a highly acclaimed and very welcome guest of the city of Anagni. To invite him, as had already happened in previous years, was the black belt master judoka Francis Lucianocoordinator of the ASD Judo-Clan of Anagni. Not just a Judo internship, but a real celebration of friendship and sport for many kids from Anagni and beyondas the master also explains Francesco Luciano: “that of Pino, dear friend of our association, it is a story of success but also of awareness and discipline. Judo, in fact, is much more than a sport: It teaches you to react, to give your best, to be honest with yourself and with others, and also to learn to accept what is wrong.“.
“With sport you can grow and change your future, I am proof of that. Many of my childhood friends were lost and in prison when I won the Gold. My quality was not giving up, I took a lot of beatings because I wanted to become a policeman and I went to train instead of being on the street. I was not admired, but mocked,” she said in turn Pino.
