The Judoka protagonist in Rio 2016, then out for two years: “I was doing reality, I was alone. Losing Michael a terrible blow, I want a gold medal to honor him”
The first answer that arrives on the phone is not exactly encouraging “Hey bye, you all forgotten me …”. Fabio Basile is directed, one true. He fights on the tatami without sparing himself. Judo Champagne. In life it opposes adversity with courage even when difficulties increase dramatically.
Where did we stay? He hasn’t been competing for more than two years …
“I was blocked by injuries and I had to operate but I have not gone, I am still in business, I train as always. What you never get used to is the frustration of not being there, to see other athletes win, perhaps not your level”.
“It all started in Tokyo, in 2021. I felt that the right arm was not in place but I didn’t notice. In the following months I continued to fight, I thought I had a muscle tear, I even won a medal at the Grand Prix of Linz. But the pain increased, I felt the electric discharges as soon as I took a blow around the neck. One day, it was 2023, my girlfriend Nika says that arm” Fabio. I like it, it seems to have shrunk “. The resonance in the neck was a disaster: two cervical vertebrae put badly and the related hernies expelled pushed on the core, the damaged nerves … training me on that pain I risked big, for the doctors I could remain tetrapy. I had to operate quickly”.
What do you remember on the day of the intervention?
“The awakening after eleven hours: I had my mom Tiziana, Frank Chamizo, who is like a brother, Giovanni Esposito and Kenny Kome Bedel, Judoka of the national team, and my barber Claudiu, a friend, without the precious work of Dr. Albanian and the staff of the Gemelli of Rome today my life would have been different”.
Instead on social media we see Basile who trains like an invaded, where does he find strength?
“In the desire to make those who unloaded me recredit me. When you win in sport they are all next to you, they call you in Dancing with the stars, to Big Brother … As soon as there are difficulties, however, remain alone. And this in the end becomes petrol for my engine. I have in a fire that burns, at 30 I train more than a twenty year old. Those lights I want to make them turn on again. I was deciding to stop, instead in November: kg “.
Are the goal of Los Angeles 2028 games?
“The way to qualify is long but going to the Olympiad counts less than the desire to go back to the tatami, have fun and make people understand that I am still there. Then if I win a World Cup or an Olympiad he must call me Netflix and make a series because it would be a crazy story”.
In Rio de Janeiro, that August 7, 2016, he was 21 years old. His gold in category 66 kg was historical: the number 200 for Italy at the Olympic Games.
“I won by beating the top 3 of the world ranking, one after the other, the crowning of an incredible path. Nobody would have bet one euro even on my qualification. For the technicians I was too young, I should have put myself in the head to prepare Tokyo, who would arrive later. I said no: I wanted to Rio at all costs. Day I was irrepressible, I just wanted to give show, take my opponents and project them.
In that Olympiad she and Odette Giuffrida you take the scene: gold and silver on the same day, unforgettable.
“At the level of technique Odi is one of the best athletes in history. It makes a difficult judo, few are behind them. And it is resilient, in this we have a lot in common. Today thanks to the work started some time ago by Kiyoshi Murakami as technical director Italy is a world power”.
At this moment there is also a lot of talk about the extra football. With Sinner tennis has become popular.
“Jannik is a model of discipline, shows that sport can transmit positive values. I hope that Judo one day becomes popular as tennis precisely because he has unique values”.
Maybe in a few years he will give Sinner some advice to participate in Dancing with the stars.
“Seeing him thus reserved I fear is a little” tied “, but it would be fun to see him at work”.
Who is next to her every day?
“Nika, my girlfriend. He was with me in the worst moments: when they died first my brother Michael and then my grandmother, when I operated on. It is my personal trainer, he has great skills and the results are seen, I feel fit. You will see it”.
She fell in love with Judo in 2000, seeing Pino Maddaloni conquer gold.
“I remember that moment well. I had begun to do judo thanks to Michael. When at 14 he took the black belt I was very happy. Losing my brother was a terrible blow, I intend to honor his memory”.
“Winning a gold, what he was worth”.
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