Double gold for Italy: Alice Bellandi in judo, Giovanni De Gennaro in canoe slalom

At the Paris 2024 Olympics double gold for Italy. Within minutes of each other, Alice Bellandi in judo and Giovanni De Gennaro in the kayak speciality of slalom canoeing took the top step of the podium. Now the total of Italian gold medals has risen to five.

Alice Bellandi won a splendid gold medal in judo, 78 kg category. The Italian, No. 1 in the world rankings, defeated her Israeli rival, Inbar Lanir, No. 3, before the regulation time with a point in her favour, but it was the third shido taken by the Israeli that decided it, 30 seconds from the end. The match could have ended a minute from the end for an ippon in the Italian's roster, which was not conceded by the referee.

Giovanni De Gennaro finished the event without penalty with a total time of 88.22. Silver went to Frenchman Titouan Castryck (88.42), bronze to Spaniard Pau Echaniz (88.87).

The 32-year-old De Gennaro gives Italy its fourth gold medal in this Olympic Games, Italy returns to triumph in canoeing 12 years after Daniele Molmenti's success at the 2012 Londa Games. The Italian was the protagonist of a race always in the leading positions in the various stages, then in the last downhill he made a clear path without penalties making the difference against his opponents.

Born in Brescia, Italy, De Gennaro started canoeing at the age of eight. In his palmares he boasts a 1st place at the World Championships in the K1 team event in 2013, as well as four World Cup victories also in K1. De Gennaro was also third twice at the European Championships in team K1.