Carolina Costa

Started: She took up judo as a child in Messina, Italy. With her eyesight having worsened, she withdrew from non-Para judo in January 2018 and joined the Italian Federation of Paralympic Sports for Blind and Visually Impaired [FISPIC]. (fijlkam.it, 19 Nov 2018) Reason: Both of her parents were judo instructors. (fijlkam.it, 19 Nov 2018) Ambition: To win gold at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. (messina.gazzettadelsud.it, 14 Nov 2022) Awards: In 2022 and 2023 she received the Collare d'Oro for Sporting Merit from the Italian Olympic Committee and the Italian Paralympic Committee. (FISPIC Facebook page, 22 Dec 2023; messina.gazzettadelsud.it, 14 Nov 2022) In 2022 she received the Medal for Sport Value from the city government of Messina in Italy. (Tempostretto TV Messina YouTube channel, 30 Nov 2022) In September 2020 she received the Motu Proprio award from the Italian Federation of Judo, Wrestling, Karate and Martial Arts [FIJLKAM]. It was presented in recognition of her achievements in 2019, which included winning gold in the +70kg category at the 2019 European Championships and bronze at the 2019 IBSA Paralympic Qualifier in Fort Wayne, IN, United States of America. (sportmenews.it, 06 Sep 2020) Additional Info: FATHER'S INSPIRATION Her sporting career has been inspired by her father Franco Costa, who was a judo master and died when she was age 11. "I entered dad's gym barely able to take my first steps. I remember that I was mesmerised by the sound of thuds on the mats and the screams from the children during their lessons. Even then, that was my life or following my mother who was involved in competitions abroad. The phrase my father used to repeat to me still rings in my head, 'Never give up', and I didn't give up. I lost him when I was only 11 and I was between my pre-competitive and competitive stage, but we were two bodies and one soul." In 2018 she formed a judo club named after her father in Messina, Italy. "We closed the gym my family had after his death. We couldn't carry it on on our own, mum and me. But now that I am old enough to take on the responsibility, I have opened mine and the students come because no one has forgotten my father's name in Messina." (comitatoparalimpico.it, 04 Jun 2019)

Sporting Relatives: Her mother Katarzyna Juszczak competed in judo and freestyle wrestling at international level. She represented Poland in the 78kg judo category at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona and Italy in the 72kg freestyle wrestling category at the 2004 Games in Athens. Her father Franco Costa was a judo master in Messina, Italy. (SportsDeskOnline, 29 Apr 2021; messina.gazzettadelsud.it, 14 Nov 2018)