On Sunday evening, Italy’s Vito Dell’Aquila won the world taekwondo gold in the 58 kg category in Guadalajara, after winning the Olympic gold in Tokyo in the summer of last year.
The 22-year-old from Mesagne in Puglia beat South Korea’s Jun Jang 13-4 in the finals.
“I’m happy for myself and for Italy,” he said.
“I’m sorry for Simone Alessio, who was knocked out, even though he was top of the rankings.
“This gold is his too, but he’ll make up for it. It is also for all the other athletes who took part in this world championship.
“This gold is the result of the work and training that we put in every day, shoulder to shoulder. This win is dedicated to them and to my family, who had to pull an all-nighter to watch me.”
Dell’Aquila won Italy’s first gold at the 2020 Olympic Games, and is the first Italian born after 2000 to have won gold for his country.
