Ezio Gamba

Ezio Gamba is one of Italy’s greatest sporting icons and a towering figure in international judo. Born in Brescia, he rose to global prominence at the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow, where he captured gold and became Olympic Champion. Four years later in Los Angeles he returned to the Olympic final, adding silver to complete a remarkable double Olympic medal record.

Gamba also claimed the European title in 1982 and was widely regarded as one of the finest technicians of his era. His competitive intelligence and tactical awareness made him a benchmark in his weight category and secured his place among Italy’s all-time sporting greats.

After retiring from competition, Gamba’s influence grew even further through coaching. He led the Italian national team before taking charge of Russia’s programme, guiding athletes to three Olympic gold medals as well as silver and bronze medals with a total of seven different judoka reaching the podium. His impact on Russian judo was so significant that in 2013 he received the Russian Order of Friendship for his contribution to sport.

Beyond medals, Gamba has become a mentor to coaches worldwide, helping to develop leadership structures and raise standards across nations. His legacy extends far beyond his own Olympic triumph.

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