Italian Championship: Anna Gruber takes bronze

At this year's Italian Junior Championship, which took place in Arezzo (Tuscany), the young martial artist Anna Gruber from Andrian caused a stir.

07 April 2025

From: pm

At just 16 years old, the Taekwondo Südtirol-Eurotherm athlete secured the bronze medal in the -59 kg weight class, underscoring her great potential. The championships saw a record 372 junior participants competing for the coveted title.

For Anna Gruber, this was her first participation in an Italian Junior A championship – a remarkable start that cemented her place among the country's best young talents. In her quarterfinal, the student from the Bolzano high school comfortably defeated Marletta Asia from Sicily 2-0. However, in the semifinal, she was defeated 0-2 by eventual finalist Martina Elisa from Apulia. Anna delivered a particularly strong performance in the second round, which was very close and provided the spectators with a thrilling contest.

Her teammate Maya Wenin from Terlan, who competed in the -52 kg weight class, also delivered a strong performance. After winning her first bout, she unfortunately had to admit defeat to the eventual finalist, despite fighting with full commitment until the end.

The level of the U18 category in Italy has risen noticeably in recent years. The athletes are not only physically well prepared, but also tactically at a very high level. This was particularly evident in the exciting and technically demanding matches that thrilled the spectators in Arezzo.

The Italian Championships in Arezzo were not only a sporting success for Anna Gruber, but also a clear sign of the rise of young talent in Italy. With a record number of participants and many impressive performances, the U18 Championships in Italy remain a significant event in youth sports.