TORONTO – July 25, 2021: 20-year-old Italy’s Vito Dell’Aquila (in the pic) beat 19-year-old Mohamed Khalil Jendoubi of Tunisia 16-12 to win the Olympic gold medal in the men’s 58 kg taekwondo final at Tokyo 2020, the very first gold for the Azzurri’s Team in Japan.
The 20-year-old European Champion – born in Apulia southern region – who was making his Games’ debut, launched his attack on Jendoubi from the start of the closely fought contest at the Makuhari Messe Hall A in Tokyo. They were tied at 10-10 with seconds left on the clock before Dell’Aquila won with a series of strikes. At a press conference afterwards, the italian winner said he was happy with his victory and was now looking forward to having some rest when he returns home to Italy.
“This gold is dedicated to my grandfather, who passed away a month ago and tonight he was looking at me from up there: I was sure I would win “ Dell’Aquila said.
In 25 June 2017 Dell’Aquila won a bronze medal at the 2017 World Taekwondo Championships in Muju losing in the semifinals to the eventual world champion Kim Tae-hun in the Men’s finweight (54 kg) competition. Born November 3, 2000 – in Mesagne, Brindisi – on 24 July 2021, being ranked number 2 in the Men’s 58 kg olympic ranking, Dell’Aquila won the gold medal at the 2020 Summer Olympics beating the 2021 African champion, Mohamed Khalil Jendoubi, in the final of the Men’s 58 kg.
