The passing of Italian World medallist Michele Monti

It is a sad day for Italian judo, the team of Fiamme Gialle and the family of Michele Monti. The 48-year-old Italian judoka passed away on Saturday evening after a tragic car accident, although he was suffering a brain tumor.

Monti from Livorno was 1997 World bronze medallist in Paris fighting U86kg. He was fifth at the World Championships in 2003 in Osaka. Monti competed at the Olympic Games of Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004. He won bronze at the European Championships in 2004 in Bucharest. He took gold in the A-tournaments of Budapest and Rome. He is 6 time Italian champion.

Until 2001 he fought U90kg and stepped up to the U100kg weight class. In 2001 he also became European Champion with the Italian team in Madrid. One year later he became World Military Champion in Beijing.

Michele loved playing tennis. He was coached himself by Felice Mariani and Ezio Gamba. In October 2015 doctors discovered a tumor and suffered with his illness for three years. The team of Fiamme Gialle that fought in Bucharest this weekend is very sad to hear the news. 

Michele Monti fought against the great athletes of the world such as Nicolas Gill (CAN), Frederic Demontfaucon (FRA), Yosvane Despaigne (CUB), Armen Bagdasarov (UZB), Mark Huizinga (NED), Winston Gordon (GBR), Daniel Guerschner (GER), Marko Spittka (GER), Ihar Makarau (BLR), Ariel Zeevi (ISR), Ilias Iliadis (GRE), Keiji Suzuki (JPN) and so many great players who will remember Monti as a great fighter in all means.