The debut of Karate at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics was a monumental moment for karateka across the globe, with world-class Karate athletes being recognized as Olympic champions. One such Olympic Athlete, Silvia Semeraro, had the honour of representing Italy as the first female karateka to debut at the Olympics.
SILVIA SEMERARO: OLYMPIC ATHLETE AND KARATE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS MEDALIST
The debut of Karate at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics was a monumental moment for karateka across the globe, with world-class Karate athletes being recognized as Olympic champions. One such Olympic Athlete, Silvia Semeraro, had the honour of representing Italy as the first female karateka to debut at the Olympics.
No stranger to elite competition, Silvia achieved gold medals at the 2018 Mediterranean Games and 2019 European Games while also taking the podium at the 2018, 2019, and 2021 European Championships.
We recently spoke to Silvia about her Olympic journey, which she described as an entirely different experience than her previous competitions – starting with her training.
Making sure to take a holistic training approach, Silvia dedicated herself to improving her fundamentals and addressing areas she believed lacking.
"My training is very accurate, detailed, and executed with lucidity. Working on timing, tactical situations, defence, and many physicality's, I did not neglect anything. Preparing both physically and mentally, above all else, I trained areas of weakness."
However, Silva knows that karate is a sport for the mind and body, and physical improvement alone is not enough.
"Working with a psychologist certainly helps to improve my mental game and mind, but let's say that eighty per cent is in the head, the rest is in the body. I also train breathing and do exercises every day dedicated to the mind, concentration, and meditation."
"My training is very accurate, detailed, and executed with lucidity. Working on timing, tactical situations, defence, and many physicality's, I did not neglect anything. Preparing both physically and mentally, above all else, I trained areas of weakness."
However, Silva knows that karate is a sport for the mind and body, and physical improvement alone is not enough.
"Working with a psychologist certainly helps to improve my mental game and mind, but let's say that eighty per cent is in the head, the rest is in the body. I also train breathing and do exercises every day dedicated to the mind, concentration, and meditation."
"The body must be trained, certainly with self-convention, determination, concentration and above all, awareness of what one is and what one must not be. You have to learn how to use the body and mind well, especially in this situational and instinctive sport."
Taking to the Olympic Tatami for the first time, Silvia Semeraro found herself against Japan's Ayumi Uekusa. In her first bout on the Olympic stage, Silvia managed a confident victory over Uekusa, scoring a decisive ippon to win the bout 4-3.
For the rest of her Olympic bouts, Silvia showed an abundance of courage, confidence, and determination, but it was her last fight against Turkey's Hacaoglu Akyol that truly tested her mental and physical fortitude.
During this match, Akyol struck Silvia in the back of the head with a kick, causing blood to gush out over her Gi and the mats. The match was promptly paused to allow medics to attend to Silvia, whose wound needed stitches.
Olympic officials replaced the blood-soaked mats, and when Silvia had been bandaged up, she continued fighting. Silvia went on to win the bout with an incredible 9-4 victory over Akyol, with spectators commenting on Silvia's endurance.
Impressed by her ability to forge ahead, we asked Silvia where she developed this mental and physical toughness.
"My tenacity comes from where I was born, my family, my roots, how I grew up, and my experiences in the fields of sports and life. I am a gritty person, determined, stubborn - I never give up; therefore, I like to be myself. This is what comes out in my karate. So, this tenaciousness is fortified and is a winning feature of mine that makes me feel good and that I've had since childhood."
Growing up means constantly improving oneself, and Silvia believes her childhood attitude has contributed to her becoming the elite athlete she is today.
"You never stop learning. Since I was a child, I have wanted to be one of the world's strongest athletes and the strongest ever. I have always liked to fight with bigger and stronger athletes to compare myself against these expert athletes and increase my experience and skill."
This is why to Silvia, the Olympics was more than just a remarkable achievement, but the manifestation of a lifelong ambition.
"My favourite thing about the Olympics was fighting among the best in the world and participating in the Olympics for the first time. It was an unrepeatable experience. I managed to give my best and have no regrets or grudges... Fighting in Japan, where karate was born, and in the Budokan dojo was incredible. The Olympics was different from World Championships or the European Championships - I felt like I was in a bubble, a magical sphere where I was fully able to live with so many emotions."
Challenging the best is a core part of Silvia's motivation, and she was thrilled to have the opportunity to meet Irina Zaretska on the tatami.
"I respect World Champion Irina Zaretska as an athlete a lot. She has a fighting style that I like; she is a complete, talented athlete. I really like that she is always very focused; she is very tactical and makes few mistakes."
While it was an incredibly close bout, Zaretska was able to take the victory from Silvia with a score of 3-2. However, this defeat did not leave Silvia in despair; it had quite the opposite effect.
"Karate has taught me a lot, and even from a defeat, I learn a lot. Mistakes are understood; our limits are understood. It is not a problem to have limitations, but it is better for moving forward if I know them. The important thing is to always give my best. I must not be afraid. Karate made me understand who I am. Through karate, I am aware of myself. The defeat does not ruin my existence, but from that defeat, I try to draw as many lessons as possible, and I feel more willing to be even stronger in the next competition."
I am a gritty person, determined, stubborn - I never give up.
SILVIA SEMERARO
i AM A GRITTY PERSON, DETERMINED, STUBBORN - I NEVER GIVE UP.
SILVIA SEMERARO
Karate has played a significant role in Silvia's attitude towards competition and life in general and has provided the educational foundation for much of what she has learned.
"Karate has also taught me discipline, respect, control, how to manage and seize the right moment, and how to understand or read the opponent's thoughts. However, a crucial thing in karate is to always have fun. Even if I am a professional in karate, I always try to have fun and not be afraid of any opponent; indeed, if they are instinctive and eclectic like me, it is even better."
Silvia recently competed in the WKF Karate 2021 World Championships in Dubai, where she again came up against Irina Zaretska, this time in the grand final. After another incredibly close bout, the match ended with a score of 3-3, with the victory going to Zarestska for holding Senshu (scoring the first point).