Italian Olympic weightlifter Antonino Pizzolato, 29, who won bronze at both the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Olympics, was sentenced on Monday to five years and four months in prison for gang raping a 27-year-old Finnish tourist in Sicily in July 2022. Three other defendants—Davide Lupo, 31, Claudio Tutino, 35, and Stefano Mongiovì, 30, all from Agrigento—received the same sentence.
Court Ruling and Victim's Courage
A judicial panel presided over by Judge Franco Messina rejected the defence's arguments and ordered damages to be awarded to the victim, who acted as a civil claimant. The prosecution had originally requested a 10-year sentence for all four defendants. The victim's legal team, led by Nicola Pellegrino and Valentina Morici, expressed deep satisfaction with the decision.
“The Court's ruling represents an important step in a painful and delicate matter,” Ms Pellegrino stated. “This is a decision we welcome with respect and profound satisfaction, because it restores the focus to the voice of the injured party, to their pain, their dignity, and the courage with which they faced the trial.” She noted that while no victory can erase the victim's suffering, “the State has provided a clear response.”
Details of the Assault
The assault occurred during the night of July 21 to 22, 2022, while the victim was on vacation in Sicily. After spending the evening in Trapani's historic centre and seafront venues with friends, the victim chose to continue the night with a group of four Italian men at a local residence, while her friends returned to their hotel.
According to the trial reconstruction, the situation escalated when the woman noticed Davide Lupo filming her without permission while she kissed another member of the group. She demanded the video be deleted. The prosecution detailed that the abuse began after this confrontation. The victim testified that she later fell asleep on a couch and awoke in a state of shock, choosing not to resist out of sheer fear. The violence only stopped when she insisted on being taken back to her apartment. She reported the assault to the Carabinieri the following day.
Appeals and Ongoing Proceedings
The defendants' lawyers have announced they will appeal the case. The civil defence will review the court's formal filing of reasons once available and will continue to follow the case with strict determination. Pizzolato, a multiple European champion and former world record holder, now faces prison time and disgrace.
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