Italy’s Luigi Busa is one of Karate's first Olympic athletes. The Italian Kumite star earned the ticket to the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 after finishing among the top four in his category in the Olympic standings.

Italy’s Luigi Busa is one of Karate's first Olympic athletes. The Italian Kumite star earned the ticket to the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 after finishing among the top four in his category in the Olympic standings.

The World Karate Federation announced the first 40 karatekas who will be participating in the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 after the closing of the first stage of the Olympic qualification process. Italy’s Luigi Busa is one of the 40 men and women who have reached the dream of winning the ticket to Tokyo 2020.

“I have been preparing a lot for this moment, and I am very happy to be able to participate in the Olympic Games,” said Luigi Busa. “I have reached my goal but I will fight to make my dream come true (of winning a medal) in Tokyo,” added the Italian fan favourite.

(Luigi Busa in action at the 2020 Karate 1-Premier League Dubai)

SECOND IN KARATE OLYMPIC STANDINGS

Luigi Busa finished in the second position of Karate’s Olympic standings in the category of Male Kumite -75kg. Together with Iran’s Bahman Asgari Ghoncheh, Azerbaijan’s Rafael Aghayev, Ukraine’s Stanislav Horuna and Japan’s Ken Nishimura, Busa is one of the athletes who are already qualified for the Games in this category. 

“I want to thank the team of Italy for their help and for managing so well all this process. We have been working together as one big team, and I would like to express my gratitude to all the national team members, technical director, coaches, my team-mates, doctor, physiotherapists, mental coach, and managing staff,” said Busa.

Born in Avola (Siracusa), Luigi Busa comes from a long-established and renowned Karate family as his father Nello is a 7-Dan black belt and national coach. With medals in all major international events, the 32-year-old athlete is one of the most popular karatekas of his category.

(Luigi Busa celebrates winning bronze at the 2016 World Championships)

TWO-TIME WORLD CHAMPION

The 5-Dan black belt in Shotokan started reaching the podium of international events at a very early age. As a cadet, he proved to be one of the most promising athletes of his generation when he took bronze at the World Cadet Championships in 2003. His first major international achievement in senior competitions came not long after that since three years later he was proclaimed World champion at the 2006 World Senior Championships.

Following that historic moment for Italian Karate, Busa has collected an impressive tally of awards, including no less than five continental titles (2007, 2014, 2017 and 2019) and one more World crown, in a celebrated final against Rafael Aghayev in the 2012 World Championships.

The current continental champion has taken two medals this year, after claiming silver at the Karate 1-Premier League Dubai and bronze at the Karate 1-Premier League Paris. He has won no less than six gold medals at Karate 1-Premier League events in his successful career. 

(Luigi Busa performs one of his trade-mark kicks at the Karate 1-Premier League Tokyo)

“I would like to thank my club C.S.Carabinieri, they are like family to me. Their support has been extremely important. And above all, thanks to my dad and to all my family, you are the most important reference in my life,” added the Italian star.

With an ample number of followers on social media and fans celebrating his victories all over the world, Luigi Busa is one of the most popular karatekas in the world and one of the top favourites to cause a sensation in Tokyo 2020.

CLICK HERE to find out who are the 40 qualified athletes for Tokyo 2020. 

(Luigi Busa crowned as winner of the 2012 World Championships)