Sergio Massidda

Sergio Massidda was born on January 26th, 2002, and he’s an Italian weightlifter who quickly rose through the ranks and is well on his way to become one of the most prominent figures of weightlifting. He competes mostly in the 61 kg and the 67 kg categories and has won multiple medals in various championships. Some of them are gold medals at the Youth World Weightlifting Championships and the European Junior & U23 Weightlifting Championships. His journey in weightlifting is marked by dedication, rigorous training, and a series of impressive performances. 

He started his weightlifting journey at the age of 14 when he started training at a functional fitness gym. Under the guidance of his coach, Sebastiano Corbu, the coach of the Italian national team, he quickly learned the basics of lifting and progressed forward. The cornerstone of Massidda’s training philosophy is Corbu’s advice to hold the barbell with confidence and determination. 

His first major international success came in 2019, at the Youth World Weightlifting Championships in Las Vegas, US. He competed in the men’s 55 kg event and won a gold medal, which was his first world title. 

In 2021, Massidda continued to build on his success by winning the gold medal in the men’s 61 kg event at the European Junior & U23 Weightlifting Championships in Rovaniemi, Finland. Next year, he defended his title at the same championships in Albania. 

At the 2022 European Weightlifting Championships, he got a silver medal in the men’s 61 kg event and later that year, he competed in  the IWF World Championships in the same weight category and finished in fourth place. 

He moved up to the 67 kg category in 2023 and continued to excel. He won a silver medal at the European Championships and a bronze at the IWF Grand Prix. 

He trains twice a day, six days a week and despite the intense schedule, he manages to maintain a strict diet to make sure his performance stays at its peak. 

Outside of weightlifting, he likes music and gymnastics. He likes to play the guitar and piano, although his training schedule usually leaves him little to no time for hobbies. He also has a passion for artistic gymnastics, and he hopes to explore that sometime in the future. 

Shi Zhi Yong is one of his biggest inspirations and Massida admires his unique approach to competition and handling the barbell. Looking ahead, he aims to continue his rise in lifting, and he aspires to compete at the highest levels and achieve even more success on the international stage.