Olympic weightlifter, 28, won bronze medal at Paris 2024 ‘while on trial for gang rape of tourist’
ITALIAN Olympic weightlifter Antonino Pizzolato was reportedly on trial for rape during his bronze medal success at the Paris Olympics.
Pizzolato, 28, won bronze for his nation in the Men’s 81kg Snatch and Clean and Jerk weightlifting event.
Reports in Italy have claimed that the two-time Olympian was on trial for gang rape during the Paris games.
It’s suggested that Pizzolato’s trial began well in advance of the Olympics this summer and has not yet concluded.
Pizzolato is one of four defendants standing trial accused of raping a 28-year-old Finnish tourist in Sicily.
The accusations date back to July 2022 with Pizzolato and his three friends Davide Lupo, Claudio Tutino and Stefano Mongiovi accused of aggravated gang rape after meeting the victim in a restaurant.
A court in Italy heard that the victim had befriended the four defendants before heading to a club on the beach with them and two of her friends.
Shen then told the court that she was heavily intoxicated when she went back to the room of one of the four accused men and was raped by all four until she began crying and begged them to stop.
Italian outlet Corriere Della Sera claim that the victim’s account has been corroborated by witness reports taken by the police.
It’s also claimed that the victim has medical examinations from the hospital she visited after reporting the incident to the police.
The prosecutor’s office have charged the four defendants with the rape of a person “with limited self-control and in a state of stupor and mental inhibition such as to prevent her from energetically resisting the acts of violence”.
Pizzolato has competed in two Olympic games, Tokyo and Paris, winning bronze on both occasions.
The athlete was suspended from the Italian Weightlifting Federation for 10 months in 2018 after he admitted charges of bullying and acting in a threatening manner towards teammates, most of whom were minors at the time.
While his bronze medal this summer was shrouded in controversy after his final lift attempt had be reviewed after suggestion he had bent his arm in the lift, something that should invalidate an attempt.