One gold, one silver, and a fifth place finish: this is the partial tally of CUS Bologna’s European summer, while awaiting the outcome of the university martial arts expedition set for the end of August.
Gold for the women’s basketball team coached by Jordan Losi, silver for Matteo Lolli’s men (also on the court), and a recent fifth place for the women’s volleyball squad led by Leonardo Palladino.
On paper – though only with a very superficial analysis – it may seem like a small step back compared to 2024. Let’s rewind the memory tape and recall that twelve months ago there were two golds (women’s basketball and volleyball) and a fourth place finish (men’s basketball).
The reality, however, is that CUS Bologna remains at the top level. And every year, maintaining that level becomes more difficult, especially as Alma Mater – which in this 2025 edition also set a new record in the medal table at the national university championships, securing first place overall in a result that went straight from news to history – has become a model for all.
But also a rival to beat.
And then, from 2017 to today – eight years that would actually be fewer, considering the mandatory pauses in 2020 and 2021 due to Covid – CUS Bologna has earned its own personal star, with 10 European titles.
Four in men’s basketball (2017, 2018, 2019, 2023), as many in women’s volleyball (2019, 2022, 2023, 2024), and two in women’s basketball (2024, 2025).
And it’s worth remembering that Bologna, just at the start of July, successfully hosted the EUSA European Basketball Championship (a first for the Two Towers in the academic world), and we can safely say that the red and white colors also bring good luck.
In 2017, in Miskolc, Hungary, a certain Pippo Ricci was part of the basketball team. From CUS Bologna onwards, Pippo has enjoyed a whirlwind of success, between national titles and appearances with the Italian national team.
In 2023, wearing the CUS Bologna jersey, there was Olbis Futo who, more recently, earned a historic bronze medal with the Italian national team at the Senior European Championships.
From the academic bronze of 2023 to this latest success, Olbis Futo shows what a launching pad CUS Bologna can be.
CUS Bologna – say the name, and that’s enough.
