Being twenty-five doesn’t seem like much, having been born in Tolmezzo (Udine), in Friuli, on July 7, 2000. In the last three seasons she has been university European champion in the discipline of judo. There is no one like Betty Vuk who, for CUS Bologna, is more than just an icon. She is the champion, the girl of impossible missions. A woman capable of overcoming every obstacle, thanks to her talent and the sacrifices which, over the years, have made her one of the strongest Italian judokas.
Betty is one of the brightest and most outstanding examples of Alma Mater Studiorum, because she is among the students who have chosen the path of a dual career, the opportunity offered by Unibo to sports champions who still want to pursue their academic path. Betty is one of them: first Political Science, then a specialization in Criminology. She pursued her studies with great passion, which never prevented her from being a certainty within CUS Bologna. Betty competed at the European Championships and returned home with a gold medal around her neck.
A legend and an example. Betty’s greatness, which was built this way, between an exam brilliantly passed and a podium finish, has become a reference point for the entire red-and-white sporting community.
Strong, yet humble. Determined, yet with her feet on the ground. After winning her third European title, in Warsaw, Vuk described herself this way: “I think—these are Betty’s words—it was one of the toughest competitions of my life, not because of the technical or physical difficulty of my opponents, but rather because of my own physical and mental condition. It was a competition against myself, and I need a little time to process the day. But I cannot fail to thank CUS Bologna for the great opportunity and for the trust they placed in me in this successful attempt to prove myself once again.”
Among the happiest, and full of gratitude toward the Alma Mater world, was Fabio Fabbroni, CUS Bologna judo team manager and technical director:
“It was a tough day for a result that was anything but guaranteed,” says Fabbroni. “Betty was coming from a forced break and was just returning. And confirming oneself is never easy. But in the end, the gold arrived, along with a strong injection of confidence. For the National University Championships I relied on a young team, and this will be the path that, I hope, will bear fruit starting in 2026. I thank CUS Bologna for the support and the opportunity, as well as the projects of the University of Bologna dedicated to dual careers, which are essential to allow athletes like Betty to continue to grow, both inside and outside the tatami.”
