Davide Benetello, born January 31, 1973 in Venice, Italy, is a former Italian karateka who left his mark on the history of karate in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. He is widely recognized for his refined technique, power and precision, as well as his perseverance in the face of adversity.
Benetello began practising karate at the age of 10, under the guidance of Master Maurizio Negrisolo, coach of the first Italian national team. He quickly distinguished himself by his dedication to training and his natural talent for karate.
His first major success came in 1990, when he won the Italian junior championship in kata. This victory marked the start of his international career, during which he continued to excel in both kumite and kata competitions.
Highlights of Benetello’s career include his victory at the 1994 World Karate Federation (WKF) World Karate Championships in Malaysia, where he won the gold medal in individual kata. This victory established him as one of the world’s top karatekas in this discipline.
In 1996, at the WKF World Karate Championships in Sun City, South Africa, Benetello won two gold medals, in individual and team kata, and a silver medal in team kumite. These victories have confirmed his position among the world’s karate elite.
Despite his successes, Benetello’s career was marked by injuries. In 2001, he suffered a knee injury which required surgery and a long period of rehabilitation. However, thanks to his determination and hard work, he managed to return to top-level competition.
Benetello retired from competition in 2008, but remained involved in the karate world as a coach and commentator. He has worked as a coach for the Italian national karate team and has also commented on karate competitions for Italian television.
In recent years, Benetello has taken on responsibilities within the Italian Karate Federation and the World Federation. He has served on the executive committees of the World Karate Federation (WKF) and the European Karate Federation (EKF). He is Chairman of the WKF Athletes’ Commission, a member of the WKF Olympic Commission and a member of the WKF Competitions and Sports Rules Commission. Benetello was elected Federal Councillor of the Federazione Italiana Judo, Lotta, Karate (Italian Judo, Wrestling, Karate Federation) in December 2016. He was re-elected for the 2021-2024 Olympic quadrennium, during which he was appointed Vice-President of FIJLKAM and head of the karate branch. He is also a member of the Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI) Athletes’ Commission. He also sits on the International Olympic Committee’s Steering Committee for Athletes’ Rights and Duties.
As for his competitive achievements, Benetello has won individual championships at the European Karate Championships twice (in 1995 and 2000) and at the World Karate Championships once (in 1994). What’s more, he was part of a team that won a European karate championship in 19941.
In short, Davide Benetello is a key figure in the history of karate. He is respected not only for his achievements as a competitor, but also for his resilience in the face of adversity and his commitment to karate. His dedication to the art of karate, his iron will and his competitive spirit have left a lasting imprint on the world of karate.