For years, Italian sports lost out on promising talent. Not due to a lack of skill, motivation, or dedication, but because of the law. Thousands of young athletes who grew up in Italy - many of whom were born there or arrived as small children to foreign parents - were denied the chance to represent the Azzurri in international competitions. Why? Because they weren’t officially Italian citizens until they turned 18. And until then, wearing the Italian jersey was off limits.

This situation—unheard of in other European countries—was publicly criticized by Giovanni Malagò, then-president of the Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI). He often pointed out how this system put Italy at a disadvantage compared to its neighbors: “Across Europe, a young person raised in a country can compete as a full-fledged citizen. Not here. It’s a paradox,” he said.

Italian law, based on the principle of jus sanguinis (right of blood), only granted citizenship to children born to Italian parents. For those born in Italy to foreign parents, it meant waiting until their 18th birthday to formally apply for citizenship—a process that wasn’t automatic, nor guaranteed. Applicants had to prove continuous residence from birth and navigate a complicated bureaucratic path. In the meantime, these young people were Italian in every way—school, friendships, culture—except on paper. And in sports, that meant being left out. Talented athletes trained and nurtured within Italian sports programs were “blocked” from competing at the top level simply because, legally, they were still considered foreigners.

A first step forward came in 2016, thanks to an initiative by Malagò himself, who just recently ended his term as head of CONI. A special exemption allowed underage athletes (under 18) who were born or raised in Italy to compete for Italy in youth events—provided they had lived in the country for at least 10 years and held a valid residency permit. But this was still a temporary and limited fix.

Only in 2024 did a more lasting solution arrive, when Parliament passed a long-awaited reform introducing a softened version of jus soli—citizenship based on place of birth—for sports. Now, minors who were born in Italy or arrived before the age of 12 and completed at least five years of schooling in the country can apply for citizenship as adolescents, without having to wait until they turn 18.

The result is an Italy that finally opens its doors to its own youth—and officially recognizes what was already obvious on the field: these “new Italians” are a vital part of the country’s athletic identity. Just think of volleyball stars like Paola Egonu and Ekaterina Antropova, two phenomenal players who helped lead Italy to its first-ever Olympic gold in Paris 2024. Or soccer talents like Destiny Udogie and Wilfried Gnonto, now fixtures in the Italian national team. And in track and field, there’s Zaynab Dosso, Italian record holder in the 100 meters and European champion in the 60, and Eseosa Desalu, Olympic gold medalist in the 4x100 relay at the Tokyo 2020 Games. All of them embody today’s Italy: multicultural, integrated, and vibrant.

One of the most recent examples comes from the Under-20 basketball team, which just won the European Championship for its age group. On the team is Theo Airhienbuwa, born in Italy’s Veneto region to a Nigerian father and a mother from Verona. He’ll be attending college at Tulsa in Oklahoma. One of the team’s first unified responses was to speak out against the wave of racist abuse they received on social media—hatred that ultimately became fuel for their victory.

In women’s tennis, 17-year-old Tyra Caterina Grant is making a name for herself. Born in Rome and raised in Vigevano, Lombardy, she sports braids and an athletic build reminiscent of Venus Williams. She holds dual citizenship—Italian and American—and is currently ranked No. 2 in the world among juniors.

In women’s swimming, Italy’s future looks bright with Sara Curtis, who broke Federica Pellegrini’s national record in the 100-meter freestyle and also set a new record in the 50-meter.

Thanks to this forward-thinking new law, on July 21 a 15-year-old girl named Kelly Doualla Edimo—born in Italy to Cameroonian parents—proudly wore the Italian jersey for the first time at the European Youth Olympic Festival (EYOF). In Skopje, North Macedonia, she blazed down the 100-meter straightaway at a breathtaking speed, taking gold in 11.21 seconds—a new European Under-18 record! A phenomenal time for someone her age, and a clear sign that this young sprinter has a bright future ahead of her—as the next queen of speed, proudly wearing the colors of Italy.