Ambitious Kim Polling wants to sound the Fratelli D'Italia

Quadruple European Champion Kim Polling dominated the -70kg category in judo for three consecutive years, holding the prestigious IJF World #1 ranking. Her remarkable career boasts numerous accolades, including World and European Junior Champion titles in 2010 and four IJF World Masters titles. Renowned for her exceptional ura nage skills, Polling was a formidable force on the tatami, striking fear into many of her opponents.

Despite her undeniable talent, Polling experienced setbacks, including missing out on the Olympic Games. However, her journey took a new turn when she became a mother outside the judo arena and tied the knot with Andrea Regis. This year, Polling was presented with the opportunity to represent Italy, marking a significant milestone in her career.

Reflecting on her decision, Polling bid farewell to her native Netherlands, where she had represented her country with pride. At the 2015 European Games, Polling was one of three Dutch participants in the -70kg category, alongside Linda Bolder (now competing for Israel) and Esther Stam (representing Georgia). In 2013 she captured her first of four European titles in an all Dutch final against Bolder. Now a decade later, it is Sanne van Dijke who will carry the Dutch flag in the -70kg category once more in Paris, signaling a new chapter for Polling as she embraces her Italian opportunity with gratitude and determination.

Polling: "It is with great pride that I can announce that from now on I will officially represent Italy! In 2014 I asked my mother to go on holiday with me to Italy. I had never been there, but I had the feeling that I would love Italy. And indeed, here I am now, 10 years later. 'Would have liked it' was a small understatement."

"My life is in Italy, especially after the birth of my daughter, fighting for Italy made more sense but now there was a problem with my age. Not so much for Italian Judo but to enter the military group, as there is an age limit for entry and then I wouldn’t be receiving a salary. It has never been an option because I needed the financial security, but then in January of this year, the age for the military went up! This meant that there is now a possibility I can enter, and this changed everything."

"I fell in love with his country. Thanks to Andrea, whom I can now call my husband, I have been living in this beautiful country for almost eight years. In 2020 we enlarged our family with Yuki, our dog, and almost 2 years ago the most wonderful and prestigious person who exists for us was born: our daughter Aurora. Italy has become my home, not only thanks to my family, but above all thanks to Italy itself. To all my friends, to the Accademia Torino, to the Sanmauresi and to all the other Italians who have contributed to making me more and more Italian: thank you very much. My ties to the Netherlands are strong, but they have become less and less, I will always be Dutch and always have my past, yes I have friends and family but my present and future are in Italy. There is only one way for me to show my gratitude: to work hard and do my best to make the anthem sound."