In Abu Dhabi to wear the national colors for the very first time and make himself honored at the 2025 Wako World Championship, the kickboxing world championship that his father Chicco had the honor of winning in 1987 (gold in the 57-kilo semi-contact) in Birmingham and then built a career as an absolute legend of combat sports.
Twins Alessandro and Lorenzo Spanu, 22, sons of multiple world champion Giampaolo (Chicco) Spanu from Domusnova, departed this morning for the United Arab Emirates. Along with 50-year-old master Valentina Cabras from Cagliari (a 2019 world gold medalist), the Spanu twins are the only Sardinian representatives in the 76-strong national team delegation registered for the World Championships, which begin today and continue until November 30th in the Arab country. Both will compete in the Full Contact discipline (full contact with striking), but in different weight classes: Lorenzo in the 51-kilogram category, Alessandro in the 54-kilogram category.
Despite this being their absolute debut, the Spanu twins appear determined to go beyond simply participating: “We're going there to get a result, we're aiming for the podium,” they say in unison.
Their father, who is also their coach, confirms: "They've matured tremendously, they've worked hard, making sacrifices and giving up: now it's time to reap what they've sown. Naturally, it's a source of immense pride for us parents that they're taking part in an event like this: we all hope this is just a first step towards frequenting the world of kickboxing greats."
The twins are already masters of Full Contact, both having long held two Dan black belts, and will soon add a third. For them, since childhood, it was a complete immersion in combat sports and the gym atmosphere (the Twinspanu Kb Team in Domusnovas, named after them) alongside their well-known father, whom they have long helped with courses and lessons. But studying has gone hand in hand: both still have two exams left for their degree in Biomedical Sports Sciences, which they are already certain they will use while remaining in the Kickboxing sector. "It's not difficult," the twins explain, "to balance study and practicing sports at the highest levels, you just need to be organized and determined to achieve your goals." Perhaps even matching or surpassing the incredible list of achievements of their father Giampaolo (seven World Championships, seven World Cups, several European Championships, and 16 Italian titles). "Who knows? - Lorenzo and Alessandro say with conviction - we work hard every day for that too, then we'll draw conclusions".
