Nicholas Delpopolo

Nicholas Delpopolo (born February 8, 1989[3]) is an American judoka. He competed in the men's 73 kg event at the 2012 Summer Olympics; after defeating Cheung Chi Yip in the second round and Dirk Van Tichelt in the third, he lost to Wang Ki-Chun in the fourth round and was eliminated by Nyam-Ochir Sainjargal in the repechages.[4]

Nicholas Delpopolo
Personal information
Birth namePetar Perović
Nickname(s)Nick
BornFebruary 8, 1989 (1989-02-08) (age 34)
Nikšić, SR Montenegro, SFR Yugoslavia
Home townScotia, New York
OccupationJudoka
Height5 ft 8 in (173 cm)
Websitewww.nickdelpopolo.us
Sport
CountryUnited States
SportJudo
Weight class–73 kg
Rank     2nd dan black belt[1]
ClubUSA Judo National Training Site at OTC[2]
Coached byCarrie Chandler
Ed Liddie[2]
Achievements and titles
World Champ.R16 (2010)
Pan American Champ. (2013)
Olympic Games7th (2016)
Medal record
Men's judo
Representing  United States
Pan American Games
Bronze medal – third place 2019 Lima –73 kg
Pan American Championships
Gold medal – first place 2013 San José –73 kg
Bronze medal – third place 2011 Guadalajara –73 kg
Bronze medal – third place 2012 Montreal –73 kg
Bronze medal – third place 2014 Guayaquil –73 kg
Bronze medal – third place 2015 Edmonton –73 kg
Bronze medal – third place 2018 San José –73 kg
IJF Grand Prix
Silver medal – second place 2016 Qingdao –81 kg
Bronze medal – third place 2010 Abu Dhabi –73 kg
Bronze medal – third place 2015 Budapest –73 kg
Profile at external databases
IJF2085
JudoInside.com41597
Updated on 8 December 2022.

On August 6, 2012, Delpopolo was expelled from the Olympics by the IOC after he tested positive for cannabis.[5] Upon exiting the games, Delpopolo stated the positive test result was caused by "inadvertent consumption of food that I did not realize had been baked with marijuana, before I left for the Olympic Games."[6]

On August 9, 2016, Delpopolo competed again at the 2016 Summer Olympics in the men's 73 kg event, defeating Ahmed Goumar (Niger) in the first round, Odbayar Ganbaatar (Mongolia) in the second round, and ultimately losing to Miklós Ungvári (Hungary) in the Quarter-finals by penalty points. Delpopolo ultimately finished 7th in his division.[7]

Personal life

Delpopolo was born as Petar Perović (Montenegrin/Serbian Cyrillic: Петар Перовић) in Nikšić, SR Montenegro, SFR Yugoslavia. Of Montenegrin heritage,[8] his biological parents left him as a toddler. After being orphaned for 21 months he was adopted as a 2-year-old by a New Jersey family.[8] As his adoptive father Dominic's family was from Serbia, they started adoption process there until eventually they were taken to an orphanage near Nikšić, Montenegro.[9] Several years later they adopted another child there, a daughter named Helen.[9]

Nick was raised by his adoptive parents in Westfield, New Jersey and attended Bergen Catholic High School.[10][11]

In 2009, he went to Montenegro to see his biological father, but chose not to reveal himself because the man looked hostile.[8] Nick also plans to find his biological mother who is in Serbia.[12]

References
  1. Markus Knaup (2021-02-21). "Nicholas DELPOPOLO". European Judo Union. Retrieved 2023-06-28.
  2. "Nick Delpopolo". TEAM USA. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved 2023-06-28.
  3. "JudoInside - Nick Delpopolo Judoka". www.judoinside.com. Retrieved 2023-06-28.
  4. "Nicholas Delpopolo". London 2012. Archived from the original on July 31, 2012. Retrieved August 4, 2012.
  5. "Judoka Nicholas Delpopolo tests positive for cannabis". BBC Sport. BBC. August 6, 2012. Retrieved August 8, 2012.
  6. Stallman, Jason (August 14, 2012). "Positive Test Costs Shot-Putter Gold Medal". The New York Times. p. B11. Retrieved August 13, 2012. (login required)
  7. "Results - Men 73kg - Judo - Rio 2016 - Olympics - BBC Sport". BBC Sport. Retrieved August 15, 2016.
  8. Zaccardi, Nick. "Delpopolo finishes 7th", Times Union, July 30, 2012.
  9. "About Nick Delpopolo", nickdelpopolo.com
  10. D'Allesandro, Dave. "Olympics 2012: Nick Delpopolo, of Westfield, attempting to win gold in judo and make most of special opportunity", The Star-Ledger, July 28, 2012. Accessed August 8, 2016.
  11. Metcalfe, Jeff. "Former Bergen Catholic wrestler Nick Delpopolo seeks Olympic redemption", The Record (Bergen County), August 5, 2016. Accessed August 9, 2016. "Instead, if his draw in the 73-kilogram division pans out as well as he imagines, the former Bergen Catholic wrestler would leave Rio with an Olympic medal and lifetime redemption. 'I'm telling you, that's literally the biggest skeleton in my closet,' said the 27-year-old native of Montenegro, who grew up living with adopted parents in Westfield then attended State University of New York."
  12. Snyder, Audrey. "Judoka Delpopolo faces biggest fight of his career", psu.edu, July 31, 2012.
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