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Judoka Daniel Cargnin won this Saturday (4) the silver medal at the Paris Grand Slam in the under-63 kg category, after defeating Georgian Lasha Shavdatuashvili in the final.
With this result, Cargnin once again placed Brazil on the podium of the French Grand Slam, one of the most traditional on the judo circuit.
The gaucho was surprised by the current leader of the world ranking in the decisive fight and was defeated by ippon. He left the mat visibly frustrated, but knew how to appreciate the achievement. “I left with a bit of a bitter taste for having lost the final, it wasn’t what I expected, but it was very important for me as an athlete, now that I’ve changed categories, I’m maturing a lot. And close to the Olympics, it’s the best thing to gain confidence,” said the 25-year-old from Rio Grande do Sul, who until last year competed in the under-66 kg category.
Before reaching the final, the gaucho passed by the cipiotra Kyprianos Andreou, by the Turkish Ulmat Demirel and in the semifinal by the Canadian Arthur Margelidon.
“It’s very important to start the year with a medal in an important competition and in a Grand Slam that is one of the most traditional in the world. It is important because they are competitions where we test our level, it is a good parameter and an important step to move up in the ranking for the Paris Olympics, and God willing, to medal next year”, said Cargnin, bronze medalist in Tokyo and at the last world championships in Tshkent.
No women’s medals
In the women’s category, the best placement in Brazil was Larissa Pimenta’s fifth place. She disputed the bronze against the Israeli Gefen Primo, but lost after being punished for an irregular stroke. “I didn’t mean to. It’s the second time I’ve taken this penalty with her. I have to stop and think ”, she reacted at the end of the fight.
Larissa went to the bronze dispute after losing to the Hungarian Reka Pupp. Before that, she went through the Haitian Jennifer Etienne and the French Astrid Gneto. Despite the disappointment with the result, she made a positive assessment of her first competition played in 2023.
“This is my first competition of the year and I put all my focus on this beginning because the Worlds is very close. I dedicated myself to the fullest in all questions. The result is a consequence. We won’t always leave here with a medal, but I felt good and I won against super strong girls. I felt more evolved mentally and I think I’m on the way and I want a lot more, ”she said.
The Piauí native, who already won the gold medal in the Parisian competition in 2020, was moved to project herself for next year, given the prospect of returning to the city where the 2024 Olympic Games will be held.
“It’s funny because the first thing I felt here, I got goosebumps all over. The energy of the people, the place, is very good, I like it a lot. I feel at home, because the French always welcome us in the best way, so it’s a perfect place to be the Olympic Games”, said the athlete.