Cargnin: two weight classes, one winning mentality
Daniel Cargnin has never been afraid to reinvent himself. The Brazilian made his name by winning Olympic bronze at -66kg in Tokyo, but rather than settling into a comfortable position among the world’s best lightweights, he took on a new challenge at -73kg. That decision has now taken him to the top of one of judo’s most competitive divisions. On the IJF World Ranking List of 12 October 2026, the first after the World Championships in Baku, he moved from second to first at -73kg with 4,952 points, taking over from Muhiddin Asadulloev.
Born in Porto Alegre on 20 December 1997, Cargnin discovered judo almost by accident, when a school friend took him along to a judo class as a young boy. That childhood curiosity eventually brought him to SOGIPA, one of Brazil’s most respected sporting clubs and the home of two-time world champion João Derly, where he developed his skills and competitive mentality.
His talent emerged early. Cargnin claimed bronze at the Junior World Championships in 2015 before becoming junior world champion two years later. He steadily established himself at senior level, collecting Pan American titles and developing into a serious Olympic contender. At the Tokyo Games in 2021, he delivered one of the defining performances of his career, securing bronze at -66kg and becoming part of Brazil’s proud Olympic judo tradition.
Moving up to -73kg brought a different challenge. Stronger opponents, different gripping battles and the need to adapt his approach demanded another stage of development. Yet Cargnin responded with the same determination that had carried him through the junior ranks. He won the IJF World Masters in 2022, added World Championship bronze that year and reached the world final in 2025, where silver confirmed his place among the division’s elite. Victory at the Grand Slam in Lausanne in August 2026, his second Grand Slam title after Brasilia in 2019, provided another reminder of his continuing progress.
His rivalries on JudoInside tell their own story. Cargnin has won five of his six encounters with Canada’s Arthur Margelidon and three of four against Italy’s Manuel Lombardo. His meetings with French Olympic silver medallist Joan-Benjamin Gaba have been much closer, with two victories each and the 2025 world final going to Gaba, illustrating the fine margins at the highest level.
Away from competition, Cargnin has remained connected to his roots. When devastating floods struck Rio Grande do Sul in 2024 and hit Canoas, the city where he started judo, he was among the judoka who launched crowdfunding campaigns to buy supplies for shelters and rescue operations.
From a schoolboy following a friend to judo to an Olympic medallist leading the world ranking in a second weight category, Cargnin’s journey has been defined by curiosity, adaptability and persistence. His success at -73kg shows that sometimes the biggest victories begin with the courage to embrace a completely new challenge.
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