Giulia Carnà secured a notable third-place finish in the -57 kg category on the opening day of the Grand Slam in Lausanne, Switzerland, according to competition reports from the venue. Competing at the Vaudoise Aréna on August 28, 2026, the 21-year-old Italian judoka navigated an early setback in the preliminary rounds to capture the bronze medal in the day’s decisive block.
Path to the Podium at the Vaudoise Aréna
The tournament marks the tenth stop on the international World Tour and serves as the fourth major circuit event awarding critical ranking points for the Olympic qualification window leading toward the Los Angeles 2028 Games. Carnà faced an immediate hurdle during her preliminary matches when she was halted in the round of 16. Rather than exiting the tournament, the Sicilian lightweight rebounded through the repechage rounds.
According to event summaries, she secured victories in her subsequent matches to earn a spot in the contest for third place. She capitalized on that opportunity by winning her final bout, claiming the sole podium finish for the Italian delegation on the opening day of competition in Lausanne. The event has drawn a robust international field of athletes vying for ranking points at the Swiss venue.
Career Milestone and Prior International Success
The bronze medal in Lausanne adds to a growing international resume for the young Italian competitor. Reporting from Oasport indicates that this performance marks the third time Carnà has finished inside the top three at a Grand Slam event. Her previous podium finishes include a silver medal secured as a minor in Budapest in 2022, followed by another silver medal at the Grand Slam in Abu Dhabi last November.
Beyond the senior circuit, Carnà has established herself within European competition structures. Earlier in her progression, she captured a gold medal at the U23 European Championships held in Chisinau, Moldova, anchoring a successful campaign for the Italian youth squad that also featured four bronze medals.
Italian Delegation Context in Lausanne
The Italian national federation entered a substantial squad of 14 athletes into the Lausanne competition, spanning multiple weight categories across the three-day tournament schedule running through August 30. Among the high-profile entrants on the roster was Assunta Scutto, who arrived in Switzerland looking to build upon prior titles. However, unlike Carnà’s successful march through the repechage, Scutto’s campaign in Lausanne concluded during her matches in the round of 16, cutting short her bid for an additional major title.
With the opening day concluded, the remainder of the Italian team will continue preliminary and final blocks across the weekend at the Vaudoise Aréna. The Grand Slam circuit continues to serve as a primary testing ground for athletes managing their physical conditioning and tactical readiness within a demanding international calendar.
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