Daniel Eich secured the bronze medal in the under-100kg category at the Judo Grand Slam in Budapest, marking his fifth career Grand Slam medal and his first bronze finish in the series, according to reports from multiple outlets covering the tournament.
A Breakthrough Podest Finish in Budapest
Two weeks after claiming a seventh-place finish at his home tournament at the Grand Slam in Lausanne, Swiss judoka Daniel Eich bounced back on the international stage in Hungary. The 26-year-old athlete navigated a demanding bracket on the Budapest judo parquet to reach the podium, adding a fifth medal to his growing international collection. Prior to his third-place finish in Budapest, Eich had accumulated four second-place finishes across his Grand Slam career, making this latest result a fresh milestone.
Path Through the Preliminaries and Quarterfinals
Eich opened his tournament campaign with a victory over Johannes Frey. Building momentum in the under-100kg division, he then eliminated local favorite Mate Lakos of Hungary. Moving deeper into the tournament draw, Eich faced Boris Georgiev in the quarterfinals. A performance against Georgiev secured the Brugger athlete a spot in the semifinal block.
Narrow Semifinal Defeat Against a World Champion
In the semifinals, Eich encountered a formidable obstacle in two-time world champion Jorge Fonseca. The Portuguese star, who captured World Championship titles in Tokyo in 2019 and Budapest in 2021, tested the Swiss competitor in a high-intensity bout. Following a tight and closely contested battle, Eich fell just short against Fonseca, sending him into the bronze-medal contest.
Securing Bronze Against Iosif Simin
Rebounding quickly from his semifinal setback, Eich asserted control early in the third-place playoff against Israel’s Iosif Simin. Within the opening minute of the bout, the 26-year-old secured a small score to take the lead. He later capitalized on the advantage by executing a clean throw to extend his lead. Managing the clock effectively, Eich successfully defended his cushion through the remainder of the match to seal the bronze medal.
Looking Ahead to the World Championships
With the Budapest Grand Slam concluded, attention shifts directly toward the upcoming season highlight. The titles are scheduled to run from October 4 through October 11, 2026. Eich is set to compete in the under-100kg category on Friday, October 9, 2026.
