Bonferroni’s steady climb: Swiss judoka turning 24 with bigger targets

Aurélien Bonferroni is hitting a milestone week: the Swiss judoka turns 24, and the timing matches his upward momentum on the international circuit. Nothing about his rise looks rushed, but the recent results suggest he’s getting closer to the established names in his weight category.

His first big signals came early, back in the cadet years. In 2019, he won gold at the Cadet European Cup events in Follonica and Koper, a clear announcement that Switzerland had a new talent worth tracking. Instead of fading after that breakthrough, he carried the form forward.

The junior stage only strengthened his profile. Bonferroni took gold at the Junior European Cup in Sarajevo in 2021, then repeated the feeling of winning with another title at the Junior European Cup in Malaga in 2022. That same year, he added a bronze medal at the European Cup in Winterthur, showing he could deliver in a competitive European environment.

Step by step, he’s turning potential into real senior-level results.

Moving into the senior ranks, Bonferroni quickly found podiums as well. In 2023 he collected bronze at the European Open in Warsaw and another bronze at the Oceania Open in Perth, valuable not just for medals but for learning to handle different styles far from home.

This season has brought another jump. He reached the final at the European Open in Ljubljana in 2026 and left with silver, a strong marker of growing consistency. At the end of February, he also impressed with fifth place at the Grand Slam in Tashkent, where his run ended against former world silver medallist Fujiwara.

Bonferroni’s progress is shaped by a disciplined approach and work on fine details under the Swiss coaching team led by Dominique Hischier. Rivalries with Jarne Duyck, Filip Ivanka, Nosa Bright Maddaloni and Adam Kopecky keep the next tests lined up. And with the Grand Slam of Lausanne set for 28 to 30 August, a home event could become a defining moment if he can convert momentum into a breakthrough performance.

Source: JudoInside