From not qualifying for the 2020 Olympic Games to winning the silver medal in 2024, Inbar Lanir has … [+]
From a young age, Inbar Lanir was a force to be reckoned with. Growing up as the middle child, she discovered her love for movement early on. At just six years old, she began practicing judo—a sport her mother had also pursued. But judo wasn’t her only after school activity. Inbar simultaneously juggled five extracurricular activities including gymnastics and dance, adding to her already busy school day.
The Making of a Champion
By the time she was 13, Inbar shed some of those activities and narrowed it down to three pursuits: ballet, aerial arts, and judo. “Each activity taught me a different skill that ultimately helped me excel in judo,” she reflected. Her natural talent in judo was evident, even at a young age. Assertive and curious, she found the discipline’s focus on repetition and precision meditative. “I love understanding the physics of the movement,” she explained, often talking through her training to grasp the mechanics—a habit that drove her coaches mad but became her “language” on the mat.
Her path to the Olympics wasn’t without challenges and sacrifices. In her senior year of high school, she prioritized training over typical teenage experiences, like class trips or parties. Ever focused, she maintained top grades and formed close friendships, particularly with teammates from the national team, which she joined at just 13.
Inbar Lanir and Raz Hershko, both Olympic silver medalists at the Paris Olympics, were roommates … [+]
Setbacks and Comebacks: The Road to Tokyo 2021
At 18, Inbar moved to the Wingate Institute, where she trained and became roommates with Raz Hershko, another future Olympic silver medalist who became like family. Inbar’s dreams of the Tokyo Olympics began to take form. However, early 2020 brought major setbacks: she wasn’t winning tournaments and was cut from the Olympic team. The Covid pandemic further rerouted her plans. But she refused to give up on her dream. If anything, she double-downed. She regrouped and moved back home, where she enlisted her father as an accountability partner, guiding him to assist her as she sharpened her techniques and worked on her mental resilience.
The Silver Lining in Paris 2024
“I took myself on as a project,” Inbar said, focusing intensely on her goals. By mid-2020, her skills and mindset improved, and she started winning tournaments again. The pandemic induced delay in the Olympics allowed Inbar to train rigorously for an additional year. The extra year coupled with her internal fortitude to work on her physical and mental prowess made all the difference. She qualified for the Tokyo Olympics in March 2021, an achievement she initially couldn’t believe. Though she lost in the second round in Tokyo, her coach encouraged her to see it as a stepping stone: “Next time you’ll win an Olympic medal,” he promised.
Her scores were good enough to qualify her team to compete in the group competition. Although she didn’t personally compete in the group finals, she did receive a medal, as her initial scores made the team eligible. Although she had an Olympic medal around her neck, she didn’t like it when people referred to her as an Olympic medalist, because she felt she didn’t compete in the group competition, and therefore the honor wasn’t earned. But the experience fueled her and set her sights firmly on an individual medal in Paris.
With her coach’s words embedded in her brain, Inbar doubled down on her training and her perseverance paid off. By 2023, she became a world champion, a title that boosted her confidence and solidified her status as one of judo’s finest. Her achievements culminated in the 2024 Paris Olympics, where she earned a silver medal. Reflecting on her journey, she acknowledged the pivotal moments of self-doubt and owning your growth.
Inbar’s story is one of grit, resilience, and hope. It reminds us that success isn’t about instant wins but the steady accumulation and compounding of small victories. Each challenge she faced—from injuries to setbacks—only strengthened her resolve. Inbar Lanir didn’t just find her language through judo; she proved that with dedication and heart, you can rewrite your story, one match at a time.
