Raz Hershko competes against Juria Tolfua of France in the Women’s +78kg Gold medal match during 2024 Judo European Championships, April 27, 2024 in Zagreb, Croatia. (Photo: Sanjin Strukic/PIXSELL/Sipa USA)
Raz Hershko made history on Saturday by being the first judoka to bring a gold medal home to Israel.
She was competing at the European Judo Championships, in the Seniors Individuals finals, held in the Croatian capital, Zagreb.
“I am very happy to have won the title. It’s another step towards the Olympic Games,” Hershko (24) said after her historic victory.
It was also a first European championship for the winner. Hershko, who competes in the over 78 kg category, has in the past two years narrowly missed gold by losing in the final round.
However this year, the margins were on the Israeli judoka’s side, when she succeeded in defeating her French opponent, Julia Tolofua, in the final round.
Hershko’s European gold medal comes after a year of strong performances. In February 2023, she won the gold medal in the international judo competition in Tel Aviv, after defeating her Turkish opponent, Kayra Sayit.
In July 2023, Hershko became the first Israeli to be ranked in the top slot in the world among female athletes in her weight class, in the official International Judo Federation ranking.
Hershko’s gold was the fourth Israeli medal in the European championship. Israeli judokas Inbar Lanir, Tamar Malca and Timna Nelson Levy, all succeeded in winning bronze medals in their respective categories.
While satisfied with her bronze medal, Lanir stressed that she had even higher ambitions for the upcoming Olympics in Paris in July.
“I am going to further work on my weak points in preparation for the Olympics,” she said. “I feel a great responsibility and a great pride in wearing the colors of my country.”
In May 2023, Lanir won gold in the World Judo Championships in the Qatari capita, Doha.
“I’m happy to dedicate my medal to the residents of the south who are going through a difficult period, to IDF soldiers and to all the State of Israel,” Lanir said, at the time.
“It was so important for me to do something good during such complex and difficult days, and I’m happy and satisfied that I succeeded.”
Israeli Sports and Culture Minister Miki Zohar welcomed the piece of good news, now almost a year ago:
“All the people of Israel are proud of her win,” he said at the time. “Especially at this moment she brought all of us satisfaction and happiness.”
Israel has, over the years, noted international successes in judo. In 1992, the Israeli judoka, Yael Arad, made history by winning the silver medal at the Olympic Games in Barcelona. It was the first Olympic medal in the history of the modern State of Israel.
Judo has also served as an unconventional bridge of friendship between Israel and the Iranian people. In 2019, the Iranian judoka, Saeid Mollaei, decided to defy orders from his coaches by competing against the Israeli judoka, Sadi Muki. In 2021, Mollaei, who defected from Iran and competed for Mongolia, dedicated his silver medal in the Tokyo Olympics to the Israeli people:
“Thank you to Israel for the good energy. This medal is dedicated also to Israel.”