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The people who turned us into a medal production factory - voila! 75 years of Israeli sport

2023-05-02T20:09:24.000Z


Arad and Samadja made history, Moki and Zavi moved us all, Sasson and Gerbi became stars. Celebrating 75 years of love for Israeli sport: who is the most beloved judoka in the country's history?


Made history, paved the way.

Bronze (Photo: GettyImages)

For the selection of the 75 favorite sportsmen and women in the history of Israeli sports, click here



with success that is hard to argue with: judo is not only the most successful sport in Israel, it is also the one that produced some of the most beloved heroes in Israel, who jumped an entire country.

In recent decades, Israeli judo has managed to produce an impressive series of champions and international achievements, which go far beyond Olympic medals.

It is mainly a true affection, a feeling of identification, an Israeliness that inspires pride, and an example to the other branches of how to behave correctly.

Definitive proof that Israeli sports can be successful, as long as it is conducted in a professional manner, with tradition and proper investment.

In honor of the festive project of Walla!

In collaboration with Toto, which marks 75 years of love for Israeli sports, it's time to choose: who do you think is the most beloved judoka in our history?

Stunned everyone in 1992 on a perfect day.

Smedja (Photo: GettyImages, David Cannon)

Today it seems like a distant memory, but in the past winning an Olympic medal was a national fantasy.

The one who broke the glass ceiling was

Yael Arad

, who in the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona excelled, despite the injury, and qualified to the final, at the end of which she brought Israel a historic silver medal.

In the final she lost due to a judges' decision, but an entire country shed a tear of excitement with a bronze, while she stood on the podium with a disappointed face.

"I wanted a gold medal, not a silver," she said on that historic day, which in fact created the foundations of the successful industry: striving for the highest, without compromise.

Her place in the history of Israeli sports, no one will ever be able to take.



A few days later it was

Oren Samadja

who stunned the country by winning an Olympic bronze medal in Barcelona, ​​throwing his opponent with spectacular tricks and racing to an unforgettable achievement.

Israel has been waiting for an Olympic medal for over 40 years, and within a few days won two of them on the judo mat, which officially became a source of national pride.

We are on the map.

Since then Samadja has become a super coach, producing more and more champions, and victory hugs that moved us all.

20 years later, he is still loved.

Zaevi (photo: Barney Ardov)

Since then the train has not stopped.

The standards are only rising.

Today, Israel already hosts international tournaments, including prestigious competitions, in front of packed halls with enthusiastic audiences.

There are not many countries in the world where achievements in judo appear in the headlines in the sports sections, but the State of Israel received from judo quite a few moments of happiness, and beloved national heroes.



At the beginning of the 2000s, it was

Eric Zeevi

- the sturdy, large star, who is full of heart and emotion - who enthralled an entire country.

In 2004, he won a bronze medal at the Olympic Games in Athens, and became one of the most well-known and beloved athletes in the country.

It is no coincidence that his name was recently mentioned as a candidate for winning the Israel Prize in Sports: Zaevi Hayom is considered a respected and conquering figure, who gives lectures on success, and is loved and popular wherever he goes.

Beautiful Israel.

Sasson (photo: Walla! NEWS system, Assaf Kaliger)

In 2013, an Israeli judoka became world champion for the first time in our history, when

Jordan Jarbi

won the gold medal.

The momentum also continued in Rio 2016. Israel once again came to the Olympic Games with high expectations, and withstood the pressure.

Jarby won the bronze medal, and officially became a superstar.

Since then, she has participated in "Survival" and discovered a soft side alongside the toughness, stars in "Ninja Israel" and manages to combine humor with a captivating character, earning national affection with great justice.



A few days after Jarbi,

Uri Sasson

also won the bronze medal in Rio.

The one who was twice the vice-champion of Europe, on the way to the medal in Ipon, knocked out his Egyptian opponent who refused to shake his hand, and although he surrendered in a heroic battle to the undefeated champion Teddy Riner, he knew how to excel in the battle for the bronze to jumpstart an entire country.

Sassoon, known as "Yeld Tov Jerusalem", is also a combination of tenderness and strength, sensitivity and toughness, true Israeli simplicity.

Much more than an athlete.

Jarbi (photo: Spek 500, collected by Assaf Kliger)

The team

judo medal at Tokyo 2020

was already extra sweet.

It came after long days of disappointments, after the Israeli representatives did not live up to expectations in the individual battles.

Then came the team competition.

One by one the Israeli warriors went up to the decisive battles, and defeated their opponents.

Men and women, in all weights, won one after the other, until winning the bronze medal.

Team medal.

Team medal.

A medal that illustrated that Israeli judo has depth, tradition, ambition, pretensions, and above all a huge heart.

Tamna Nelson-Levi, Gili Shirir, Raz Hershko, Toher Botbol, ​​Sagi Muki, Lee Kuchman, Peter Palachik, Uri Sasson, Shira Rini, Inbal Lanir and Baruch Shamailov (and Gili Cohen, of course, who did not receive a medal due to regulatory issues) - no We will forget you forever.

A medal that illustrated depth, winemaking and talent.

The team celebrates in Tokyo (Photo: GettyImages, Harry How)

To illustrate the Israeli success story, it is enough to look at the journey of the Samadja family.

The grandfather, Morris Samadja, is one of the founders of the industry in Israel.

His son, Oren, is an Olympic medalist, who became a successful coach.

One of his apprentices,

Sagi Muki

, became the world champion from Tokyo 2019 and European champion twice.

Muki, the favorite winner, also created a special relationship with an opponent from Iran, which proved how big the sport is, and how it can bridge gaps.

No one will be surprised if soon Mookie himself will become a coach, and will pass on the knowledge and professionalism to the next generation, to continue the tradition of beloved champions.

In collaboration with Toto

  • 75 years of Israeli sport

Tags

  • Yael Arad

  • Oren Samadja

  • Uri Sasson

  • Sagi Muki

  • Jordan Jarbi

  • Eric Zeevi

  • judo

Source: walla

All news articles on 2023-05-02

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