In the two weeks that have passed since returning from Tokyo, Uri Sasson has mostly rested. "I was waiting for this moment when I could do other things," says the veteran judoka. "Rest, do lectures, evolve in a few more things and most importantly take some time off from all the madness we've been through."
Today (Wednesday) Uri Sasson celebrates his 31st birthday. True Leo. The team medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics put him close to Gal Friedman. Both are the only Israeli Olympic athletes who can boast two Olympic medals.
How does it feel, such an achievement?
"Amazing. Great feeling. It's no secret that the personal medal Mario was more exciting. It was much more powerful for me because it was a personal competition. Obviously the personal competition is more prestigious. But I still embrace the opportunity I had to be a part of Tokyo history with the team. I It feels worthy and yet for me it does not come close to what was in Rio, but it was very, very exciting there in Tokyo. "
Exciting enough to make you think of Paris 2024?
"If the question is do I retire tomorrow morning, then the answer is unequivocally no. I do not intend to retire now. To tell you I will compete for sure in Paris 2024, I do not know. I need to go back to training, see how I feel and from there flow."
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"To tell you that I will compete for sure in Paris 2024, I do not know. I need to go back to training, see how I feel and from there flow."
Uri Sasson with family after landing in Israel (Photo: Danny Maron)
You are 31. What will decide if you compete in Paris when you are 34?
"What will decide is the desire on the inside. If it's strong enough up there on the inside, I'll go for another Olympics. If I feel like I did mine, then I'll not be in Paris in 2024. "I really do not retire now. I will return to training in about a month."
And is there competition on the horizon?
"I'm really not there. I'm free and need to recover from everything that was. I may be competing in a few months but it will be in collaboration with Oren Samadja and Ponti. Right now there is a lot of uncertainty and there are a lot of questions. It's fine."
Jordan Jerby retired after Rio. You kept fighting and found the spark again. Could it be that the decision depends on what you look like in the arena?
"Could definitely be. Maybe I'll get the answers through the competitions on the mat. One thing's for sure, I'm going back to judo and training because that's all in my life."
Do you really like judo? Love the sport madly?
"Obviously. When I get on the mat, I enjoy. I enjoy dropping. Challenge myself. Even after I retire, I get on the mat to compete. Judo keeps me sharp. He keeps developing the thought in me."
In an interview I did here with Moshe Ponti, he said how important it was to him that you only have a respectable fight against Teddy Riner after the week of disappointments you went through. You were the last one because your weight is the highest. In the end he was very pleased with you. How surprised were you to start your first battle with the formidable Riner?
"I got the results of the lottery on the way to training here in Israel. It was the last training. It really did not pass me by. I said: 'Wow what a lottery I got.' But I did not take it to bad places, but to a big challenge before me. "Uri, what do you have to lose?" I told myself I could beat him. I was very committed to this approach. I accepted the lottery wholeheartedly like a soldier going to war. .
"It really did not pass me by. I said, 'Wow what a lottery I got.' But I did not take it to bad places, but to a great challenge that I have before me."
Sasson vs. Riner in Tokyo (Photo: Reuters)
Were you disappointed with certain things written about you?
"During the Olympics I heard how we were discredited. How they talked about Oren. It hurts. How can we undo what we have done so far with such simplicity? It obviously did not affect me, but it should not be like that. I have no problem with criticism but with the way ".
It's part of the culture in Israel, isn't it?
"Yes and no. I walk down the street and around only encouragement and attention. I do not have a quarter of a complaint about the treatment I get on the street. I'm getting heat from everyone and especially from Bank Yahav and CEO Shaul Gelbard, who go with me for a few years and I must thank them for that."
Earn something From all the attention on the street?
"It opens a lot of doors, but it's not the most important thing in the world that knows me. It's enough for me that my family is so proud of me. I enjoy the family so much. From my nephews. "
31-year-old footballers are already married. What about you?
" Once it comes, it will come.I'm not looking for it by force. "
Do you agree that the best judoka in the world today is the Czech Karpalk?
"He has tough competition with the Japanese Ono. Ono weighing up to 73 kilograms is the face of the industry and at 100 plus, my weight, it is without a doubt Karfalk. He also holds two gold medals in two different weights. He is amazing. Both are the best there and in their weight They have almost no competition. "
Best in his weight.
Lucas Karpalk (Photo: Reuters)
Would you like to coach after you retire?
"I do not know yet. I like to influence people so maybe it will be in the form of lectures or training. I will decide in the future."
Is there anyone in your weight who will inherit you?
"There is, but he has not yet brought international results. Sarafin Companets is an athlete who has a lot of potential. It depends a lot on him and the system. He is young and can go far."
This is really the question, do we have a reserve? Is there a future for judo for 2028?
"I think so. There is Yiftach Badash weighing up to 81 kilograms. Yam Volchuk weighing up to 60 kilograms and of course Matan Kukoliev. There is also the final judgment which is excellent. It also weighs up to 81 kilograms."
Will judo give head even after your gang disappears?
"It's already a matter of the system. So far the system has functioned well. It will know how to produce new champions. Even if at the moment there seems to be a pit or no depth, I am convinced that they will know how to locate the next athletes."
a real friend. Shtilov with Dolgofiat before Tokyo (Photo: Shlomi Gabay)
How did you see the guys from the gymnastics that brought Olympic gold medals? You can probably most of all appreciate their achievement.
"On the day of Linoy Ashram's competition I cried. I'm not ashamed to tell. I sat in front of the TV and cried. Artium and Linoy broke a glass ceiling. Everyone knew they could but bring it in. It's amazing. I was very excited for them.
Is there anyone on the Tokyo delegation who has moved you the most beyond the medalists?
"Alex Shtilov was very excited about me. He is a friend and I really appreciate him as an athlete and as a person. I am very excited to see how happy he is for Artium. He raised him as if he were his younger brother. A huge athlete, a figure who has done four Olympics."
Maybe you connect with him too because the question about you is whether you will do another Olympics when you are 34 years old like him.
"Yes, definitely. There's something about it. This connection between me and him is very special."
