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Raz Hershko in an exclusive interview: "Judo gave me confidence and faith" | Israel today

2022-04-27T07:29:20.820Z


She could have changed direction when she was called "Abu Man" as a child, but "chose to continue" - until she won a bronze in Tokyo • Raz Hershko (23), who will compete in the European Championships this week, knows exactly what she wants: Why does she hate talking about judo with her athletic partner?


Since the Tokyo Olympics, at the end of which she wore the team bronze medal around her neck, judoka Raz Hershko has been flourishing.

In all the competitions in which she has participated since that happy moment she picks medals, which has now brought her third place in the world in her weight category (78 kg).

This week, the 23-year-old Hershko will take the first big test of the year, when she will participate for the first time in her career at the European Senior Championships in Sofia, Bulgaria.

The goal is clear: to continue the positive momentum and produce more successes, and if possible - to return from there with a medal.

Just before boarding the flight, Hershko turned to a special interview with Israel Today, in which she told about the period of preparations, the difficulties in childhood and moments of crisis, her dreams and her relationship in recent years with the flotilla Neta Malkinson, who also took part in the conversation.

"I'm in a good time, on the rise," says Hershko.

"I do not know how to put my finger on the reasons why it happened now, but I continue to train hard with Shani (Hershko, national team coach; AA) and the team.

We learn in every workout how to improve what it takes for me to really be at the top of that weight.

You just learn from competition to competition. "

Raz Hershko and the judo team before taking off for the European Championships in Bulgaria, Photo: Oren Aharoni

Where did the change start?

"At the Tel Aviv Grand Slam there was a kind of change.

"I just came back from an injury and the surgery I did on my elbow, and really it was my turn with myself, that I decided that everything was left behind and the only thing that stood before my eyes was judo, which is in my first place right now."

To what extent did the group bronze in Tokyo contribute to this?

"Olympic medal it was the dream from a young age, true I did not achieve it personally but I came after a very good year that I managed to achieve the criterion, I was also good in the individual competition, even though I lost in the quarterfinals to Japanese. I just felt I was in a good place. And du, no matter how hard and simple it goes the furthest there is. "

What has changed the tap Hershko?

"I started to understand more about how I should be on the mat at the weight I'm at, when you can win with amazing iPhones but also with penalties it's fine. I understood how to do longer judo fights and make the most of every second there is in battle. "Enjoy the hard work and what he does and of course the big dream still exists, but there are many more small dreams along the way."

And surely the coach of the women's team and your uncle Hershko are very pleased.

"I think he is satisfied, but there is always room for improvement. True, there are 5 consecutive medals, but not all of them are gold and even if they were all gold, there is always room for improvement, because there were losses along the way. I learn from every loss and every opponent this".

What is it really like to work with him?

"It's like working with a regular coach. Ever since I worked with him, since I remember being my coach, there was no moment, no stage that I thought he was my uncle. It was always both the coach and Raz the trainee. The question that needs to be asked is do I even remember being my uncle , Because we are most of the time on the mat, from training camps or abroad and is totally my coach.

There were no benefits, no extra nice, I'm like everyone else. "

Raz and Shani Hershko, Photo: Judo Association

What else do you need to improve on?

"Do not think there is a perfect person. Need to improve my endurance, maybe a little the technique."

In general the women's team made a leap forward in the last campaign.

"Shani and the amazing team that is here, managed to unite us as one team, each lifting the other. Although it is a personal sport, each climbed the mat for the sake of togetherness and fought to the end without giving up. Think they saw this change and still see it, I think if not Now, we will be one of the strongest teams in the world. "

You therefore seem to have a very good relationship with each other.

"I'm always asked if you have teammates. It's far beyond friendships, we're like family, we're most of the time together - training camps, flights abroad, competitions and whatever, every day we're twice a day either on the mat or in the gym.

"There are girls who, even without me saying anything, they knew if something was happening to me, they are here to help me and I to them and I lift them, just as they lift me in victories and losses and it is not apparent."

Do you feel you can beat anyone today?

"The faucet that is in front of you today, can get on the mat, and give it its all, at any given second, and with that what will ensure the victory, then I will be the happiest in the world and if that does not happen, I will know to work even harder to win."

What are your advantages over the others?

"I'm more agile, I'm quite diverse with the exercises - both right and left. Exercises are low, and high and erupting."

Were there also days of moments of crisis?

"Obviously. I always say that in achievement sports, most of the time it is failures, losses and learning. The few happy moments that are on the podium and the difficult moments, are the ones that ultimately teach us to reach the happy moments. "The first of the corona and towards the closing of the criterion, when they did not know what would happen with the Olympics and told me that it was the chance to do the surgery and do the rehabilitation properly. Those moments are - either fulfill the dream, or watch them all from home."

What is the best thing about judo?

"Judo gave me self-confidence, faith, and the right to be whole with myself. To know that if I wanted something - I could achieve it. Judo gave me hard work, determination, perseverance. I had a hard time being called 'Abu-Man'. "As a child, because I was supposedly involved in 'male' sports. I could get up and leave, but I chose to stay. The coaches helped me, the family supported me, and that's what built me. Judo is a big part of who I am today."

Hershko in Tokyo.

"Judo is a big part of who I am today," Photo: Reuters

Things you experienced in the past helped you face difficulties today?

"It's in my own right, because I really grew up, grew up and got stronger into it. There's a crazy team here, there's always someone to turn to. They help me be the best there is, it's also a point of light. Some days I get up in the morning and say ' "But then I give myself two caps and answer myself, 'What does it not make you want to get up?'

There are probably a lot of kids who say they identify with you.

"There are a lot of kids who are excited to see me and ask for an autograph, come to say 'congratulations' and that I am inspiring and it's really fun, really happy to inspire kids. Judo contributes a lot to you, meet friends, balance, self confidence and not sure I will avoid my kids Go to judo too. "

Is there a fear of failure?

"I just know that as long as I have not given up and tried everything, then I have nothing to fear from it. With me, poster, I tried everything from everything and did not give up for a moment, so what can be done more than that?"

Would you like to pursue a coaching career after judo?

"At the moment I do not think about it, I only think about what is now. I will soon have a training session, and in two weeks' time there will be a European Championship. circular".

The woman next to her

Sharing Hershko's moments of joy, happiness and sometimes disappointment is her partner Neta Malkinson, 22, an athlete in her own right.

The two met about three years ago, when Malkinson came to physiotherapy at Wingate.

They became good friends, and soon the bond grew stronger and they became a couple.

Occasionally come to watch each other's training.

Hershko says she even tried to sit on the kayak: "It's really hard, do not try," she said with a laugh.

Malkinson, who has so far tried to maintain her privacy, accompanied Hershko to this interview, preferring to give the entire stage to her partner, but still occasionally joined the conversation: "I did not try judo, I dig her to teach me exercises, it interests me very much. I love full sports, "she said.

Do you dream of coming to the Paris Olympics together?

Hershko: "Yes, it's one of those dreams."

Malkinson: "It can be cool."

Will you come to encourage each other?

Hershko: "She can cheer in front of the screen, on the phone. There is complete separation."

Hershko and Malkinson.

Will they come together to the games in Paris?

Does Neta have a part in your success?

"Neta is a big part of my life, of joy and happiness. I will give her the percentage she deserves, but I still think it is in my own right."

How did your family receive her?

"Really in love. My parents always told me 'what makes you happy, also makes us happy'. So, when they met Neta, they were really happy, because Neta is amazing."

You come from completely different industries.

What are you talking about at home?

"From different branches and different parts of the country, but it works out. We talk about anything that is not sports. She really wants to know about judo, and I always get upset that I don't really have the strength, because I just finished training. But I do explain to her."

Do you talk before competitions?

"A day or two before, but on the day of the competition no. At the Grand Slam in Tel Aviv I did not know she was coming to cheer me on, I should not know she is there. Even when I am abroad she supports from the phone screen.

If she is in the audience - it is better that I know only after the competition. "

Do you have nicknames for each other?

"We call each other 'Shoshi.'"

Hershko and Malkinson.

A winning relationship, Photo: Oded Karni

The next target - Bulgaria

"It's exciting to compete in the European Championships," Hershko said ahead of this week's competition. "A medal in the European Championships is a goal I always strive to achieve. "I can not guarantee a medal, but I can guarantee that I will work as hard as possible, I will not give up - and I will fight to the end."

If you win a medal, to whom will you dedicate it?

"First of all to myself, my dream - my goal."

What's your big dream?

"An Olympic gold medal in the individual competition, but on the way to Israel I also want to be ranked first in the world, win a medal at a world championship and become a European champion. There are many goals along the way."

What annoys you?

"I hate inequality and do not like hypocrisy. I hate to fail, even if I play a new game, I can break the tools."

And what calms you down?

"Music, my home. Also Neta, the family and people I love."

Your favorite exercise?

"Uchi line from Kikumi".

Is there one feature you would change yourself?

"Sometimes I'm too nice."

Who do you learn the most from?

"Ever since I can remember, I've always looked at Shani, my coach, with open eyes. Every day I learn something new from him. If it's not someone local - then Ivan Bonisch, who was on the team and moved to be Austria's head coach. I was shocked when she left, but really Glad she made progress. "

Complete the sentence: If I were not a judoka, I would be ...

"I've known myself since time immemorial judoka. I do not know anything else."

Were we wrong?

Fixed!

If you found an error in the article, we'll be happy for you to share it with us

Source: israelhayom

All sports articles on 2022-04-27

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