Israel’s silver Olympian Raz Hershko tells ‘Post’ of Paris success

The Paris Olympics may have concluded, but the celebration for Israel’s athletes is just beginning. Israel’s delegation secured seven medals in France, setting a new standard for future success. Among the highlights was the Israeli Judo team, which delivered an outstanding performance by winning two silver medals and a bronze, surpassing the two-medal achievements from 2016 and 1992.

Silver medalist Raz Hershko, who competed in the women’s +78kg category, played a pivotal role in this success. Although she narrowly missed the gold, her achievement of advancing to the final and seeing the Israeli flag raised high was a significant victory for both her and the nation, which has endured considerable challenges since the October 7 Hamas attacks.

Reflecting on her accomplishment, Hershko expressed that she is still processing the magnitude of her success. Her journey to the silver medal involved a series of decisive victories, including a quick semifinal win against Turkish competitor Kayra Ozdemir. Although she fell short in the final against Brazil’s Beatriz Souza, Hershko is proud of her performance and the progress of Israel’s judo team.

The Israeli judo team’s overall success at the Games was historic, with Inbar Lanir also winning silver in the women’s -78kg and Peter Paltchik securing bronze in the men’s -100kg. Hershko credits their achievements to the rigorous preparation following the Tokyo Olympics, which their coach, Shani Hershko, emphasized as critical for their success in Paris.

Despite facing security concerns, Hershko felt safe throughout the Games, thanks to the effective measures taken by Israeli and French security forces. Now back in Israel, she plans to take a well-deserved break before resuming training, with her sights set on winning gold at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.

Hershko acknowledges that her accomplishments are not just personal triumphs but also a source of pride and resilience for a nation that has faced significant adversity. She is determined to continue representing Israel on the world stage, with the hope of bringing home a gold medal in the next Olympic Games.