Israel’s athletes made a significant impact at the Paris 2024 Olympics, showcasing their talents across multiple sports on a day filled with excitement and achievements.
The nation celebrated two notable judo victories, with Inbar Lanir and Peter Paltchik delivering impressive performances in their respective weight categories, while other Israeli competitors also made their mark in swimming, sailing, and archery.
Lanir and Paltchik’s Judo Triumphs
Inbar Lanir secured a silver medal in the Women’s -78kg judo category, capping off a remarkable day for Israeli judo. Lanir, who had been a formidable presence throughout the tournament, faced a challenging final against Italy’s Alice Bellandi.
Despite collecting three yellow cards during the bout, Lanir’s journey to the final included victories over Khuslen Otgonbayar of Mongolia, Guusje Steenhuis of Holland, and Anna-Maria Wagner of Germany.
Lanir’s final match was marked by a fierce battle where Bellandi controlled the pace and scored a Waza-ari early on. Lanir’s third penalty for non-combativity sealed the match in Bellandi’s favor.
Reflecting on her performance, Lanir expressed both pride and disappointment: “I wanted to break the glass ceiling and win gold, but silver is still an amazing accomplishment. It was a privilege to represent my country and see the flag raised. Training hard and competing here in Paris was my way of contributing amid challenging times back home.”
Israeli President Isaac Herzog congratulated Lanir, acknowledging the significance of her silver medal on the 300th day since the onset of the conflict in October. Herzog praised Lanir’s achievement as a beacon of hope and a moment of pride for the nation.
Earlier in the day, Peter Paltchik earned Israel’s first medal of the Games with a bronze in the Men’s -100kg category. Paltchik’s path to the bronze medal was dramatic, featuring a series of intense bouts.
After victories over Gonchigsuren Batkhuyag of Mongolia and Aurelien Diesse of France, Paltchik faced a setback in the quarterfinals against World Champion Zelym Kotsoiev of Azerbaijan.
He advanced to the Repechage, where he defeated Michael Korrel of Holland to secure a place in the bronze-medal match against Daniel Eich.
The final match was contentious, with Paltchik scoring a Waza-ari and then receiving multiple yellow cards for non-combativity and grip avoidance. With only seconds remaining, a potential third yellow card could have given Eich the medal, but the decision was overturned, allowing Paltchik to hold on for bronze.
An emotional Paltchik dedicated his medal to his family and his late coach’s son, Omer, who had been killed in battle. “Nothing ever comes easy for me,” Paltchik said, “but I wanted to make everyone happy, especially my family. This medal is for them and for those we have lost.”
Paltchik’s coach, Oren Smadja, who has faced personal tragedy due to the ongoing conflict, expressed mixed emotions. “This medal is a moment of joy amidst personal grief,” Smadja said. “Our country is going through trauma, and this achievement represents a significant public relations victory.”
Exciting Developments Across Other Sports
In swimming, Israel’s competitors made notable progress. Anastasia Gorbenko advanced to the semifinals of the Women’s 200m Backstroke, finishing 13th with a time of 2:10.29. Aviv Barzelay, however, did not advance, finishing 18th with a time of 2:10.71.
The Israeli Women’s 4x200m Freestyle Relay Team, consisting of Gorbenko, Daria Golovaty, Ayla Spitz, and Lea Polonsky, finished 11th in their semifinal with a time of 7:55.99.
On the men’s side, Meron Cheruti advanced to the semifinals of the 50m Freestyle after finishing 10th with a time of 21.88s.
Martin Kartavi, who finished 19th with a time of 22.01s, did not advance. Ron Polonsky impressed in the 200m Individual Medley, finishing 7th with a time of 1:58.30 to move forward to the semifinals.
Sailing and Archery Achievements
In sailing, the Israeli team showcased strong performances. Omer Vered Vilenchik had a mixed day, finishing 38th in his first race but rebounding with a third-place finish in the second race to move into 22nd overall.
Tom Reuveny excelled, moving into second place overall, while Sharon Kantor also achieved second place, trailing Emma Wilson of Great Britain.
In archery, Roy Dror, who had finished 42nd in the Men’s Individual Ranking Round, was defeated 6-2 by Steve Wijler of Holland in the 1/32 Elimination Round.
Looking Ahead
The excitement continues as Artem Dolgopyat prepares to defend his gold medal in the floor exercise on Saturday.
Additionally, Raz Hershko will compete in the +78kg judo category, and the team event will take place, with the Israeli squad aiming to replicate their previous Olympics’ success and secure another bronze medal.
The Paris 2024 Olympics have proven to be a remarkable platform for Israeli athletes, with their achievements highlighting their resilience and determination in the face of challenging circumstances. As the Games continue, Israel’s sports community remains hopeful for further successes and moments of triumph.