Israel opened their Olympic medal account with a bronze in the 63-kilogram judo category, not via Sharar Tzuberi, but a 27-year-old from Netanya named Yarden Gerbi.
Her name is synonymous with judo in Israel, with Gerbi a five-time national champion.
Gerbi overcame an early loss to lift bronze, in the process becoming only the second woman from the country to stand on the podium.
She tore past Japan judoka Miku Tashiru, with a comprehensive 11-0 scoreline capping off an emotional day. Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, was one of the first to congratulate her.
Gerbi could not qualify for London after being eliminated in the second round of Judo World Championships in 2011, so since then she has competed with a refreshed vigor, which was visible in her winning run at the 2013 World Championship at Rio de Janeiro.
Read the article from The Roar.