On July 31, the Israeli national judo team won a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics. For one of the judoka – 23-year-old Raz Hershko – the medal also symbolized a private victory over the challenges she has had to overcome since childhood.
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"When I was a child, I was sexually assaulted, like many women in Israel," she told Israel Hayom. "But besides that, I was made fun of in school, I had no confidence, and I struggled emotionally. I did not want to bother others by asking for help, so I hurt myself in 11th grade. It helped me release the emotions that were inside me, because it is much easier to deal with physical pain than emotional.
"In 2016, I began my army service as an exceptional athlete. Not long after, my family went through a crisis, and I was drained. I only used to go to judo, and I could not bring myself to do anything else.
"In the beginning, my coaches thought I had a physical problem, but they understood very quickly that it was emotional. I was stuck in a cycle that I could not get out of. I was not myself. I was referred to a psychologist, who gave me the tools I needed to stop hurting myself and see the world differently.
"I worked together with her, and two years later, I was in a much better place, and we decided I no longer needed the sessions. Now, I am content with who I am, and I feel I have the right tools at my disposal to deal with life's challenges. I am an optimistic person, much more than I used to be. I love life, and I have plans for the future, andbut most importantly, I no longer feel that life is awful.
Q: What did you think of Simone Biles' decision to pull out of almost all Olympic events due to mental strain?
"I think it was a very brave decision. It's true that the Olympics is a major event and athletes need to be able to deal with that, but as someone who has also experienced anxiety, I can say that if Simone had to make a choice between pushing through and proving to the world that she is the best, or choosing her health, knowing well she might otherwise get to a point from which she could not recover, well then, kudos that she made the decision that was best for her.
"In the end, she did participate in the balance beam final and won a [bronze] medal, and that is an enormous success. There was a lot of criticism directed at her for her choices, but in the end, no one can judge or make decisions for you until they have walked in your shoes."
The Tokyo Games were the first Olympics for Hershko. She won her first match, against Saudi opponent Tahani Al-Qahtani, just after 42 seconds. She lost her second match to Japanese judoka Akira Sone a minute before the end of the game.
Q: Did you manage to get any sleep before the competition?
"I didn't sleep very well, I was too nervous. But in the morning, I said to myself that I was going to do my best, no matter who my opponent would be, or what challenge I had to face that day. I was ready for whatever was coming my way."
Q: Then you faced your opponent, the Saudi judoka. Many wondered whether she would appear at all.
"Yes. We were matched against each other two weeks earlier, and I had no idea if she would square off against me. Right at that time Fethi Nourine, the Algerian judo athlete, withdrew from the Games so as not to face [Israeli judoka] Tohar Butbul.
"Two days before the match, our coaches Miki Tanaka and Ido Bar told me that the Saudi opponent was indeed going to face off against me and that I needed to prepare. I was very glad that all political considerations were put aside that day.
"I won the match pretty fast, and it boosted my confidence. As my first event, it set me off on the right foot for the rest of the Games."
Q: The two of you shook hands after the game.
"Yes, it was very exciting. We shook hands instead of running away from each other. Politics stayed off the mat that day, and we showed true sportsmanship. We came to have a fair judo fight, and we did."
Q: Then you faced off against Japanese judoka, an Olympic favorite with a home-court advantage.
"Yes, she was one of the gold medal contenders, which she did win in the end. I did my best in the fight against her. When she threw me onto the ground, I cried. I wanted to stop, but couldn't.
"My coach [Hershko's uncle, Shani Hershko] gave me a hug and told me he was proud of me and that I did well, that I participated in the Games because I earned it, and I should focus on the future."
Q: Did you replay the game in your head afterward?
"Many times. I thought to myself all the time what I would have done differently. But that just shows that I still have a lot of work to do, and to improve, and next time I will win. I might not even need to wait another three years [until the 2024 Paris Olympics], maybe I will have my chance at the World Championship next year."
Q: Was the team disheartened after no one won a medal in the individual events?
"Each person felt differently. I think we are a good team, and we did not give up for a second. We fought to the end, and everyone did their utmost. But when it comes to competitive sports, it all depends on a given day, and maybe those weren't our best days.
"Our coaches encouraged and prepared us for the group competition, which was the first time the Olympics ever had one. The coaches wanted us to be as best prepared and focused as possible and to win a medal. They said that even though each one of us had had our disappointments, we could come together, as a team, and if each one did our best, we would make history."
That is exactly what happened. On July 31, the national judo team won Israel its second Olympic medal. As part of the group event, Hershko faced off against Italian judoka Alice Bellandi.
"The match was different than any I had done before," she recalled. "The Italian judoka was cautious and patient. She was familiar with my moves. She was also light, under 70 kilos, and I was not used to that.
"The fight was very close. She threw me to the ground twice [three times constitutes a victory.] I remember Shani screaming, 'You are not going to lose this fight! Go now! and as soon as I tried to throw her to the ground, she made a mistake, and I succeeded.
"As team members, we supported each other a lot. In practice, we were very focused. We really wanted to win, and we had our eyes set on the victory.
"When we won the bronze medal, we celebrated and screamed. We were speechless from the excitement, so we just screamed and jumped. Shani told us how proud he was of us, that we had accomplished something extraordinary. We proved to everyone that we are a strong and powerful team, and we will continue to accomplish great things."
Q: Is there anything you would have done differently?
"I gave my all at the games, I did not give up for one second. It was my first Olympics, and I have now tasted what it is like and have returned with a medal. It's not the same as winning one for an individual event, but it's still great.
"Participating in the Olympics was exciting. There were a lot of people in the [Olympics] village, and we met many other athletes. We all ate together in the dining hall.
"All of us, the judoka, were in one apartment, two people per room. I shared a room with Timan [Nilson Levy]."
Altogether, there were 13 judoka on Israel's national team.
Q: You got a tattoo after the Olympics, didn't you?
"I have seven tattoos, the last of which I got a week after returning from Tokyo. I wanted something more than just the Olympic hoops, so the background is Mount Fuji and flowers. For me, the tattoo doesn't only symbolize that I participated in the Olympics, but that I took part in something extraordinary."
Hershko lives at the Wingate Institute near Netanya and often spends time with her parents, who also live in the city. Judo practically ran in the family. Already at the age of four, she joined the judo club founded by her uncle in 1991. Israeli judoka Yarden Gerbi, who won a bronze medal at the Rio Olympics, also trained at this club.
"I was a hyperactive child," Hershko said. "My parents told me that when I was a kid, instead of playing with other girls, I would move tiles from one end of the garden to the other. They enrolled me in a lot of extracurricular activities: basketball, ground gymnastics, dance and judo.
"In the beginning, judo was a fun activity for me. I learned the basic exercises, met friends and had a good time. Over the years, I stopped most of the activities and focused on judo and basketball. By the way, all my cousins were in the same judo classes as me, but I was the only one who stayed. In seventh grade, I had to choose only one of the disciplines, so I decided on judo."
Q: Were there other girls with you?
"Some, but we weren't close. I was a bigger kid, so there were no girls in my weight category. I practiced with other boys or girls that were lighter than me.
"I remember I used to cry every morning before practice because we had to get weighed and I didn't want to. Because of my weight, many times, I had to compete with boys. My mom used to always say, 'It's alright. This is who you are and you have nothing to be ashamed of.' But I did feel different. It was unpleasant.
"I used to go home after practice or from a social event and skip dinner, because someone commented on my weight by saying, 'I can't believe you look like this.' Sometimes, they purposefully addressed me as a man.
"It hurt a lot, but I kept going. Sometimes I told my mom about it because she had a gut feeling that something was wrong, and pressured me to share. I never had a lot of girlfriends. We just weren't interested in the same things. I did not dress like a girl, did not wear makeup or wear earrings. I was a tomboy."
Q: Did you try to change anything?
"No. What could I have changed? I was bullied, but at least I had judo. In 10th grade, when I already knew that I was good at judo, I moved to the Wingate Institute dormitories and found a place that was loving and supportive of all athletes. I made a lot of friends there, of all ages. I was no longer bullied."
Q: What is your relationship like with your body now?
"I still don't accept it 100%, but is there anyone in the 21st century who loves their bodies completely? There is no such thing. But I am definitely more accepting of it now.
"I weighed 100-101 kg. [220 lbs.] in Tokyo. I work with the national team's nutritionist, Miki Madar, and I have a set menu. But if I'm out, and there's food involved, I can call him up and he'll tell me if I can eat it. We are trying to turn body fat into muscles for me to become stronger.
"My family and I love food and celebrations, with pasta and sushi, and all. We love to host, and that involves a lot of cooking, of course."
Hershko conquered the judo world fast.
"When I was 14, I won the Israeli championship for the first time, which is when I understood I had a talent," Hershko said. "I joined the national team, began to train with them and travel to competitions abroad. I understood that this is what I wanted to do."
Q: Was it in any way an obstacle that your uncle is the manager of the team?
"Everyone knows that we are related. A lot of people assume Shani is my dad, but he is actually my uncle. But in any case - he is my coach and I am his apprentice. I am no different than any other athlete. Shani is an amazing coach, but my achievements are my own.
"I work just as hard as anyone else and receive no preferential treatment. And if I mess up, I am reprimanded. Sometimes, Shani is even tougher on me, and it's fine. He has high standards, as any coach training Olympic athletes should."
The first time Hershko participated in an international competition was in 2013, at the European Cup Cadets in Zagreb, Croatia. Fifteen years old at the time, she made it to the semi-finals, narrowly missing the chance to win a bronze medal.
Q: Which athletes inspired you on your journey?
"I drew inspiration from Yarden Gerbi. She is my role model. I strived to become as accomplished as she was. I would also observe the practice of fellow judoka – like Gili Cohen and Shira Rishony – who are on the national team with me now."
The year 2015 was not an easy one for Hershko.
"I got injured a lot," she said. "I was still not strong enough as I did not have a lot of muscle. I barely competed that year. Then Shani gave me the chance of a lifetime and I participated in the European Under-18 Championship in Sofia, [Bulgaria]. No one knew me when I arrived, and out of nowhere − I won.
"I was elated. I won the gold medal, the Israeli flag was hoisted above the stadium, the anthem, it was crazy. It was the first time an Israeli judoka won that championship.
"A month and a half later, at the European Youth Olympics Festival took place in Tbilisi, [Georgia], and by then, everyone knew who I was. I lived up to expectations and reached the final, but unfortunately, I only won a silver medal."
Q: Going back to the times you were in high school. How did you combine judo and your studies?
"My teachers loved me very much, even though I often interrupted the class and talked endlessly. I just couldn't sit still, and I made my classmates laugh. I did not have a lot of confidence, and I was shy, so it took me a long while to open up, but I was a combination of introverted and noisy. Such a dissonance.
"It wasn't until the 11th grade that I was diagnosed with ADHD, so I began to take pills for that. I didn't really want to, because I didn't want anything to control me, but by that time, the SATs were approaching – which was important for me – I said to myself, 'Well, I will take them now and then stop.' And that is exactly what happened – I have taken no medication since."
Q: Were the teachers considerate?
"Very. They always tried to be flexible with me in terms of homework and exams. They knew how important judo was for me and how much I wanted to participate in it."
Q: Tell us what it was like when you found out the Olympics would be postponed.
"It was a shock, but for me, it was good news. We continued to train for the competition. I had an elbow injury that hurt a lot, and in November 2020, I had to have surgery.
"Four months later, I was already competing at the Grand Slam Tel Aviv. I was on a streak of successful competitions, including winning a gold medal at the Antalya Grand Slam last April [in Turkey], in which I qualified for Tokyo.
"I promised myself before the competition that if I won gold, I would jump into a pool. Which I did, in Antalya. There is a recording of it too. The water was freezing!"
Q: Does your family accompany you to competitions?
"The ones in Israel, yes, but abroad not so much. They support me a lot after practice and after events."
Q: How would you describe the way you do judo?
"I do everything in judo. I am right-handed but do moves on the left as well. There is no one exercise that I prefer, I do lots of them, and everything that I do on my right side, I can also do on my left. It gives me an advantage, because I am quick and versatile, and it comes in handy against some opponents."
Q: Besides Yarden Gerbi, is there someone else you look up to?
"Yes, I was very inspired by [former German judoka] Yvonne Bonisch, who was my national team coach between 2017-2020, and now, the coach of the Australian team. She won a medal at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games [in Greece] and was the first woman to coach both men and women. She truly paved the way. When she worked in Israel, she helped me and supported me. She continues to do so today, from afar. I learn a lot from her.
"Judo is my anchor, it is where I feel most like myself. It's an individual sport where everyone is different – the weight is different, the technique, the structure, the ability – and it suits me well, because I do not have to be like everyone else. I am most myself when I am on the mat."
Hershko begins her day at 7 am, packs her bag, has a quick snack with coffee, and begins her training at Wingate Institute.
"I always start off the morning with judo practice. I often have physiotherapy or massage after that. I then have lunch and rest a little, but then practice judo again or lift weights. In between, I can go to the regular gym. This is what my day usually looks like."
Q: Do you have any free time?
"When I do, I go to cafes, I eat out. I love music and watching TV, like 'Brooklyn Nine-Nine' or 'Friends.' When I am really exhausted, my friends and I do silly stuff on Twitter and Instagram. I love to make other people laugh and I know that I am funny. It's great to be able to make others laugh."
Hershko also spends her free time with her girlfriend, 21-year-old kayaker Netta Malkinson, who is also preparing to participate in the 2014 Paris Olympics.
"My first phone call after winning the bronze medal was to Netta," Hershko said. "I screamed, 'I cannot believe it! I cannot believe it!,' but she believed in me the whole time."
The two athletes met at the Wingate Institute.
"Netta was doing physiotherapy after an ankle injury and I also spent a lot of time there. We became good friends, and from there, our connection deepened. I came out to my parents and now I feel that everyone accepts me as I am.
"Netta is my first girlfriend. I love a person for his or her character, gender makes no difference to me."
Q: With your busy schedules, do you have time to meet?
"We meet at every available opportunity. We hike together, watch TV together, and spend time with family."
Q: Do your teammates know that you are gay?
"Everyone knows, we are completely transparent. Netta is good friends with everyone on the team."
Q: So, what is your next goal?
"Right now, I am on vacation, but I am already thinking about Paris, but there are goals to achieve even before that. Of course, I want to win gold, and I hope my dedication will help me achieve it."
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