When legendary Israeli judoka Yael Arad made history by becoming the first Israeli female athlete to win a gold medal at the European Judo Championships in 1993, Timna Nelson-Levy was not even born yet.
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Fast forward to 2022, and Nelson-Levy followed in the footsteps of Arad and became the second Israeli woman to win gold in the tournament, by defeating French Olympic silver medalist Sarah-Leonie Cysique in the final of the women's under 57 kg contest.
The road to victory was long, and might never have happened, given that Nelson-Levy, 27, only found her niche in judo at the age of 13 – considered relatively late – having previously done jiu-jitsu and mixed martial arts. Fortunately, she found a home at a judo training center in Jerusalem, where her family – originally from the United States – settled after making aliyah.
Israeli judo coach Yoel Libster took Nelson-Levy under his wing and has trained the athlete ever since, witnessing her victory at the European Championships.
Moments after winning the historic medal, before even getting on a plane back home, Nelson-Levy gave an exclusive interview to Israel Hayom.
Q: Have you had the chance to take in the fact that you're a European champion?
"Not yet, I've received so much support and love since the win, a lot of messages, and I really feel all the love, but I think I'm really happy with my accomplishment – I'm euphoric."
Q: Take us back to the moment of your victory.
"I had goosebumps, I wanted it to happen so much. I've known for a long time that this is one of my biggest goals. A few years ago, before the coronavirus, I told Shani Hershko [who coaches the national women's team] in a private conversation that I was going to become a European champion.
"Before the final, he told me, 'Do you remember what you promised me?' I told him how amazing that he remembered, and he said, 'I remember everything.' After the game I told him, 'I promised, I delivered.' It was wonderful to be in that moment, my voice began to shake when I got on the podium, and it was a little hard to breathe.
"To stand on the podium, after having just commemorated Holocaust Remembrance Day, on European soil and hear the Israeli anthem, it is one of the most emotional experiences I have ever had, a dream come true."
Q: How much of your success would you say you owe to your parents?
"My mom and I have always had a special connection. I have a wonderful mom who raised six children. My dad participated as well, of course, but mom did a particularly outstanding job. She went through everything with me, including the difficult, less pleasant moments. When I finish a fight and I am unsatisfied with my performance, one of the first things I love to do after the competition is open the family Whatsapp group and read all the messages from my mom."
Q: Is the whole family involved?
"I have a brother in the US, who keeps track even in the middle of the night. They rarely come to competitions with me, mom went with me to the Juniors European Championship in Romania, but that's about it."
Q: Was the victory a surprise for you?
"No. I've known for years that I am capable of winning gold, and when I got up the morning of the competition, I told myself – Timna, you have one fight, win it minute by minute, and the moment you win it, forget about it and move on to the next fight, and so on. Obviously, the main goal is winning the gold medal, but one also has to look at the process, minute by minute, fight after fight. To see how I win, and that is what is of value to me."
Q: Did your family cheer you on from home?
"Before the competition, my nephew Naor, who is not even three years old yet, who I facetimed with, and his mom asked, 'Do you want Timna to return with a medal?', and he said 'yes,' and she asked, 'What kind?', to which he replied, 'gold.' He watched the entire competition and we have a special bond, so it was very emotional for me.
"My family's support was special, because they know how hard I've worked for this, that sometimes I had to miss things and special occasions, because of the path that I chose for myself."
Q: Do you read comments on social media?
"Of course. I pay attention to some, but not things that are not appropriate. I filter out what is irrelevant, try not to get too worked up about unnecessary things, but many congratulated me and that is fun to read."
Q: Why do you think it took almost 30 years for another Israeli female judoka to become a gold European medalist?
"Perhaps because the infrastructure we have now is much better than it used to be in the past. The coaching staff, the confidence, the knowledge that victory is possible.
Fellow Israeli judoka "Shira Rishony kicked off the championship with a bronze medal, and that gave way to more medals, we simply rode the wave, and I pray that the next time it happens, it will take much less than 29 years."
'Judo is my everything'
The national women's team has indeed exhibited great progress in recent years with the help of Hershko and his team, including the victory of Rishony, 31, who won her bronze medal in the under 48 kg category after losing in the semifinals, recovering, and then beating Italy's Francesca Milani. It was Rishony's first career medal.
The next day, the team celebrated the victory of Gili Sharir, 22, who also won bronze – in the 63 kg category – and Raz Hershko, who won silver in the 78 kg category, making this year's European Championships the most successful in Israeli judo history.
Q: How much sacrifice does judo take?
"A lot. [Missing] family occasions, holidays, birthdays, tons of events. My family knows how to uplift me, and I have quite a few brothers, so I received tons of congratulatory messages."
Q: Now your achievement has raised the bar for others.
"I always expect the most from myself. I expected myself to finish every competition with a medal, and it is not something that puts me under pressure, quite the opposite – it pushes me further, I have proved myself in such a major competition and I am ready to continue onward."
Q: What is judo for you?
"Judo is my everything. I've been doing this my whole life. I wake up in the morning, and my entire day revolves around judo – I work out in the morning, continue with sessions, come home in the afternoon, sometimes train in the evening, do a strength workout, physiotherapy, from the morning to the evening it is all about judo."
Q: What else has helped you along the way?
"I think I've matured a lot. The Tokyo Olympics made me very resilient, both in judo and mentally. I think I am better at working tactically on the mat. Although I started learning, judo is the center of my life, and at this time, my number one priority. It is what I've chosen, even though at times it's not easy and even painful, because there are things that I cannot make up for later."
Q: Who are your role models?
"In Israel, it's my team, of course. We work so closely, but I also see athletes in other countries and sometimes want to try all kinds of things they do, things that can be helpful to us, that might suit us. I like Mongolian judo, there was a period when I worked on the ground, maybe it's something I can improve further.
"At the end of the day, each athlete brings his or her own judo, one cannot copy another athlete. No one is built the same way, or moves in the same manner. I aspire to be the best version of myself."
Q: You seem like a close-knit team.
"We have a strong team, which is a power. To return with four medals for women, which never happened before – is just insane.
Q: What do you think brought about this success?
"Unity, which is what makes our national team strong, but also hard work, dedication, and perseverance, every day. Shani is very tough on us, in a good way. He does not tolerate being late, he does not play games. If someone is late, there are consequences. What kind I do not know, for I myself have never been late. I like to come earliest, work on what I need to work on, and prepare for the training, and every moment is crucial because you never know what might make the difference.
"Shani is not our friend, his goal is to bring medals, this is what he does and I think he does it exceptionally, there is no element of friendship, but I spend more time with Shani than even with my family. We love each other as a coach and trainee."
Q: What were some challenging moments in your career?
"Tokyo is an example. I was completely dissatisfied with coming in seventh. I expected much more and there was a moment when I had a hard time letting go, even after we returned with the group bronze medal. When I returned home, I spoke with my brother, two days after the competition, and I just began crying."
Q: And what helped you reset?
"Every athlete goes through difficult moments and crises. The catch is to know how to persevere. I finished the competition and knew that I had more to give. And here I am, having won a medal that only two women have done in Israeli judo history."
Q: On the rare occasion that you do something that is not judo, what is it?
"I love spending time with my family and friends, with people who are close to me, who make me happy.
"Other than that, I am just in love with Jerusalem, love to walk around the Mahane Yehuda market, and suggest anyone who hasn't visited it yet, should do so. Also my mom's garden, which feels like the Garden of Eden, is so nice, it has privacy and what makes it even more special is that all six siblings still live at home."
Q: And what do you do when you want to just kick back?
"I love to bike sometimes, watch Netflix. I love karaoke. When we travel to Japan, I go to crazy karaoke bars, although I am the most tone-deaf on the national team, but I love it."
Q: What about food?
"I love meat, and the amazing food my dad cooks. When we travel the world, we eat in restaurants, when the weight allows for it."
Q: What about dating?
"Judo is my number one priority now. I have a very clear goal – to ascend the podium at the 2024 Paris Olympics, and it [dating] is something that can be postponed, although there are athletes who manage to juggle both."
Q: Do you get recognized in the streets?
"I believe that now, after the European Championship, I will be recognized more."
At the Tokyo Olympics, Nelson-Levy came in seventh but quickly recovered when Israel's mixed Judo team got on the mat and defeated the Russian Olympic Committee, winning a bronze.
With little time to rest, Nelson-Levy now looks forward to taking the City of Lights by storm, in hopes to win a gold medal at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris as well.
The athlete is certainly on a winning streak, having come in fifth at the Judo Grand Slam Abu Dhabi in November, winning a bronze medal at the Grand Slam Tel Aviv in February, coming in third at the Antalya Grand Slam in April, and most recently – as stated above – winning gold at the European Judo Championships.
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A gold medal "is the ultimate goal, of course, but I have so many more things to achieve before that," Nelson-Levy said. "Grand slams, world championships, more European championships. I want to win a personal medal. The main thing is to stay at the top, and that's the challenge."
Besides her judo dreams, Nelson-Levy also entertains the idea of competing in mixed martial arts.
Q: How come?
"My path didn't begin with judo – I started with street fighting and it gave me the tools for judo. This is something I might seriously consider after Paris. I'm not saying no, but neither am I saying yes. I need to consider this and see what happens."
Q: Would you recommend your own children one day to try judo?
"Of course. Judo gives one so much more than a sports career. It also teaches you about life. If they decide to compete in judo, with pleasure, and if not, I will support them im whatever choice they make."
Q: Would you say achievements by Israeli basketball or football athletes are received differently in Israel than judo, for example?
"There's something to it. Judo has brought the most achievements, [it is] the most successful sports industry in the country and I think it deserves more attention, more budget, more of everything, really. More support for athletes is crucial, because there is huge potential, and now, judo is not getting the attention it deserves.
Q: Where do you see yourself in another 10 years?
"Possibly in MMA. But in truth, 10 years is a long time away, but I believe judo will remain in my life in one way or another. I also love to train others, and love working with children a lot, and I see Shani sit on the coach's chair, and it draws me. And in my personal life, family and children, of course."
