Raz Hershko sets for an Olympic medal as world number one

The world number one female heavyweight from Israel Raz Hershko set her sights on that residency some time ago, working incessantly to learn the category, to tick off wins against the biggest names one by one. Formerly one of the smallest in the weight, Hershko has re-asserted herself and now sits closer to the middle of the group but with movement and fitness and determination as the biggest weapons in her arsenal.

Hershko fears no-one and fights to win, also not to lose and we can always see her computing the points and the consequences of her choices. She comes at judo intelligently and in Paris this will be no different.

The host’s darling is Dicko, a bronze medallist at the Tokyo Games but a world champion and a technician. Not always perfect but always capable, the Frenchwoman will have the home ground advantage and at a Games that can make all the difference. Japan won’t be wanting to spectate at that final either though and 23 year old Akira Sone has only dropped one single contest since the Paris Grand Slam of 2019. She will accept nothing less than gold in Paris this time.

How the ranking lists change in the coming months as the qualification period plays out is anyone’s guess but none of these athletes will give up their seeding easily. There is much to look forward to in the world of judo and in 2024 there is nowhere to hide ahead of the Olympic Games.

Profile Raz Hershko

Israeli judoka Raz Hershko claimed the world bronze medal in Doha in 2023. She captured the gold medal at the Grand Slam in Paris in 2021 and is eager to take the gold this year. She became European Cadet Champion U18 in 2015. At the EYOF in Tbilisi in 2015 she took silver but her talent was clear. Raz bagged various Grand Slam gold medals such as Antalya and Ulaanbaatar. She claimed gold at the Zagreb Grand Prix in 2022. ”Hershkules” captured the gold medal at the Grand Slam in Tel Aviv and Tbilisi in 2023. She is niece of national coach Shani Hershko and big friends with Inbar Lanir.