In a disappointing turn of events at the Paris 2024 Olympics, Israeli judokas Timna Nelson Levy and Tohar Butbul have been eliminated in the early stages of their respective judo tournaments. Nelson Levy's journey came to an end in the round of 16, falling to South Korea's Mimi Ho after accumulating three penalties.
Speaking to Kan News, a visibly frustrated Nelson Levy said, "It's very disappointing. I expected more from myself, to be on the podium today. It didn't go well, but I gave my all. I felt amazing, even in the first match. I'm confident our team will bring everything to the mat in the upcoming team competition."
Butbul lost to the top-ranked judoka in the world under-73kg weight class: Azerbaijan’s Hidayat Heydarov. He was supposed to first face Algeria’s Messaoud Dris, but Dris disqualified himself rather than face the Israeli judoka.
In swimming, another setback hit the Israeli delegation as Anastasia Gorbenko failed to qualify for the 400m individual medley final, dashing hopes for a medal in that event.
However, it wasn't all bad news for Team Israel. Surfer Anat Lelior provided a bright spot, advancing in the surfing competition. Lelior dominated her heat, scoring 11 points against her Spanish opponent's mere 2.80.
As the Games continue, Israeli athletes remain determined to make their mark. Stay tuned for more updates as we bring you all the action from Paris 2024.
