Born: 1989 (Kfar Saba, Israel)
Biography:
Yarden Gerbi (or Jerbi, Hebrew: ירדן ג’רבי; born July 8, 1989) is an Israeli former judoka world champion. She made her mark as one of the most successful judokas in Israel’s history. Gerbi’s exceptional talent, determination, and perseverance have led her to achieve great success in her career.
Gerbi was born in Kfar Saba, Israel, to a family of Tunisian Jewish descent from Djerba. From a young age, she showed a natural affinity for the sport of judo. At the age of six, she began practicing judo and quickly became a prodigy in the sport. She trained with the Meditav Netanya Judo club and was coached by Shani Hershko, the former coach of the Israeli women’s national judo team, who has been her mentor since childhood.
Gerbi’s dominance in Israeli judo was evident from an early age. By the time she turned 24, she had already won the Israeli championship five times. In 2007, she won the Israel Championships, and in 2008, she claimed victory in both the Israel Championships and the Under-23 Israel Championships. Gerbi’s success continued in 2009 when she won the Israel Championships, the Belo Horizonte World Cup, and finished second in the prestigious Maccabiah Games.
Throughout her career, Gerbi competed in various international events and consistently performed at a high level. In the 2012 European Judo Championships, she won the silver medal, establishing herself as one of the top judokas in Europe. Gerbi also had notable success in the World Judo Championships, earning a bronze medal in 2013 and achieving a world ranking of No. 1 in May of the same year. Her breakthrough came in 2013 when she won the gold medal at the World Judo Championships in the -63 kg (139 lbs.) category, becoming Israel’s first female world judo champion.
Gerbi’s crowning achievement came in 2016 at the Summer Olympics held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Competing in the Women’s 63 kg Judo category, she clinched the bronze medal, making her an Olympic medalist. This momentous achievement cemented her status as one of the greatest judokas in Israeli history.
Off the mat, Gerbi is an academically inclined individual. She attended the Open University of Israel, studying Economics and Management. Her dedication and discipline in both sports and academics exemplify her exceptional character and ambition.
As a Tunisian Jewish athlete, Gerbi has become an inspiration for many, breaking barriers and defying stereotypes. Her success has shone a light on the talents of Israeli female athletes and their ability to compete at the highest level of international sports.
Awards:
– Olympic Bronze Medal (2016)
– World Judo Championships Gold Medal (2013)
– European Judo Championships Silver Medal (2012)
– Multiple Israeli Championships