Shira Rishony

Shira Rishony (שירה ראשוני, born 21 February 1991) is an Israeli Olympic lightweight judoka. She competes at U48 kg (under 106 pounds). She competed for Israel at the 2016 Summer Olympics. At the 2020 Tokyo Olympics she won a bronze medal in the mixed team event, and placed 5th in the women's 48 kg event. She won a bronze medal at the 2022 European Championship. Rishony will represent Israel at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris in judo in the women's 48 kg on 27 July 2024, and in the mixed team event.

Early and personal life
Rishony was born in Holon, Israel, and is Jewish. At the age of five, she was sent by her mother to learn ballet, despite her desire to learn judo. After two years, as she still insisted on learning judo, her mother finally gave in and allowed her to take part in the sport. Her sisters are named Rotem and Maya. Their grandfather is named Muki.

She resides in Even Yehuda, Israel, near the Wingate Institute. Rishony speaks Hebrew, English, and Spanish.

Judo career
Her club is the Netanya Gladiator Judo Club in Israel.

Early years; Israeli Champion
Rishony won the Israel U48 Women's Judo Championship in 2009 2012, 2017, 2019, and 2023, won the silver medal in the competition in 2014 and 2015, and won the bronze medal in 2007 and 2011.

In 2009, Rishony won gold medals in the 2009 Maccabiah Games, and the Junior Tour U20 Izmir 'Cehat Sener'.

In 2012, Rishony won the gold medal in the IJF World Cup Tashkent, and took the bronze medals in the World Cup Bucharest  and the World Cup Istanbul. In 2013 Rishony won the gold medal at the Tashkent Grand Prix, and the bronze medal at Almaty Grand Prix,  but was injured in a competition in Germany and lost six months of training and competition.

In 2014, Rishony won the gold medal at the European Open in Tallinn, and bronze medals at the Jeju Grand Prix and the Pan American Open San Salvador. In 2015, she won the bronze medal at the Grand Slam of Paris. In May 2015, she finished in 5th place at the World Masters in Rabat.

In 2016, she won the silver medal at the Havana Grand Prix.

2016 Rio Olympics
Rishony, ranked 20th in the world, competed for Israel at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Women's Judo 48 kg, taking the additional place of Europe. In her first bout she was deemed to have illegally touched her opponent's leg with her elbow in her match against Ukrainian Maryna Cherniak, and was disqualified for illegal use of her elbow at 2:10 of her first bout. After the loss, she admitted "I still don't understand why I was disqualified." In tears, Rishony said: "I'm still in shock, I felt I was ready and it hurts me that I couldn't give my all and that it all ended before it really began... I was surprised by the decision of the judge... It's hard to put in words how much you give and how much you sacrifice and how much you dream of this moment. You certainly don't imagine it ending like this."

2017–19
Rishony won a silver medal at the 2017 Judo Grand Prix Antalya, and a bronze medal at the 2017 Judo Grand Slam Baku. She won a gold medal in the New York Open Team Championships.

At the 2018 Judo Grand Prix Hohhot, Rishony won a bronze medal.

At the 2019 Judo Grand Prix Tel Aviv she won the gold medal. Rishony also won bronze medals as the 2019 Judo Grand Prix Hohhot, the 2019 Judo Grand Prix Montreal, and the 2019 Judo Grand Slam Brasilia.

2020 Tokyo Olympics (in 2021)
Rishony represented Israel at the 2020 Summer Olympics, competing at the women's 48 kg weight category. In her first match, she beat Colombia's Luz Álvarez by ippon, advancing to the round of 16. There, she submitted Spaniard 2021 World Championships bronze medalist Julia Figueroa who was seeded 5th in the Olympics. In the Quarterfinals, Rishony lost to Mongolian former world champion Mönkhbatyn Urantsetseg, moving her to compete for a chance to win bronze through the Repechage. There, Rishont beat Taiwanese Lin Chen-hao, advancing to fight for the bronze medal. She lost the bronze medal match to Ukrainian former two-times world champion Daria Bilodid, finishing in fifth place.

2021–present; European championships bronze medal
Rishony won bronze medals as the 2021 Judo Grand Slam Antalya and the 2021 Judo Grand Slam Baku.

At the 2022 European Judo Championships in Sofia, she won a bronze medal.

At the 2023 Judo Grand Slam Antalya, Rishony won a silver medal, and at the 2023 Judo Grand Prix Portugal she won a bronze medal.

2024 Paris Olympics
Rishony will represent Israel at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris in judo in the women's 48 kg on 27 July 2024, and in the mixed team event.

Titles
Source:

Israeli championships
Partial list:
 * 2009
 * 2012
 * 2016
 * 2017
 * 2019
 * 2014
 * 2015
 * 2007
 * 2010
 * 2011