Israeli Judo Prodigy Ashpiz Eyes Olympic Gold

Eighteen-year-old Israeli judoka Yitzhak Ashpiz, currently ranked among the top five in the under-60kg category, has set his sights on Olympic gold as his ultimate career goal. Ashpiz, who has achieved a series of historic firsts for Israeli judo, recently secured a gold medal at the Grand Slam in Budapest, his latest achievement in a string of successes. These include a gold medal at the Grand Prix in Lima last year, his first senior medal, and a bronze at the Grand Slam in Paris, making him the youngest Israeli to medal at a Grand Slam event. He also won bronze at the European Championships, becoming the youngest ever to medal at the senior European Championships, and a bronze at the Grand Slam in Mongolia.

Despite a recent ankle injury that kept him sidelined for nearly a month, Ashpiz felt prepared for the Budapest competition, crediting his support team for his readiness. He described the victory as particularly emotional, occurring on the eve of Rosh Hashanah. Ashpiz embraces a mindset of visualizing success, believing that "thought creates reality," and focuses on taking each match one step at a time rather than looking too far ahead.

Ashpiz acknowledged a peculiar post-match interaction with his French opponent in Budapest, who declined a handshake after the bout, a behavior Ashpiz noted is characteristic of the opponent. He expressed his deep love for judo, describing the mat as his home and a place where he feels he belongs, unaffected by pressure or expectations. He attributes his passion to fate and the character-building nature of the sport, which teaches pressure management and discipline.

His breakthrough came at 16 when he won the World Championship for under-18s in 2023, a pivotal moment that boosted his confidence and confirmed he was on the right path. Ashpiz, who is described as an offensive fighter, draws inspiration from Japanese judo legend Hifumi Abe, his role model, and is unfazed by comparisons to Japanese judo greats. He emphasizes his ambition to remain a dominant force in his weight class long-term, aiming for consistent podium finishes rather than fleeting success.