World Championship Silver Medalist Karem Primo Returns to Israel

Judo athlete Karem Primo, who recently became the world championship runner-up, landed in Israel on Wednesday and was greeted by family and the Israeli press at the airport. Primo, 21, expressed her excitement and emotional state upon returning, stating, "It's really exciting, I didn't imagine it like this and I'm really happy it's happening now, especially on the date it was yesterday, which was a very difficult day yesterday. I am very happy." She explained that the recent difficult events, specifically referencing October 7th, provided her with additional energy rather than a burden, saying, "It wasn't a burden for me, it actually gave more energy knowing that the whole nation needs this now at this moment and I did everything I could to do it." Primo shared that she had a challenging year leading up to the competition, including recovering from an injury, but felt her hard work and the support of those around her paid off.

Her sister, fellow judoka Gefen Primo, described the family's shared excitement and emotional experience watching Karem compete. She noted that Karem was disappointed not to win the gold medal, feeling she could have won the final, but acknowledged the silver medal as a significant achievement. Karem's mother, Merav, recounted the family's tense experience watching the matches from home, describing their exhaustion and the emotional toll of each fight. She expressed immense pride in her daughter's resilience, particularly her ability to overcome a long rehabilitation period and maintain motivation despite difficult draws.