World Judo 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 media at the airport. Primo, 21, expressed her excitement and surprise at the reception, 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 weight of the date, referring to the October 7th attacks, did not burden her but rather gave her more energy to succeed for the nation. Primo admitted she hadn't slept but was eager to return home to celebrate.

Primo reflected on her challenging year, including recovering from an injury, and expressed gratitude for the support system that helped her achieve this success. "It wasn't easy, my heart is with everyone who is going through those moments right now. It was very difficult but with the right people around me and the belief that in the end it will be good and that I deserve it and I will do everything for it, it strengthens me," she said.

Her sister, Gefen Primo, also a judoka, shared the family's excitement and emotional experience watching Karem compete. "We are all still very excited. From my disappointment, the family always has another day and we managed to do it. We are all very happy for Karem. It was an emotional day, it is already a charged and emotional day. We all felt it and were with her, both in energy and in messages all the time. Victory after victory is possible and we felt the dream happening," Gefen Primo stated.

Their mother, Merav, described the exhausting experience of watching the competition from home, with the family maintaining specific rituals to support Karem. She expressed immense pride in her daughter's resilience and ability to overcome a long rehabilitation period and difficult draws to achieve this significant accomplishment.