Judo Champion Karem Primov Returns to Israel with Silver Medal

Judo athlete Karem Primov landed in Israel on Thursday, bringing home a silver medal from the World Championships. Primov, 21, who competes in the under-63 kg category, secured the medal for the Israeli delegation after overcoming a persistent injury that had previously hindered her progress. Despite the challenges, she won five matches en route to the final, where she was defeated by Japan's Haruka Kajo. This achievement marks a career-high for Primov.

I am very happy." She noted that despite the pressure and the significance of the competition date, which fell on October 7th, she did not feel the external events weighed her down. Instead, she felt it provided extra energy, knowing the nation needed this. "It wasn't a burden for me, it actually gave more energy knowing that the whole nation needs this right now and I did everything I could to do it. I can't process it."

Primov also spoke about her recovery from injury, acknowledging the difficulty but crediting the support of those around her and her belief in a positive outcome. Her sister, Gefen Primov, also a judoka, shared the family's excitement and emotional experience of watching Karem compete, especially given the charged atmosphere of the day. Gefen revealed that Karem was disappointed with the loss in the final, as she had aspired to be world champion, feeling she could have won the title after a strong semifinal performance.

Their mother, Meirav, described the intense stress the family endured while watching the competition, admitting they were exhausted and maintained specific routines in the living room to avoid disrupting Karem's perceived balance. The family allowed themselves to cheer and applaud after each of Karem's victories.