Olympic Taekwondo Medalist Avishag Semberg Retires at 25

Olympic taekwondo fighter Avishag Semberg announced her retirement from the sport on Monday at the age of 25. Semberg, who brought taekwondo into many Israeli homes after winning a bronze medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, cited increasing difficulties as the reason for her decision. She stated that while the sport had been her entire world since she was a child, her heart was no longer fully in it.

Semberg's bronze medal in Tokyo, achieved when she was 19, was a significant moment for Israeli sports. She has also won a bronze medal at the Junior World Championships, a bronze at the European Under-21 Championships, was crowned European Champion in 2020, and won a silver medal at the European Championships in 2022. Her Olympic journey also included a loss in the round of 16 at the Paris 2024 Olympics, which was a significant factor in her decision to retire.

Speaking at a press conference with the Israel Taekwondo Association and the Israeli Olympic Committee, Semberg reflected on her career, which began at age 9. She described taekwondo as "love at first sight" and credited the sport with teaching her hard work, discipline, and self-belief. Despite achieving her dreams and reaching the top of the world rankings for years, she acknowledged that the challenges had become too great, leading her to conclude it was time to move on.