From Judo Mat to Archery Target: Tahăr Tamir Wins Double Gold
Former Israeli judo champion Tahăr Tamir has won two gold medals in archery at the Aphrodite Cup in Cyprus, less than a year after switching sports. Tamir secured victories in the individual compound bow and mixed doubles events. Her success comes after overcoming personal tragedies, including the deaths of both parents, and a serious knee injury. Tamir, who also medaled in weightlifting, now aims for an Olympic gold medal, with her sights set on the 2027 World Championships.
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- Tahăr Tamir won two gold medals in archery at the Aphrodite Cup in Cyprus.
- Tamir is a former Israeli junior judo champion who switched to archery less than a year ago.
- She won the individual compound bow and mixed doubles events at the Cyprus competition.
- Tamir has also achieved success in weightlifting, winning a national bronze medal.
- Her ultimate goal is to win an Olympic gold medal in archery.
- She is preparing for the 2027 World Championships in Colombia.
Tahăr Tamir, a former Israeli junior judo champion, has transitioned to archery and secured two gold medals at the Aphrodite Cup in Cyprus less than a year after switching disciplines. Tamir won the individual compound bow competition and the mixed doubles event with partner Kfir Frank.
Tamir, who previously represented Israel internationally in judo and also earned a bronze medal in weightlifting, aims for the global summit in archery. Her journey began in judo at age three, inspired by her mother, Shlomit, a former track and field athlete. Tamir excelled in judo, becoming a junior national champion and reaching fifth place in a European tour event in Sarajevo in 2023. However, this period was marked by personal tragedy: her mother died of brain cancer seven months prior, and her father passed away three months later. During the Sarajevo competition, Tamir also suffered a torn ACL in her knee.
Facing financial difficulties and a lengthy rehabilitation, Tamir worked various jobs, including teaching judo and English, and waitressing. During her recovery, a former English student, an archer herself, encouraged Tamir to try archery. National team coach Guy Matzkin recognized her potential, noting her physical strength from judo allowed her to draw heavy bows. After about six months of persuasion, Tamir switched to compound archery, a discipline set to debut in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Tamir believes her judo background provides a significant advantage in archery, particularly her physical strength which enables her to draw heavier bows, thus increasing arrow speed and stability. Her strength was further demonstrated when she won a national weightlifting bronze medal with a combined 110 kg. Despite her rapid progress in archery, including a second-place finish at the Israeli championship, Tamir's primary focus remains achieving an Olympic gold medal.
At the Aphrodite Cup, Tamir navigated challenging conditions, including strong winds and heavy rain. She secured first place in the qualifiers and went on to win the final. Reflecting on her victory, Tamir expressed a mix of joy and sorrow, acknowledging that the loss of her parents means she cannot share these triumphs with them. She is preparing for the Berlin Open and the 2027 World Championships in Colombia, where she can compete for an Olympic qualification spot.
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