# Shira Rishony

Shira Rishony (Hebrew: שירה ראשוני, born 21 February 1991) is an Israeli Olympic lightweight judoka. She competes at ‍–‍48 kg (under 106 pounds). She competed for Israel at the 2016 Summer Olympics. At the 2020 Summer Olympics she won a bronze medal in the mixed team event, and placed 5th in the women's 48 kg event. She won a bronze medal at the 2022 European Championships. Rishony represented Israel at the 2024 Summer Olympics in judo; in the women's 48 kg she came in 17th, and in the mixed team event Team Israel came in ninth.

## Early and personal life

Rishony was born in Holon, Israel, and is Jewish. At the age of five, she was sent by her mother to learn ballet, despite her desire to learn judo. After two years, as she still insisted on learning judo, her mother finally gave in and allowed her to take part in the sport. Her sisters are named Rotem and Maya. Their grandfather is named Muki.
She resides in Even Yehuda, Israel, near the Wingate Institute. Rishony speaks Hebrew, English, and Spanish.

## Judo career

Her club is the Netanya Gladiator Judo Club in Israel.

### Early years; Israeli Champion

Rishony won the Israel ‍–‍48 kg Women's Judo Championship in 2009 2012, 2017, 2019, and 2023, won the silver medal in the competition in 2014 and 2015, and won the bronze medal in 2007 and 2011.
In 2009, Rishony won gold medals in the 2009 Maccabiah Games, and the Junior Tour U20 Izmir 'Cehat Sener'.
In 2012, Rishony won the gold medal in the IJF World Cup Tashkent, and took the bronze medals in the World Cup Bucharest and the World Cup Istanbul. Rishony won the gold medal at the 2013 Tashkent Grand Prix, and a bronze medal at 2013 Almaty Grand Prix, but was injured in a competition in Germany and lost six months of training and competition.
In 2014, Rishony won the gold medal at the European Open in Tallinn, and bronze medals at the 2014 Jeju Grand Prix and the Pan American Open San Salvador. She won a bronze medal at the 2015 Grand Slam of Paris. In May, she finished in 5th place at the 2015 World Masters in Rabat.
Rishony won the silver medal at the 2016 Havana Grand Prix.

### 2016 Rio Olympics

Rishony, ranked 20th in the world, competed for Israel at the 2016 Summer Olympics in women's 48 kg, taking the additional place of Europe. In her first bout she was deemed to have illegally touched her opponent's leg with her elbow in her match against Ukrainian Maryna Cherniak, and was disqualified for illegal use of her elbow at 2:10 of her first bout. After the loss, she admitted "I still don't understand why I was disqualified." In tears, Rishony said: "I'm still in shock, I felt I was ready and it hurts me that I couldn't give my all and that it all ended before it really began... I was surprised by the decision of the judge... It's hard to put in words how much you give and how much you sacrifice and how much you dream of this moment. You certainly don't imagine it ending like this."

### 2017–19

Rishony won a silver medal at the 2017 Antalya Grand Prix, and a bronze medal at the 2017 Baku Grand Slam. She won a gold medal in the New York Open Team Championships.
At the 2018 Hohhot Grand Prix, Rishony won a bronze medal.
At the 2019 Tel Aviv Grand Prix Rishony won the gold medal. Rishony also won bronze medals as the 2019 Hohhot Grand Prix, the 2019 Montreal Grand Prix, and the 2019 Brasilia Grand Slam.

### 2020 Tokyo Olympics (in 2021)

Rishony represented Israel at the 2020 Summer Olympics, competing at the women's 48 kg weight category. In her first match, she beat Colombia's Luz Álvarez by ippon, advancing to the round of 16. There, she submitted Spaniard 2021 World Championships bronze medalist Julia Figueroa who was seeded 5th in the Olympics. In the Quarterfinals, Rishony lost to former world champion, Mongolian Mönkhbatyn Urantsetseg, moving her to compete for a chance to win bronze through the Repechage. There, Rishont beat Taiwanese Lin Chen-hao, advancing to fight for the bronze medal. She lost the bronze medal match to Ukrainian former two-times world champion Daria Bilodid, finishing in fifth place.

### 2021–present; European championships bronze medal

Rishony won bronze medals as the 2021 Antalya Grand Slam and the 2021 Baku Grand Slam.
At the 2022 European Championships in Sofia, Rishony won a bronze medal.
At the 2023 Antalya Grand Slam, Rishony won a silver medal, and at the 2023 Almada Grand Prix she won a bronze medal.

### 2024 Paris Olympics

Rishony represent Israel at the 2024 Summer Olympics in judo; in the women's 48 kg she came in 17th, as she lost 00–01 in the round of 32 to 2024 world championship bronze medalist Abiba Abuzhakynova of Kazakhstan. In the mixed team event, she and Team Israel came in ninth.

## Titles

Source:
| Year | Tournament |
| 2013 | Grand Prix Almaty |
| 2013 | Grand Prix Tashkent |
| 2014 | Grand Prix Jeju |
| 2015 | Grand Slam Paris |
| 2016 | Grand Prix Havana |
| 2017 | Grand Slam Baku |
| 2017 | Grand Prix Antalya |
| 2018 | Grand Prix Hohhot |
| 2019 | Grand Prix Tel Aviv |
| 2019 | Grand Prix Hohhot |
| 2019 | Grand Prix Montreal |
| 2019 | Grand Slam Brasilia |
| 2021 | Grand Slam Antalya |
| 2021 | Grand Slam Baku |
| 2022 | European Championships |
| 2023 | Grand Prix Almada |
| 2023 | Grand Slam Antalya |

### Israeli championships

Partial list:
    2009
    2012
    2016
    2017
    2019
    2014
    2015
    2007
    2010
    2011
* ↑ Held in January 2017
* ↑ Held in March 2011