Tokyo Olympics

Out of some 16,000 Olympic medals awarded from the first modern Games in Athens in 1894 to the 2016 Rio Olympics, Israel had nine medals going into the long-awaited Tokyo Games, where it has so far won one more. But does being an Olympic medalist really change your life?

With an unimpeded path to the round of 16, Tohar Butbul beat Victor Sterpu of Moldova and advanced to the quarterfinals against South Korean star An Changrim, who beat him with a waza ari.

For decades, female gymnasts have worn bikini-cut leotards. In qualifying on Sunday, however, the German team instead wore unitards that stretched to their ankles, intending to push back against the sexualization of women in gymnastics.

In four more days, on Friday, July 30, Israeli judoka Raz Hershko is slated to square off against Tahani Alqahtani of Saudi Arabia in the 78-kilogram category for women. Will the Saudi judoka show up or back out?

Kimia Alizadeh, the first woman to win an Olympic medal in Iran's history, defeats former compatriot in taekwondo match.

The International Judo Federation's executive committee says Fethi Nourine's position was "in total opposition to the philosophy of the International Judo Federation."

The 19-year-old is the first taekwondoin to ever represent Israel in this sport in the Games. She defeated Turkish Rokia Yildirim with a score of 27-22 in the under 49-kilogram weight class.

The move was welcomed by relatives of the victims, some of whom were in the stadium, and Israel's Prime Minister Naftali Bennett.

COMMENTARY: Japan's government had hoped the Olympics would boost morale, the economy, and its international standing. With COVID-19 sticking around, they may end up doing more harm than good.