The moment I was awarded the gold medal at the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam judo tournament and "Hatikva," Israel's national anthem, was played in the United Arab Emirates, I received countless congratulatory messages and phone calls from friends, athletes, and people I have never even met.
To all of these well-wishers, I have only one thing to say: People of Israel, I love you. You're the best.
Ahead of every tournament, I have only one wish – to be successful. I know that when that happens, other good things happen too. And that is exactly what happened here in Abu Dhabi on Monday. Everything became clear to me after my win, and that was made possible thanks to a few people in particular. First and foremost, this is thanks to my trainer, Oren Smadja, who has supported me and helped me so much. I cannot describe in words how critical his support has been to my success.
I am also appreciative of the support I have received from my fellow Israeli judokas and all the other members of our delegation, and most importantly Israel Judo Association President Moshe Ponte. It is hard to overstate just how hard he fought for the Israeli flag to wave proudly in an Arab country and for us to wear our uniforms emblazoned with the Israeli flag, let alone have "Hatikva" play in a sports hall in a Persian Gulf state.
The moment when they played our anthem after I was awarded the gold medal is a moment I will take with me for the rest of my life. While it may not end up being the highlight of my career, in the way winning a medal at the European or World Judo Championships would be, or the realization of a lifelong dream like winning an Olympic medal would be, but it is most certainly a moment I will never forget.
I would also like to say a good word about the organizers here in Abu Dhabi. Every one of our requests was met with a positive response and a smile. We have been warmly received and our security here is a constant concern. They are doing everything they can to ensure we make it safely back home.
Now it's time to get back to the hard work and intensive training. I need to continue to work toward my goals in the hopes of achieving my main objective: to score enough points so that myself and my fellow judoka qualify for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. One of the challenges I will face on this path is the Grand Prix Tournament in Tel Aviv, to be held in another three months, the details of which Ponte and Culture and Sport Minister Miri Regev finalized with International Judo Federation officials while in Abu Dhabi. One thing is for sure: At that tournament, no one would dare to prevent us from playing "Hatikva."
I would like to thank my sponsors, and of course Israel Hayom for all of the support and for providing a platform to share my experience in Abu Dhabi with your readers.
I want to dedicate the medals and the respect earned by our team to the families of the victims of the anti-Semitic attack on Pittsburgh's Tree of Life Synagogue. I send my condolences to the families of the murdered and wish a speedy recovery to the injured.
I also dedicate these medals to the residents of the Gaza periphery, who have faced difficult times in recent days. My heart is with you.
