Raz Hershko

Raz Hershko (; born 19 June 1998; nicknamed Hershkules) is an Israeli Olympic silver medalist and European champion judoka. She was the 2015 European Cadet Champion, the 2017 European U23 Championships silver medalist, and won a bronze medal in the 2023 World Championships. She competed for Israel at the 2020 Summer Olympics, winning a bronze medal in the mixed team event. She is the 2024 European Champion. Representing Israel at the 2024 Paris Olympics, Hershko won the silver medal in judo in the women's +78 kg, and also competed in the mixed team event, in which Team Israel came in ninth.

Early life Hershko was born in Netanya, Israel, and is Jewish. Her uncle is Israeli-born former judoka and current Head Coach of the Israel women's national judo team , and when she was four years old she joined the judo club he had founded. She said: "I came out to my parents, and now I feel that everyone accepts me as I am." She also won silver medals at the 2015 European Youth Summer Olympic Festival, the 2015 European Cup U21 La Coruña, and the 2015 European Cup Cadets Fuengirola. She won the silver medal in the 2015 Israeli Championships in Ra'anana. and a bronze at the 2018 European U23 Championships in Gyor, Hungary. She won the gold medal in the 2018 European Cup Málaga, Spain. She won an Olympic bronze medal in the mixed team. She also won bronze medals at the 2021 Baku Grand Slam and the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Slam. She won a bronze medal at the 2024 Paris Grand Slam in France. She defeated Marit Kamps of the Netherlands, Milica Žabić of Serbia, former two-time European champion Kayra Özdemir of Turkey (in 14 seconds), and then lost in the final to five-time Pan American champion Beatriz Souza of Brazil. She also competed in the mixed team event, in which Team Israel came in ninth. She said: Since October 7 [the date of the 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel], I feel the extra need to not only succeed for myself but I want to succeed for the entire country.,,, The medal isn’t just for me but for all of us. I wanted to represent our flag the best way that I could, and show what type of country we are during these very tough times.