Raz Hershko, the frontrunner of Israel’s judo team for an Olympic medal in Paris, is a tattoo enthusiast. Her body is adorned with many. One of the most significant tattoos for her is the one on her calf, depicting an elephant.
"The elephant is my spirit animal," Hershko explains. "She is the queen of the herd, leading them and taking responsibility for all members. She appears strong and large, but she is very gentle, knows how to fight for what she wants, and protects those she loves.
She embodies everything," she says. 3 View gallery Raz Hershko ( Photo: Oz Mualem ) "I also have a manta ray, which I love, a Japanese wave, the Olympic rings against the backdrop of Mount Fuji, the Little Prince with the rose and the fox, and another cute phrase on my back." It’s no wonder Hershko chose the elephant as her inspiration, an animal that exudes power and stability.
The judoka, who celebrated her 26th birthday last month, is one of the most consistent athletes in the Israeli delegation to the Olympic Games, which will begin in less than three weeks. She is the reigning European champion (78+ kg category), a bronze medalist at the World Championships (2023), and has nearly always reached the podium in recent Grand Slam tournaments, including two gold medals in the 2023 tournaments in Tel Aviv and Tbilisi. Just a year ago, Hershko was ranked first in the world in her weight category.
As we said, power and stability. Heart on the Mat Currently ranked second in the world behind Fr.
