Israeli judoka Peter Paltchik achieved a historic moment by winning the bronze medal in the men's under-100kg weight class at the Paris 2024 Olympics, marking Israel's first medal of the Games and its 14th overall. Paltchik, who dedicated his victory to the families affected by the ongoing conflict in Israel and Gaza, expressed immense pride and joy, stating it was a profound honor to represent his country. The 32-year-old athlete's journey to the medal included victories over Mongolia's Gonchigsüren and France's Diesse, followed by a loss to world-ranked Zelym Kotsoiev before advancing through the repechage round. He highlighted the emotional weight of the day and the motivation he drew from recent tragedies. Another Israeli judoka, Inbal Lanir, is set to compete for a medal in the women’s final, ensuring more potential success for Israel at the Games.