Yarden Gerbi (or Jerbi,[3] Hebrew: ירדן ג'רבי; born 8 July 1989) is an Israeli former judoka world champion. She won an Olympic bronze medal competing for Israel at the 2016 Summer Olympics, in women's 63 kg judo.[4][5]

Yarden Gerbi
Gerbi in 2022
Personal information
NationalityIsraeli
Born (1989-07-08) 8 July 1989 (age 35)[2]
Kfar Saba, Israel
OccupationJudoka
Height1.69 m (5 ft 7 in)[2]
Sport
Country Israel
SportJudo
Weight class‍–‍63 kg[2]
Rank     6th dan black belt[1]
ClubMeitav Netanya
Coached byShany Hershko [he]
Achievements and titles
Olympic GamesBronze (2016)
World Champ.Gold (2013)
European Champ.Silver (2012)
Highest world ranking1 (2013)
Medal record
Women's judo
Representing  Israel
Olympic Games
Bronze medal – third place 2016 Rio de Janeiro ‍–‍63 kg
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 2013 Rio de Janeiro ‍–‍63 kg
Silver medal – second place 2014 Chelyabinsk ‍–‍63 kg
European Games
Bronze medal – third place 2015 Baku ‍–‍63 kg
European Championships
Silver medal – second place 2012 Chelyabinsk ‍–‍63 kg
Bronze medal – third place 2013 Budapest ‍–‍63 kg
World Masters
Silver medal – second place 2013 Tyumen ‍–‍63 kg
Bronze medal – third place 2011 Baku ‍–‍63 kg
IJF Grand Slam
Gold medal – first place 2013 Baku ‍–‍63 kg
Gold medal – first place 2013 Moscow ‍–‍63 kg
Bronze medal – third place 2011 Moscow ‍–‍63 kg
Bronze medal – third place 2015 Tyumen ‍–‍63 kg
Bronze medal – third place 2015 Paris ‍–‍63 kg
Bronze medal – third place 2015 Abu Dhabi ‍–‍63 kg
IJF Grand Prix
Gold medal – first place 2014 Astana ‍–‍63 kg
Gold medal – first place 2014 Tashkent ‍–‍63 kg
Gold medal – first place 2014 Qingdao ‍–‍63 kg
Gold medal – first place 2016 Havana ‍–‍63 kg
Silver medal – second place 2010 Qingdao ‍–‍63 kg
Silver medal – second place 2013 Samsun ‍–‍63 kg
Silver medal – second place 2014 Düsseldorf ‍–‍63 kg
Silver medal – second place 2014 Tbilisi ‍–‍63 kg
Bronze medal – third place 2009 Qingdao ‍–‍63 kg
Bronze medal – third place 2012 Düsseldorf ‍–‍63 kg
Bronze medal – third place 2013 Düsseldorf ‍–‍63 kg
Bronze medal – third place 2015 Zagreb ‍–‍63 kg
European Junior Championships
Bronze medal – third place 2008 Warsaw ‍–‍63 kg
Maccabiah Games
Silver medal – second place 2009 Tel Aviv ‍–‍63 kg
Profile at external databases
IJF1880
JudoInside.com33724
Updated on 17 May 2023

Gerbi won the gold medal at the 2013 World Judo Championships in the ‍–‍63 kg category.[6][7][8] She won the Israeli championship five times by the age of 24, and was a silver medalist in the 2009 Maccabiah Games.

Personal life

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Gerbi was born in Kfar Saba, Israel, to a family of Tunisian Jewish descent from Djerba. She was raised and also currently resides in Netanya, Israel.[8][9][10][11] Her nicknames are Jordan, Gerb, and Denush.[2] She attended the Open University of Israel, studying Economics and Management.[2][12]

On 27 September 2022, Gerbi came out as gay and revealed her then-ongoing relationship with photographer Dana Lavi, daughter of Israeli actor Amos Lavi. They split up the following year.

In the summer of 2023 Gerbi began a relationship with Adi Imbar. The couple announced their engagement in April 2024.

Judo career

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Early career

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Gerbi, who began practicing judo at age 6, trains with club Meditav Netanya.[8] Shany Hershko [he], former coach of the Israeli women's national judo team, has been her trainer since childhood.[8][13]

In 2007, Gerbi won the Israel Championships.[14]

In 2008, Gerbi won the Israel Championships, the Under-23 Israel Championships, and took third in the European Junior Championships.[15]

In 2009, Gerbi won the Israel Championships and the Belo Horizonte World Cup, placed second in the 2009 Maccabiah Games and took third place in the Qingdao Grand Prix.[15][16][17]

Gerbi came in second in the 2010 Qingdao Grand Prix.[18] That year she also finished second in the Baku and Birmingham World Cups, third in the Warsaw World Cup and came in 7th place at the 2010 World Championships.[15] In 2011, she won the Israeli Championships, came in second in the San Salvador and Miami World Cups, third in the 2011 Moscow Grand Slam and the 2011 World Masters in Baku, and fifth in the 2011 European Championships.[15] Gerbi was eliminated in the third round of the 2011 World Championships and did not qualify to represent Israel at the 2012 Summer Olympics.[8]

In 2012, Gerbi won the Tashkent World Cup and the Israel Championships, took second in the 2012 European Championships in Russia,[8][19] and took third in the 2012 Düsseldorf Grand Prix.[15][20][21]

In 2013, prior to the World Championships, Gerbi won the 2013 Baku Grand Slam[22] and the 2013 Moscow Grand Slam,[23] took second in the 2013 Samsun Grand Prix,[24] third in the 2013 Düsseldorf Grand Prix[25] and at the 2013 European Championships.[26][14][15] She achieved a world ranking of No. 1 in May 2013.[27]

2013 World Champion

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In August 2013, at the age of 24, she won the gold medal at the 2013 World Championships in Rio de Janeiro in the category ‍–‍63 kg, defeating each of her five opponents unconditionally.[6][7][8][28] She defeated No. 2-ranked Clarisse Agbegnenou of France, the European champion, in the final by dislocating her shoulder and rendering her unconscious with a chokehold in 43 seconds.[8][12][13][28][29] She recorded an ippon in each of her five fights on the way to the championship.[13][28] Commenting on the reaction from Israelis to her championship, she said: "I received three marriage proposals."[30]

Gerbi became the first Israeli to win a gold medal at the Judo World Championships.[29] Israelis Yael Arad (1991 – bronze, 1993 – silver), Oren Smadja (1995 – silver), and Ariel Ze'evi (2001 – silver) had each previously won a silver medal in the championships, and Alice Schlesinger had most recently won a bronze medal in 2009; also Olympic medals, which is Gerbi's next goal, have been won by Arad (Barcelona 1992 – silver), Smadja (Barcelona 1992 – bronze), and Ze'evi (Athens 2004 – bronze).[13][31]

Gerbi was voted Israeli Sports Personality of the Year in 2013 by the readers of The Jerusalem Post.[32]

2014–15

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Gerbi (in blue) with Cachola from Portugal at the bronze final of the 2015 European Games (Baku)

At the 2014 World Championships in the Russian city of Chelyabinsk, Gerbi won the silver medal after losing by an ippon to Frenchwoman Clarice Agbegnenou in the final of the ‍–‍63 kg category.[33][34][35]

In December 2014, Gerbi was named Israeli Sportswoman of the Year.[36]

In 2015, Gerbi won a bronze medal at the 2015 European Games.[37]

On 17 October, Gerbi won a bronze medal in the 2015 Paris Grand Slam after defeating Miho Minei from Japan.[38][39] Two weeks later on 31 October 2015, she won bronze again, this time in the 2015 Abu Dhabi Grand Slam, after defeating Juul Franssen from the Netherlands.[40][41]

Rio Olympics and retirement

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On 9 August 2016, Gerbi won a bronze medal for her native Israel at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (shared with Anicka van Emden).[4] Prior to her win, she was ranked among the top 14 eligible female judokas in her category as of 30 May 2016.[42] After losing to hometown Brazilian Mariana Silva in the quarter-finals, Gerbi won her next two repechage fights to win the bronze medal.

Gerbi took part in the torch lighting ceremony at the 2017 Maccabiah Games on 6 July 2017.[43] On 2 October of that year, Gerbi announced her retirement from judo.[44]

Medals

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Sources:[45]

Year Tournament Place Ref.
2009 Grand Prix Qingdao   [17]
2010 Grand Prix Qingdao   [18]
2011 World Masters   [46]
Grand Slam Moscow   [47]
2012 Grand Prix Düsseldorf   [21]
European Championships   [19]
2013 Grand Prix Düsseldorf   [25]
Grand Prix Samsun   [24]
European Championships   [26]
Grand Slam Baku   [22]
World Masters   [48]
Grand Slam Moscow   [23]
World Championships   [6]
2014 Grand Prix Düsseldorf   [49]
Grand Prix Tbilisi   [50]
World Championships   [33]
Grand Prix Astana   [51]
Grand Prix Tashkent   [52]
Grand Prix Qingdao   [53]
2015 Grand Prix Zagreb   [54]
European Games   [37]
Grand Slam Tyumen   [55]
Grand Slam Paris   [38]
Grand Slam Abu Dhabi   [40]
2016 Grand Prix Havana   [56]
Summer Olympics   [4]

Media appearances

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In 2020, Gerbi competed in the third VIP season of Israel's Survivor and finished in third place.[57]

In 2021, Gerbi began hosting the Ninja Israel [he] show on Channel 12.[58]

In 2024, Gerbi competed in the 10th season of Israel's Rokdim Im Kokhavim ('Dancing with the Stars'), where she was eliminated 13th (out of 21 couples), in the second round of the live show stage.[59]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Association board meeting protocol 01/09/2021" (PDF). Israel Judo Association (in Hebrew). 16 March 2022. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 January 2023. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d e "About Me". Yarden Gerbi. Archived from the original on 31 August 2013. Retrieved 9 September 2013.
  3. ^ @haaretzcom (7 May 2016). "Alice Schlesinger beats Israeli Yarden Jerbi and wins Grand Slam Baku gold medal" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  4. ^ a b c "2016 Summer Olympics". ijf.org. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  5. ^ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Yarden Gerbi". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 4 December 2016.
  6. ^ a b c "2013 World Championships". ijf.org. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  7. ^ a b Sinai, Allon. "Israel's Gerbi takes gold at Judo World Championships". The Jerusalem Post, 29 August 2013. Retrieved on 30 August 2013.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h Yanover, Yori (30 August 2013). "Israeli Takes Judo World Championship Gold". The Jewish Press. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  9. ^ "Israeli wins bronze in Judo in Rio". Ynetnews. 9 August 2016. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
  10. ^ "Israeli Sports", Jewish Sports Review, Vol. 9, No. 11, Issue 107, p. 20, January/February 2015.
  11. ^ Shear, David (26 April 2013). "Israeli Judoist Wins Medal in Budapest, Hungary". Shalom Life. Retrieved 9 September 2013.
  12. ^ a b Looch, Jac (9 July 2013). "Israeli Yarden Gerbi Wins World Judo Championship". Jspace.com. Archived from the original on 14 January 2014. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
  13. ^ a b c d Sinai, Allon (4 September 2013). "Sinai Says: Gerbi's gold-medal talent matches her sparkling character". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
  14. ^ a b "Yarden Gerbi (Israel); judo results, medals, matches, photos and videos". Judoinside.com. 8 July 1989. Retrieved 9 September 2013.
  15. ^ a b c d e f "Results". yardengerbi.com. Archived from the original on 1 September 2013. Retrieved 9 September 2013.
  16. ^ "Maccabiah Games Tel Aviv, 2009; judo results, medals, matches, photos and videos". Judoinside.com. 19 July 2009. Retrieved 9 September 2013.
  17. ^ a b "2009 Grand Prix Qingdao". ijf.org. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  18. ^ a b "2010 Grand Prix Qingdao". ijf.org. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  19. ^ a b "2012 European Championships". ijf.org. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  20. ^ "Israelian Championships Ra'anana, 2012, Israel; judo results, medals, matches, photos and videos". Judoinside.com. 12 December 2012. Retrieved 9 September 2013.
  21. ^ a b "2012 Grand Prix Düsseldorf". ijf.org. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  22. ^ a b "2013 Grand Slam Baku". ijf.org. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  23. ^ a b "2013 Grand Slam Moscow". ijf.org. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  24. ^ a b "2013 Grand Prix Samsun". ijf.org. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  25. ^ a b "2013 Grand Prix Düsseldorf". ijf.org. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  26. ^ a b "2013 European Championships". ijf.org. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  27. ^ "ג'ודו: ירדן ג'רבי בראש הדירוג העולמי". Ynet. Retrieved 10 September 2013.
  28. ^ a b c Sinai, Allon (29 August 2013). "Israel's Gerbi takes gold at Judo World Championships". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
  29. ^ a b "Yarden Gerbi takes gold at Worlds, first for Israeli judoka". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. 2 September 2013. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
  30. ^ "ירדן ג'רבי: "קיבלתי שלוש הצעות נישואים"". Ynet. Retrieved 9 September 2013.
  31. ^ Yanover, Yori (30 August 2013). "Israeli Takes Judo World Championship Gold". The Jewish Press. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
  32. ^ "Person of the year in Israeli sports: Yarden Gerbi". The Jerusalem Post - JPost.com. 27 December 2013.
  33. ^ a b "2014 World Championships". ijf.org. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  34. ^ "Israel's Yarden Gerbi wins silver at World Judo Championships". Haaretz.com. 28 August 2014.
  35. ^ "Israeli judoka wins silver medal in World Championship". The Times of Israel.
  36. ^ "Grapevine: The spice of life in Israel". The Jerusalem Post. 30 December 2014.
  37. ^ a b "2015 European Games". ijf.org. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  38. ^ a b "2015 Grand Slam Paris". ijf.org. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  39. ^ "יום ענק לג'ודאים: ג'רבי, מוקי וראשוני זכו בארד" [Great day for the judokas: Gerbi, Muki and Rishoni won the bronze]. ONE (in Hebrew). 17 October 2015. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  40. ^ a b "2015 Grand Slam Abu Dhabi". ijf.org. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  41. ^ אהרוני, אורן (31 October 2015). "ג'ודו: ג'רבי זכתה בארד באבו דאבי ופרצה בבכי, ארד גם למוקי" [Judo: Gerbi and Muki won the bronze in Abu Dhabi]. ynet (in Hebrew). Retrieved 1 November 2015.
  42. ^ "ג'רבי: אהיה מוכנה לריו, פולק: אנחנו נבחרת חזקה". ynet (in Hebrew). June 2016. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
  43. ^ Ervin, Gilot To Participate In Torch Lighting At Maccabiah Games
  44. ^ "ירדן ג'רבי בראיון פרישה: "כשאין מוטיבציה, אי אפשר לעשות את זה"". Haaretz (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2 October 2017.
  45. ^ "Yarden Gerbi — Tournament results". ijf.org. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
  46. ^ "2011 World Masters". ijf.org. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  47. ^ "2011 Grand Slam Moscow". ijf.org. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  48. ^ "2013 World Masters". ijf.org. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  49. ^ "2014 Grand Prix Düsseldorf". ijf.org. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  50. ^ "2014 Grand Prix Tbilisi". ijf.org. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  51. ^ "2014 Grand Prix Astana". ijf.org. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  52. ^ "2014 Grand Prix Tashkent". ijf.org. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  53. ^ "2014 Grand Prix Qingdao". ijf.org. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  54. ^ "2015 Grand Prix Zagreb". ijf.org. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  55. ^ "2015 Grand Slam Tyumen". ijf.org. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  56. ^ "2016 Grand Prix Havana". ijf.org. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  57. ^ ""הישרדות Vip": אסי זכה בצדק, אבל הגמר הותיר טעם רע". 14 September 2020.
  58. ^ שילוני, סמדר (16 December 2021). "מצאנו את המנצחת של "נינג'ה ישראל" - וקוראים לה ירדן ג'רבי". Ynet.
  59. ^ "מוקדם מהצפוי: ירדן ג'רבי הודחה מ"רוקדים עם כוכבים"". 31 July 2024.
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