Or Sasson
Sasson at the 2016 Summer Olympics
Personal information
Native nameאור ששון‎
NicknameOri Sasson[2]
NationalityIsraeli
Born (1990-08-18) 18 August 1990 (age 33)
Jerusalem
Alma materRuppin College
OccupationJudoka
Height193 cm (6 ft 4 in)[2]
Weight124 kg (273 lb)[3]
Sport
Country Israel
SportJudo
Weight class+100 kg
Rank     5th dan black belt[1]
ClubMeitav Jerusalem
Coached byGil Ofer, Oren Smadja
Retired12 May 2022[4][5]
Achievements and titles
Olympic GamesBronze (2016)
World Champ.R32 (2014, 2015, 2018,
R32( 2019)
European Champ.Silver (2015, 2016)
Highest world ranking3rd[6] (2016)
Medal record
Men's judo
Representing  Israel
Olympic Games
Bronze medal – third place 2016 Rio de Janeiro +100 kg
Bronze medal – third place 2020 Tokyo Mixed team
European Games
Silver medal – second place 2015 Baku +100 kg
European Championships
Silver medal – second place 2016 Kazan +100 kg
World Masters
Silver medal – second place 2016 Guadalajara +100 kg
IJF Grand Slam
Silver medal – second place 2016 Paris +100 kg
Silver medal – second place 2019 Ekaterinburg +100 kg
Bronze medal – third place 2017 Abu Dhabi +100 kg
IJF Grand Prix
Gold medal – first place 2016 Tbilisi +100 kg
Gold medal – first place 2017 Tashkent +100 kg
Gold medal – first place 2019 Tel Aviv +100 kg
Gold medal – first place 2019 Budapest +100 kg
Gold medal – first place 2020 Tel Aviv +100 kg
Silver medal – second place 2018 Zagreb +100 kg
Bronze medal – third place 2011 Amsterdam ‍–‍100 kg
Bronze medal – third place 2013 Ulaanbaatar ‍–‍100 kg
Bronze medal – third place 2014 Zagreb +100 kg
Bronze medal – third place 2015 Düsseldorf +100 kg
Maccabiah Games
Gold medal – first place 2009 Tel Aviv ‍–‍100 kg
Profile at external databases
IJF3278
JudoInside.com58892
Updated on 18 May 2023.

Or "Ori" Sasson (Hebrew: אור "אורי" ששון; born 18 August 1990) is a retired[4][5] Israeli Olympic judoka.[7] He won a bronze medal in the +100 kg category at the 2016 Summer Olympics[8][9][10] and another one at the 2020 Summer Olympics.[11] He is the second of two Israelis to win two Olympic medals.[citation needed]

In June 2015, representing Israel at the 2015 European Games in judo in the +100 kg category in Baku, Azerbaijan, Sasson won a silver medal in the 2015 European Judo Championship which was held during the European Games.[12][13][14]

Early and personal life

Sasson was born in Jerusalem, to a family of Kurdish Jewish descent.[15][2][7][16][17] His parents are Varda and Haim Sasson. He is the younger brother of former judoka and Israel national judo team captain Alon Sasson,[18] who, when they were children, would hit him to show him who was boss.[16]

He resides in Netanya, Israel, and studies business administration at Ruppin Academic Center College in Hefer Valley, Israel.[2][16] Sasson is a fan of basketball and basketball team Hapoel Jerusalem B.C.[19]

In 2020, Sasson competed in the Israeli version of The Masked Singer reality singing show, hiding in full-body falafel sandwich costume, and finished third.[20]

Judo career

Sasson started training in judo when he was eight years old.[16] His coaches are Gil Ofer and Oren Smadja, his club is Meitav Jerusalem, and he started competing in 2005.[2][16] He has worked with Noam Eyal, a sports psychologist who works for the Olympic Committee of Israel.[16] Sasson won the Israeli judo championship at −100 kg (−220 pounds) in 2007–09 and 2011, and at +100 kg in 2011 and 2012.[7]

In July 2009 Sasson won the gold medal at the 2009 Maccabiah Games in Tel Aviv, Israel, in judo at −100 kg.[21] In September 2011 he competed in the Judo World Cup in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, where Iranian Javad Mahjoub was slated to face him, but refused.[22]

In February 2012, he won a gold medal in the World Cup Prague in judo at +100 kg.[23][24] In February 2013 and the following month, Sasson won gold medals in the European Open Tbilisi, Georgia[25][26] and the European Open Warsaw at −100 kg.[27][28][29] In September 2014, he won a gold medal at the European Open Tallinn in Estonia at +100 kg, as he weighed approximately 115 kg and returned from surgery on an injured thumb.[30][31][32]

On 26 June 2015, representing Israel at the 2015 European Games in judo in the +100 kg category (while weighing 120 kg (265 lb)) in Baku, Azerbaijan, Sasson won a silver medal for Israel in the inaugural European Games, and in doing so won the silver medal in the 2015 European Judo Championship.[2][33][12][13][14] He lost to 159 kg (351 lb) Adam Okruashvili of Georgia in the final.[34]

He won the silver medal at the 2016 European Judo Championships.[35][36]

Rio Olympics

At the 2016 Summer Olympics, Sasson defeated Egyptian judoka Islam El Shahaby in the first round. When the match ended, Sasson tried to shake his opponent's hand, but El Shahaby refused—to loud boos and jeers from the near-capacity crowd for the Egyptian's behavior.[37][38][39] El Shahaby later announced that he was retiring from judo.[40][41][42]

Sasson also beat Polish judoka Maciej Sarnacki, defeated Dutch judoka Roy Meyer, and overcame Cuban judoka Alex Garcia Mendoza.[43][44] His only loss was in the semi-finals against the eventual gold medal winner French judoka Teddy Riner.[43][44]

Sasson was awarded the Olympic bronze medal at Judo +100 kg.[8][9][10][43][44]

After Rio

Sasson took part in the torch lighting ceremony at the 2017 Maccabiah Games on 6 July 2017.[45]

On 8 October 2017, Sasson competed at the Tashkent Grand Prix, his first competition since the 2016 Olympics, and won the gold medal.[46][47][48] On 28 October, he won the bronze medal at the 2017 Abu Dhabi Grand Slam after he defeated Benjamin Harmegnies of Belgium by waza-ari.[49][50]

In 2018, he won the silver medal in the Zagreb Grand Prix.[51][52] In 2019 he won the gold medal at the Tel Aviv Grand Prix,[53][54] the silver medal at the Ekaterinburg Grand Slam,[55][56] and the gold medal at the Budapest Grand Prix.[57][58]

Sasson represents Israel at the 2020 Summer Olympics, competing at the men's +100 kg weight category. Sasson was drawn directly into the second round, where he again met Rinner, the only judoka to beat him in the last Olympics. Much like in 2016, the ten-time world champion and two-time Olympic champion Frenchman beat Sasson by a waza-ari, this time eliminating him from the individual competition.[59][60][61][62]

On 31 July 2020, Sasson won his shared second bronze medal as part of the Israel national judo Mixed team.[11]

Achievements

Source:[63]

Year Tournament Place Weight class Ref.
2009 Maccabiah Games Gold −100 kg [21]
2011 Grand Prix Amsterdam Bronze [64][65]
2013 Grand Prix Ulaanbaatar Bronze [66][67]
European Championships 5th [68][69]
2014 Grand Prix Zagreb Bronze +100 kg [70][71]
2015 Grand Prix Düsseldorf Bronze [72][73]
European Games Silver [12][13][14]
2016 Grand Slam Paris Silver [74][75]
Grand Prix Tbilisi Silver [76][77]
European Championships Silver [35][36]
World Masters Silver [78][79]
Summer Olympics Bronze [8][9][10]
2017 Grand Prix Tashkent Gold [46][47]
Grand Slam Abu Dhabi Bronze [49][50]
2018 Grand Prix Zagreb Silver [51][52]
2019 Grand Prix Tel Aviv Gold [53][54]
Grand Slam Ekaterinburg Silver [55][56]
Grand Prix Budapest Gold [57][58]
2020 Grand Prix Tel Aviv Gold [80][81]

See also

References

  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 f "Baku 2015 1St European Games – Athletes – SASSON Or". Baku 2015. Archived from the original on 17 August 2016. Retrieved 1 July 2015.((cite web)): CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  3. ^ "Judo – Men +100 kg – Weigh-in List" (PDF). 2020 Summer Olympics. 29 July 2021. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 September 2021. Retrieved 19 October 2021.
  4. ^ a b Aharoni, Oren (12 May 2022). "Ori Sasson retired: "I've put my heart on the met in every fight"". Israel Hayom (in Hebrew). Retrieved 14 May 2022.
  5. ^ a b Rakovsky, Ido (12 May 2022). ""I've beaten all the doubts and fears": Ori Sasson retired from judo at age 31". Haaretz (in Hebrew). Retrieved 14 May 2022.
  6. ^ "IJF Senior World Ranking List" (PDF). International Judo Federation. 17 October 2016. p. 24. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 January 2017. Retrieved 5 September 2021.
  7. ^ a b c "Or Sasson". JudoInside.com.
  8. ^ a b c "2016 Summer Olympics". International Judo Federation. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  9. ^ a b c "2016 Summer Olympics". JudoInside.com. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  10. ^ a b c "2016 Summer Olympics" (PDF). European Judo Union. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  11. ^ a b Katzir, Itamar. "Israeli Mixed Judo Team Wins Bronze, Defeating Russia 4-1 at Tokyo Olympics". haaretz. Retrieved 31 July 2021.
  12. ^ a b c "2015 European Games". International Judo Federation. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  13. ^ a b c "2015 European Championships". JudoInside.com. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  14. ^ a b c "2015 European Games" (PDF). European Judo Union. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  15. ^ Burack, Emily (1 July 2021). "18 Things to Know About Israeli Judoka Ori Sasson". HeyAlma.com. Retrieved 5 September 2021.
  16. ^ a b c d e f Talshir, Uri (28 August 2013). "Israeli judoka Uri Sasson looks to add a notch to his belt". Haaretz. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
  17. ^ Stan Ramati (March/April 2015). ""Israeli Sports; Judo", Jewish Sports Review, Volume 9, Number 12, Issue 108, page 21
  18. ^ "Alon Sasson". JudoInside.com.
  19. ^ Karako, Amit (16 September 2016). "Eliyahu: Stoudemire learns to know the "Guava"". ONE (in Hebrew). Retrieved 3 January 2022.
  20. ^ "In third place: Ori Sasson is the celebrity in the falafel mask". Mako (in Hebrew). 5 December 2020. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
  21. ^ a b "2009 Maccabiah Games". JudoInside.com. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  22. ^ "Judo – Or Sasson (Israël)". les-sports.info (in French).
  23. ^ "2012 Prague Open". International Judo Federation. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  24. ^ "2012 Prague Open". JudoInside.com. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  25. ^ "2013 Tbilisi Open". International Judo Federation. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  26. ^ "2013 Tbilisi Open". JudoInside.com. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  27. ^ "2013 Warsaw Open". International Judo Federation. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  28. ^ "2013 Warsaw Open". JudoInside.com. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  29. ^ Aaron Kallman (3 February 2013). "Iranian judoka boycotts Israeli; Forfeit gives Assaf Chen the bronze medal; another Iranian refuses to mount podium after Ori Sasson wins gold in his category". The Times of Israel.
  30. ^ "2014 Tallin Open". International Judo Federation. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  31. ^ "2014 Tallin Open". JudoInside.com. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  32. ^ "Thumbs up for Or Sasson after gold medal in Tallinn". JudoInside.com. 24 September 2014.
  33. ^ "Silver medal in Judo to Ori Sasson". Ynet. 27 June 2015.
  34. ^ "Golden Adam Okruashvili proud best of the rest". JudoInside.com. 27 June 2015.
  35. ^ a b "2016 European Championships". International Judo Federation. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  36. ^ a b "2016 European Championships". JudoInside.com. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  37. ^ "Egyptian judo fighter refuses to shake Israeli opponent's hand". CBS News. Retrieved 15 August 2016.
  38. ^ "Egyptian Judo Athlete Refuses Israeli's Handshake". HuffPost. Retrieved 15 August 2016.
  39. ^ Webster, Andrew (13 August 2016). "Teddy Riner wins Rio judo gold - but Israeli judoka all class in wake of Egypt handshake snub". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 15 August 2016.
  40. ^ "Egyptian booed after refusing judo handshake". Los Angeles Times. 27 August 2016. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
  41. ^ Pileggi, Tamar (12 August 2016). "WATCH: Egyptian judoka loses to Israeli, refuses to shake hands". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
  42. ^ "Egyptian booed for refusing to shake hands with Israeli after judo loss". Toronto Star. 12 August 2016. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
  43. ^ a b c "Second medal for Israel: Or Sasson wins bronze in judo". Israel Hayom. Retrieved 15 August 2016.
  44. ^ a b c "Rio Olympics //Israeli judoka Or Sasson loses semifinal to French legend, but medal hopes linger - Sports". Haaretz.com. Retrieved 15 August 2016.
  45. ^ Sutherland, James (17 June 2017). "Ervin, Gilot To Participate In Torch Lighting At Maccabiah Games". SwimSwam. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  46. ^ a b "2017 Grand Prix Tashkent". International Judo Federation. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
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  48. ^ "חזר בגדול: מדליית זהב לאורי ששון בטשקנט" [Came back big time: Gold medal for Ori Sasson in Tashkent]. ONE (in Hebrew). 8 October 2017. Retrieved 9 October 2017.
  49. ^ a b "2017 Grand Slam Abu Dhabi". International Judo Federation. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  50. ^ a b "2017 Grand Slam Abu Dhabi". JudoInside.com. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  51. ^ a b "2018 Grand Prix Zagreb". International Judo Federation. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
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  60. ^ "2020 Summer Olympics". live.ijf.org. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
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  65. ^ "2011 Grand Prix Amsterdam". JudoInside.com. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  66. ^ "2013 Grand Prix Ulaanbaatar". International Judo Federation. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
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External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Or Sasson.
Olympic medalists for Israel
Israel national judo team 2020 Summer Olympics – Mixed team bronze medalists
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