Olympic taekwondo fighter Avishag Semberg is calling it a career. At age 25, the Tokyo Olympic medalist officially announced her decision to step away from competitive sports, and tomorrow (Monday), she will make it official during a joint press conference held by the Israel Taekwondo Federation and the Olympic Committee of Israel.
Semberg won a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympic Games in the women's under-49 kg weight class. She reached numerous milestones throughout her career, but her Olympic triumph stands above all, propelling her to become a widely popular and celebrated figure in Israeli sports.
The Gedera native captured the nation's heart when she became the first Israeli to win an Olympic medal in taekwondo, as well as the country's youngest Olympic medalist at the time, at just 19 years old. Her rise began early, having secured a bronze medal at the World Junior Championships and another bronze at the European U21 Championships. In 2020, she was crowned European Senior Champion, followed by a silver medal performance at the 2022 European Championships. In 2024, she represented Israel at the Paris Olympics, where she was eliminated in the round of 16 and burst into tears during the post-match interview. Over the years, she amassed an impressive array of medals in international competition and became synonymous with Israeli taekwondo. Her broad public appeal also led to her appearance on the television show Dancing with the Stars.