Oren Smadja
Shay-Oren Smadja is an Israeli judo coach and former competitive judoka. Smadja won an Olympic bronze medal in judo at the 1992 Summer Olympics – Men's 71 kg|1992 Summer Olympics], making him the first Israeli male to win an Olympic medal, and the second Israeli overall after Yael Arad who won silver in judo the day before.
Judo career
Smadja was born in Ofakim, Israel, to a family of Tunisian Jewish descent. He won an Olympic bronze medal in judo at the 1992 Summer Olympics in the Judo at the 1992 [Summer Olympics – Men's 71 kg|under 71 kg category]. In 1995, he won a silver medal at the 1995 [World Judo Championships – Men's 78 kg|1995 World Championships]. The next year, he could not repeat his Olympic success when participating at the 1996 Summer Olympics – Men's 78 kg|1996 Summer Olympics].Smadja was nominated as the national coach of the Israeli men's judo team in 2010.
Smadja coached several Israeli judokas including Or Sasson, winner of the bronze medal in the 2016 Summer Olympics – Men's +100 kg|2016 Summer Olympics] ; Sagi Muki, who won gold medals at the 2015 European Games and the 2019 World Championships in Tokyo ; Peter Paltchik, winner of the bronze medal in the 2024 Summer Olympics.
Smadja is the first Israeli man to win an Olympic medal both as an athlete and as a coach.