Israel’s decorated judoka, Peter Paltchik, 33, announced his retirement from competitive sport. Paltchik, recognized as one of the greatest Olympic athletes in the history of the State of Israel, concluded a distinguished chapter spanning more than two decades in judo. Throughout his career, Paltchik won 31 senior medals. His notable achievements include an Olympic bronze medal in Paris 2024, a team Olympic bronze medal in Tokyo 2020, a bronze medal at the 2023 World Championships, and a gold medal at the 2020 European Championships, the year he was also ranked world No. 1. In 2021, he was also named Athlete of the Year by the European Judo Union.
The press conference in which Paltchik announced his retirement took place at the Herods Hotel in Tel Aviv. It was a very emotional event, as Peter concluded his exceptional career in tears.
The event aimed to announce Paltchik's retirement, and also to present his future endeavors.
Key media anchors included the presence of senior figures in Israeli sport, reinforcing the status of the event. Among those attending were Yael Arad, Chair of the Olympic Committee of Israel; Moshe Ponti, Chairman of the Israel Judo Association; and Oren Smadja, former head coach of the national judo team.
In addition to the retirement announcement, the event also served as a platform to highlight Paltchik’s future plans, through which he intends to continue influencing Israeli sport and society. These plans included the establishment of the Paltchik Foundation (an initiative in partnership with Doral Energy to provide financial support for young athletes), involvement in Israeli advocacy on social media and through delegations to the United States and Europe, and the promotion of business projects. Thanks to his charismatic personality and the values he brings, Paltchik has positioned himself as a symbol of determination and a source of inspiration for an entire generation of young athletes.
Dozens of journalists attended the press conference, which generated highly extensive media coverage across multiple platforms. Paltchik’s emotional retirement created significant media impact, with dozens of publications across various outlets.
The event succeeded in positioning the press conference as an important national announcement, while emphasizing Paltchik’s legacy and his connection to future initiatives.
