A bronze medal at the 2016 Summer Olympics in the +100 kg category established Or Sasson as the second Israeli to secure two career Olympic medals. Born in Jerusalem in 1990, the judoka developed his professional career within the Israeli national system, eventually transitioning from the tatami to national television appearances in reality programs.
Foundations of a Career
Sasson began his training at the age of eight. Representing Meitav Jerusalem, he developed his skills under the guidance of coaches Gil Ofer and Oren Smadja. His professional trajectory included collaborations with sports psychologist Noam Eyal from the Olympic Committee of Israel. Between 2007 and 2012, Sasson secured multiple national championship titles in both the -100 kg and +100 kg weight classes. His academic pursuits at the Ruppin Academic Center in the Hefer Valley coincided with his professional development as an athlete.
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The athlete achieved significant international recognition at the 2015 European Games in Baku, Azerbaijan, where he claimed a silver medal in the +100 kg category. His career was marked by consistent performances in European Open events, including gold medal victories in Tbilisi, Warsaw, and Tallinn between 2013 and 2014. At the 2009 Maccabiah Games in Tel Aviv, he won gold, and he later participated in the torch lighting ceremony for the 2017 iteration of the games.
Olympic Performance
At the 2016 Summer Olympics, Sasson defeated competitors from Poland, the Netherlands, and Cuba before facing French judoka Teddy Riner in the semi-finals. While he fell to Riner, he secured a bronze medal in the +100 kg event. In 2020, Sasson returned to the Olympic stage, earning a second bronze medal as a member of the Israel national judo mixed team.
Post-Athletic Transitions
Following his retirement from professional judo, Sasson integrated into the Israeli entertainment sector. In 2020, he performed on the local version of The Masked Singer, finishing in third place while concealed in a falafel costume. By 2024, he joined the cast of the tenth season of the Israeli production of Dancing with the Stars, where he was eliminated during the early stages of the competition.
Fast facts
- Born: 1990, Jerusalem
- Sport: Judo
- Citizenship: Israel
- Education: Ruppin Academic Center
- 2016 Summer Olympics: Bronze medal, +100 kg
- 2020 Summer Olympics: Bronze medal, mixed team
- Brother: Alon Sasson
- Residence: Netanya
Questions readers ask
How many Olympic medals did Or Sasson win?
He won two bronze medals, one in the individual +100 kg category in 2016 and one in the mixed team event in 2020.
What is his educational background?
He studied business administration at the Ruppin Academic Center in Israel.
Achievements
- Competed at judo at the 2020 Summer Olympics – mixed team event, judo at the 2020 Summer Olympics – men's +100 kg and judo at the 2016 Summer Olympics – men's +100 kg
- Discipline: judo
