Jewish World Records emblemJewish World Records
Back to all records
JWR VerifiedJWR-2026-000166

First Jewish Olympic Medalist in Taekwondo

Record holder

Avishag SembergPerson

Record value

Bronze — Women's −49 kg, Tokyo 2020

Country represented: IsraelAchievement location: Tokyo, JapanAchievement date: 24 July 2021Current record

Challenge this record

Verified by Jewish World RecordsHow we verify records

Avishag Semberg in 2020.

Avishag Semberg before her Olympic bronze-medal performance at Tokyo 2020.AvivHofi / Wikimedia CommonsSourceCC0 1.0

Official record definition

The earliest Jewish athlete to win an Olympic medal in taekwondo, across all Olympic taekwondo weight classes and genders.

Measurement methodology

Chronological review of Olympic taekwondo medalists from the sport's Olympic medal debut through Tokyo 2020, cross-checked against Jewish Olympic medalist records.

Record story

Avishag Semberg became the First Jewish Olympic Medalist in Taekwondo at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. The achievement occurred on 24 July 2021 in Tokyo, Japan, where she secured the medal for "Bronze — Women's −49 kg, Tokyo 2020". Her performance in the women's flyweight taekwondo event marks the earliest verified Olympic medal in the sport to be won by a Jewish athlete.

The basis for the record was a chronological review of all Olympic taekwondo medalists, from the sport's Olympic medal debut through the Tokyo 2020 games, which was cross-checked against Jewish Olympic medalist records. Research from sources including the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame confirms that no Jewish taekwondo medalist appears in its chronology for earlier Olympic years. Semberg’s bronze medal achievement is itself documented by the Olympic Committee of Israel and Olympedia.

Media

How JWR verified this record

Verification date
26 September 2026
Verification standard
JWR Verification Standard 1.0

Achievement evidence

The Olympic Committee of Israel and Olympedia confirm that Avishag Semberg won bronze in the women's flyweight taekwondo event at Tokyo 2020 on 24 July 2021.

Superiority evidence

The International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame chronology lists Avishag Semberg as the first Jewish Olympic medalist recorded in taekwondo; no taekwondo medalist appears in the earlier Olympic years in that chronology.

Jewish Eligibility — Verified by JWR

Jewish eligibility verification

Evidence establishing that the holder qualifies as Jewish for JWR purposes.

  • Jewish Olympic Medalists — International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame

Achievement / record verification

Evidence establishing that the holder achieved the result and holds the record as defined.

  • Avishag Semberg — Bronze, Tokyo 2020 — Olympic Committee of Israel
  • Avishag Semberg — Olympedia

Superiority / counter-candidate verification

Evidence comparing the result with other candidates relevant to the record claim.

  • Jewish Olympic Medalists — International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame

Jewish eligibility, achievement and superiority evidence retain their separate classifications and are never merged. Context and provenance are not presented as proof of the achievement. Restricted evidence and internal research notes are never published. Learn more about the seven-stage process on the verification page.

Sources & Verification

  • Avishag Semberg — Bronze, Tokyo 2020

    Official recordOlympic Committee of Israel

    What this proves: Olympic bronze medal, event and Tokyo 2020 achievement.

  • Jewish Olympic Medalists

    Primary sourceInternational Jewish Sports Hall of Fame

    What this proves: Jewish eligibility and chronological absence of an earlier Jewish taekwondo medalist.

  • Avishag Semberg

    Reference databaseOlympedia

    What this proves: Olympic participation and bronze medal result.

History

  1. Verified

    Verified according to JWR Verification Standard 1.0.

  2. Publishedv1

    Published to the official JWR registry.

Related records

Linoy Ashram during an Israeli rhythmic-gymnastics competition.
JWR Verified
Sports · Olympic GamesFirst

First Jewish Olympic Gold Medalist in Rhythmic Gymnastics

Record holder

Linoy Ashram

Record value

Gold — Individual All-Around, Tokyo 2020

Linoy Ashram became the 'First Jewish Olympic Gold Medalist in Rhythmic Gymnastics' on 7 August 2021. The achievement took place in Tokyo, Japan, where she won the 'Gold — Individual All-Around, Tokyo 2020'. Her victory in the individual all-around competition at the rescheduled Olympic Games is confirmed by official sources including the Olympic Committee of Israel and Olympedia.

Country represented
Israel
Achievement location
Tokyo, Japan
Achievement date
7 August 2021
View full record
Adriana Behar at a public event in 2005.
JWR Verified
Sports · Olympic GamesFirst

First Jewish Olympic Medalist in Beach Volleyball

Record holder

Adriana Behar

Record value

Silver — Women's Beach Volleyball, Sydney 2000

Adriana Behar became the first Jewish Olympic medalist in beach volleyball at the Sydney 2000 Games. Representing Brazil with her partner Shelda Bede, Behar secured the silver medal in the women's tournament. The final match was held in Sydney, Australia, on 25 September 2000, officially confirming their result.

Country represented
Brazil
Achievement date
25 September 2000
View full record
Joe Jacobi in 1992.
JWR Verified
Sports · Olympic GamesFirst

First Jewish Olympic Medalist in Canoe Slalom

Record holder

Joe Jacobi

Record value

Gold — Men's C2 Slalom, Barcelona 1992

Joe Jacobi became the first Jewish Olympic medalist in canoe slalom at the Barcelona 1992 Games. Competing with his partner, Scott Strausbaugh, he won the gold medal in the men's C2 slalom event on 2 August 1992. The competition took place in La Seu d'Urgell, Spain. The specific achievement is recorded as 'Gold — Men's C2 Slalom, Barcelona 1992'. This accomplishment is documented by Olympedia and recognised by the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame, which honours Jewish athletes worldwide.

Country represented
United States
Achievement location
La Seu d'Urgell, Spain
Achievement date
2 August 1992
View full record