Ariel Ze'evi

{{Infobox judoka

| name = Arik Ze'evi

| native_name = {{Script/Hebrew|אריאל "אריק" זאבי}}

| native_name_lang = Hebrew

| image = Ariel Ze'evi (ISR) 2004.jpg

| image_size = 250px

| nickname = Arik

| caption = Israeli Olympic bronze medalist Arik Ze'evi in 2004

| occupation = Judo coach

| country = {{ISR}}

| weight_class = {{nbnd}}100 kg

| rank =

| rank_ref =

| dan = 6

| worlds_rank = 2

| worlds_year = 2001

| worlds_weight = Men's Open

| regionals_type = EU

| regionals_rank = 1

| regionals_year = 2001

| regionals_weight = Men's 100 kg

| regionals_year2 = 2003

| regionals_weight2 = Men's 100 kg

| regionals_year3 = 2004

| regionals_weight3 = Men's 100 kg

| regionals_year4 = 2012

| regionals_weight4 = Men's 100 kg

| nationals =

| olympics_rank = 3

| olympics_year = 2004

| olympics_weight = Men's 100 kg

| show-medals =

| medaltemplates =

{{Medal|Country| {{ISR}} }}

{{Medal|B| 2004 Athens | {{nbnd}}100 kg }}

{{Medal|G| 2001 Paris | {{nbnd}}100 kg }}

{{Medal|G| 2003 Düsseldorf | {{nbnd}}100 kg }}

{{Medal|G| 2004 Bucharest | {{nbnd}}100 kg }}

{{Medal|G| 2012 Chelyabinsk | {{nbnd}}100 kg }}

{{Medal|S| 2005 Rotterdam | {{nbnd}}100 kg }}

{{Medal|B| 1999 Bratislava | {{nbnd}}100 kg }}

{{Medal|B| 2007 Belgrade | {{nbnd}}100 kg }}

{{Medal|B| 2008 Lisbon | {{nbnd}}100 kg }}

{{Medal|B| 2010 Vienna | {{nbnd}}100 kg }}

{{Medal|G| 2011 Moscow | {{nbnd}}100 kg }}

{{Medal|S| 2010 Tokyo | {{nbnd}}100 kg }}

{{Medal|B| 2011 Baku | {{nbnd}}100 kg }}

{{Medal|B| 2011 Qingdao | {{nbnd}}100 kg }}

{{Medal|G| 1995 Valladolid | {{nbnd}}86 kg }}

{{Medal|B| 1994 Lisbon | {{nbnd}}86 kg }}

{{Medal|B| 1997 Maccabiah Games | {{nbnd}}95 kg }}

| updated = 30 May 2023

}}

Ariel "Arik" Ze'evi ({{langx|he|אריאל "אריק" זאבי}}; born 16 January 1977) is an Israeli retired dan 6 black belt in judo. He had a long and successful career competing in half-heavyweight judo competitions. He won an Olympic bronze medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics in the men's 100 kg judo competition.{{cite Sports-Reference}}

Biography

Ze'evi is Jewish,{{cite news|url=http://www.jewishinstlouis.org/page.aspx?id=181152 |title=Jews in the Olympics: 63 Athletes from 7 Countries |publisher=Jewish Federation of St. Louis |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120407023958/http://www.jewishinstlouis.org/page.aspx?id=181152 |archivedate=2012-04-07 }} and was born and raised in Bnei Brak, Israel, a predominantly Orthodox Jewish city in the Tel Aviv metropolitan area.

While growing up, he trained in the local judo club in his neighborhood, together with his older brother, Roni, who was also the club's first local gold medal pioneer after having finished first in the national Israeli Judo Championships. Ze'evi, heavily influenced by his brother and his accomplishment, began training intensively, and at the age of 15 won his first national competition in the adult class, becoming the country's youngest champion ever. Despite the lack of advanced training facilities, Ze'evi continued training in his local club and steadily closed the gap to world class level, and began competing abroad.

In his personal life, Ze'evi obtained a LLB degree from Reichman University (formerly Interdisciplinary Center Herzliya) in Herzliya.

He also hosted a sports television show for the Israeli Broadcasting Authority.

Judo career

Ze'evi won a bronze medal in judo in the {{nbnd}}95 kg at the 1997 Maccabiah Games.{{cite web | url=https://www.judoinside.com/event/6930/1997_Maccabiah_Games_Tel_Aviv/judo-results | title=JudoInside - Maccabiah Games Tel Aviv Event }}

Ze'evi placed 5th competing for Israel at the 2000 Summer Olympics in the men's {{nbnd}}100 kg division, before winning a bronze medal representing Israel at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens 2004 in the men's {{nbnd}}100 kg division.{{cite web|url=http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=466711&contrassID=1&subContrassID=8&sbSubContrassID=0&listSrc=Y |title=Judoka Arik Ze'evi earns Israel its first medal at Games |accessdate=2008-01-13 |url-status=bot: unknown |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080310141728/http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=466711&contrassID=1&subContrassID=8&sbSubContrassID=0&listSrc=Y |archivedate=2008-03-10 }} Haaretz,19 August 2004

Ze'evi won European Championships gold in 2001, 2003, 2004 and 2012 and silve in 2005. He has also won four bronze medals in European Championships. Ze'evi also won the silver medal in the open category at the 2001 World Championships.

Ze'evi missed the 2005 World championships in Cairo due to a shoulder injury, and subsequently underwent surgery to repair the damage.[http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/896184.html Judo / Ze'evi begins physical therapy but will miss championships] Haaretz, 22 August 2007

Representing Israel at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, Ze'evi failed to win a medal after losing his second match in the repechage bracket. Ze'evi told the Israeli media he does not want to end his career without a victory (probably hinting at the Judo World Championships in 2009).{{cn|date=May 2023}}

According to the International Judo Federation's World Ranking List, as of April 2012, Ze'evi was ranked #8.{{cn|date=May 2023}}

Ze'evi became a European champion for the fourth time in 2012, winning the competition in Chelyabinsk, Russia.

Achievements

class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:95%;"
Year	Tournament	Result
rowspan=2\| 1999 \| World Championships \| align=center\| 5th
European Championships \| bgcolor=#c96 align=center\| 3rd
2000 \| Summer Olympics \| align=center\| 5th
rowspan=2\| 2001 \| European Championships \| bgcolor=gold align=center\| 1st
World Championships \| bgcolor=silver align=center\| 2nd
2002 \| European Championships \| align=center\| 5th
2003 \| European Championships \| bgcolor=gold align=center\| 1st
rowspan=3\| 2004 \| Olympic Qualification Championship \| bgcolor=gold align=center\| 1st
European Championships \| bgcolor=gold align=center\| 1st
Summer Olympics \| bgcolor=#c96 align=center\| 3rd
rowspan=2\| 2005 \| World Cup, Tallinn (Estonia) \| bgcolor=#c96 align=center\| 3rd
European Championships \| bgcolor=silver align=center\| 2nd
2007 \| European Championships \| bgcolor=#c96 align=center\| 3rd
rowspan=2\| 2008 \| World Cup Tour, Prague (Czech Republic) \| bgcolor=gold align=center\| 1st
European Championships \| bgcolor=#c96 align=center\| 3rd
2009 \| European Championships \| align=center\| 5th
rowspan=2\| 2010 \| European Championships \| bgcolor=#c96 align=center\| 3rd
Grand Slam Tokyo \| bgcolor=silver align=center\| 2nd
rowspan=2\| 2011 \| European Championships \| align=center\| 7th
Grand Slam Moscow \| bgcolor=gold align=center\| 1st
2012 \| European Championships \| bgcolor=gold align=center\| 1st

class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:95%;"

Year

Tournament

Result

rowspan=2| 1999

| World Championships

| align=center| 5th

European Championships

| bgcolor=#c96 align=center| 3rd

2000

| Summer Olympics

| align=center| 5th