Yael Arad

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Arad's breakthrough came in 1992 at the Barcelona Olympics. Despite facing formidable opponents, including the undefeated world champion, Ingrid Ayx of Germany, Arad demonstrated her unwavering resilience and emerged victorious in the semi-finals. In the final, Arad faced off against Catherine Fleury of France in a closely contested match that went to the judges' decision. While Arad narrowly missed out on gold, her silver medal victory was a monumental achievement, marking Israel's first-ever Olympic medal. Yael dedicated her medal to Israeli Olympic team members that was murdered during the terrorist attack at the 1972 Summer Games in Munich orchestrated by affiliates of the Palestinian militant group Black September.