Israeli Olympic medalist Peter Paltchik on failure, pain, comeback, ahead of Jerusalem Marathon

Israeli Judoka and Olympic medalist Peter Paltchik. (photo credit: Courtesy KOBI AVITAN)

Former Israeli judoka Peter Paltchik opens up about the lowest points of his career, his Olympic journey, and how mental strength shaped his path to success, ahead of the Jerusalem Marathon.

Former Israeli judoka and two-time Olympic medalist Peter Paltchik said the lowest point of his career came after a complicated surgery, when he felt his professional life had collapsed and he was forced to make what he described as a fateful decision about his future.

Paltchik made the remarks in a special interview with Toto CEO Meir Bardugo ahead of the 15th International Winner Jerusalem Marathon, which is scheduled for Friday, April 17. The race was postponed from its original March 27 date, and about 40,000 participants are expected.

Reflecting on the setback, Paltchik said the defining moments in an athlete’s career are often the hardest ones rather than the victories.

He said that experience reshaped his understanding of what it means to be a winner. In his telling, success is tied less to constant victory and more to the refusal to quit after failure, injury, and disappointment.

Paltchik also returned to the disappointment of the Tokyo Olympics, where he entered the individual competition with high expectations but fell short.

Israeli Judoka and Olympic medalist Peter Paltchik. (credit: Courtesy KOBI AVITAN)

He said he did not meet even his own standards, yet managed to recover quickly enough to help Israel win a team bronze within less than 48 hours. Paltchik later added an individual bronze medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics, giving him two Olympic medals overall.

According to Paltchik, resilience in those moments depends heavily on the people around an athlete. He credited his wife, his family, and his coach, Oren Smadja, with helping him keep going during the most difficult stretches of his career.

Discipline begins far from the mat

He also said discipline begins far from the mat and is built through daily habits, adding that even after retiring from competition in November 2025, he still feels he is competing with himself.

Ahead of what he said will be his first appearance in the Jerusalem Winner Marathon, Paltchik spoke about his connection to the capital, calling Jerusalem the beating heart of the State of Israel.

He said that before major competitions, he would often visit the Kotel (Western Wall), whose atmosphere served as a personal source of strength. For runners preparing to stand at the starting line on Friday, he offered a simple message: the hard moments will come, but mental strength and the right mindset can carry a person further than they think.