Israel’s delegation to the World Games claimed another gold medal late Monday as Nimrod Ryeder triumphed in the men’s under-77kg jiu-jitsu final, defeating the UAE’s Mahdi Alawlaki by submission.
Guided by his personal coach and Israel national team coach Amir Buaron, along with assistant coach Tomer Elroy, Ryeder delivered a flawless tournament to retain the title he won at the 2022 World Games in Birmingham. A multiple-time European and world champion, Ryeder continues to dominate the global jiu-jitsu scene.
“I’m just an athlete – the real champions are the soldiers protecting our home,” Ryeder said after the win. “This was the only thing I focused on all year. The fight wasn’t so difficult, but I wanted revenge for what happened in Mongolia 2023. I can’t believe I did it again.”
Israel delegation head and Ayelet Federation president Arik Kaplan praised Ryeder’s achievement.
“He’s a world-class athlete – not only a multiple-time European and world champion, but now a two-time World Games gold medalist. This is a great source of pride for Israel, and we will continue striving for more top-level achievements in non-Olympic sports.”
The 12th edition of the World Games is taking place in Chengdu, China, from August 7 to 17. There are 34 sports, 60 disciplines, and 256 medal events. So far, Israel has captured seven medals at these Games, including two golds, two silvers, and three bronzes.