Rivka Bayech (Hebrew: רבקה באייך); born June 25, 1999[1]) is an Israeli taekwondo fighter who competes in the weight categories of both up to 46 kg and 49 kg. She won three bronze medals at the European Championships of 2021,[2] 2022, and 2023,[3] as well as a gold medal in the "G1" World Cup for 2020.[4]

Rivka Bayech
Personal information
Nationality Israel
Born (1999-06-25) 25 June 1999 (age 25)
Chwahit, Amhara, Ethiopia
Height1.53 m (5 ft 0 in)
Weight49 kg (108 lb)
Sport
SportTaekwondo
Event49 kg

Biography

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Bayech was born in Chwahit, Ethiopia. Her family lived in a reception center in Be'er Sheva, and later moved to Rishon Lezion in 2012, with her mother and three sisters. At 13, she started practicing taekwondo as part of the Young Warrior Taekwondo project for girls from Ethiopia in her school.[5][6]

Career and awards

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Bayech won a silver medal in the weight category of up to 42 kg at the European Youth Championships held in 2016, at Latvia.[7] Again in 2020, she won a gold medal in the weight category of up to 46 kg in the G1 World Cup competition held in Helsingborg, Sweden.[8] She has wkn the 2021 bronze medal in the weight category of up to 46 kg at the European Championships held in Sofia , Bulgaria,[9] and the state championship in the weight category of up to 46 kg.[10] In October 2021, Bayech was injured during a competition in Montenegro when an opponent fell on her leg. Her injury lasted for 7 months, and until about a month before the 2022 European Championships there was no certainty that she would be able to compete. However, she later participated in the Manchester championship in the UK, where she won a bronze medal in the weight category of up to 46 kg.[11] She also won a silver medal in the World Cup competition held in Sofia.[12]

In January 2023, Bayech won the state championship up to 46 kg.[13] In August 2023, she won a bronze medal in the weight category of up to 49 kg at the European Championships held in Tallinn , Estonia.[14][15][16] In April 2024, Bayech won the bronze medal in the World Tour competition in Spa, and gold at the Skopje Open.[17][18]

References

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  1. ^ "Rivka Bayech". taekwondodata. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
  2. ^ "Hapoel's coach of the year: Yachiam Sharabi". Hapoel.org. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
  3. ^ "Rebecca Bayich, bronze medal, European Championship 2021". Taekwondo Israel. 26 April 2021. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
  4. ^ "Achievements for taekwondo athletes in the World Cup". Israel Dojo. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
  5. ^ קציר, איתמר (19 July 2020). "I was born to do unusual things": at 1.53 m tall, Rebecca kicks all expectations". Haaretz. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
  6. ^ "Rebecca Bayech from the European Taekwondo Championships: "I'm happy with how I fought tonight"". Davar Sports. June 2022. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
  7. ^ גנור, תומר (13 January 2016). "Taekwondo fighter who dreams big". YNet. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
  8. ^ "The gold with us: the fighter from Rishon LeZion dreams of the Olympics". Rishon MyNet. 26 February 2020. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
  9. ^ קציר, איתמר (19 July 2020). "I was born to do unusual things": at 1.53 m tall, Rebecca kicks all expectations". הארץ. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
  10. ^ "Clubs athlete's won medals in the taekwondon championships". Warrior. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
  11. ^ "Rebecca Bayech from the European Taekwondo Championships: "I'm happy with how I fought tonight"". Davar Sports. June 2022. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
  12. ^ "Three medals in Taekwondo at the World Cup Championships". one.co.il. 5 March 2023. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
  13. ^ "The stars did not disappoint: Israeli taekwondo champions were crowned". Sport 1. 27 January 2023. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
  14. ^ "Rebecca Bayech won the bronze medal at European Championships". one.co.il. 26 August 2023. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
  15. ^ "Racking up Medals in Karate Marathon Windsurfing". Israel21c. 29 August 2023. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
  16. ^ "aekwondo: Rebecca Bayech won the bronze medal at the European Championships held in Sofia, Bulgaria". Olympics.co.il. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
  17. ^ "Israeli athlete Rivka Bayech claims victory at Skopje Taekwondo tournament". News of Israel. 3 April 2024. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
  18. ^ "silver medal for Dana Azran and a bronze medal for Rebecca Bayech in the Taekwondo World Tour". Davar. 7 April 2024. Retrieved 14 April 2024.