Tal Flicker announces retirement from competitive judo

Israeli judoka Tal Flicker has officially announced his farewell to competitive judo. “If the body resists too much, it’s time to explore new paths,” said the 32-year-old, closing the chapter on a long and successful career on the international tatami.

Although Flicker never competed at the Olympic Games—largely due to the fierce domestic competition with Baruch Shmailov—he undoubtedly possessed the qualities to challenge for an Olympic medal. His achievements and longevity at the top level earned him respect across the judo world.
A career filled with highlights
Flicker rose to prominence in the U66kg category, leading the IJF World Ranking in 2017 and 2018. He competed at eight World Championships from 2013 to 2024, claiming a career-defining bronze medal at the 2017 edition after defeating Ukrainian legend Georgii Zantaraia in the medal match. The following year, he finished just off the podium with a fifth place in Baku.
2017 proved to be Flicker’s golden year. He secured Grand Slam victories in Abu Dhabi and Baku and added Grand Prix gold in Cancun. In total, he claimed 12 IJF World Tour medals, including Grand Prix wins in Cancun (2017), Zagreb (2018), and Tbilisi (2019).
European success
Flicker stood on the podium twice at the European Championships. His most cherished memory came in 2018, when he won bronze in front of a passionate home crowd in Tel Aviv. Two years later, he added silver in Prague, narrowly missing out on gold against Azerbaijan’s Orkhan Safarov.
Fierce rivalries
Throughout his career, Flicker built intense rivalries and faced some of the best in the world. He had a perfect record against Sergiu Oleinic (8-0) and a strong head-to-head against Denis Vieru (6-2), both representing Moldova and later Portugal. Against Slovenia’s Adrian Gomboc, battles were more balanced, with Flicker winning three of their eight meetings.
He frequently clashed with top Japanese judoka such as Joshiro Maruyama, Takajo, Tanaka, Tagawa, Isoda, Hashiguchi, and Fujisaka—though he never fought Hifumi Abe. Flicker also took on 2016 Olympic Champion Fabio Basile of Italy on multiple occasions.
An era ends
Flicker's international career spanned 14 years, from his debut in 2010 to his final appearance at the 2024 World Championships in Abu Dhabi. There, he faced Japan’s Ryoma Tanaka—who would go on to claim the world title—as his final opponent on the world stage.