Ziv Sherer: Rising Judo Star Competes for Austria

Linz, Austria – March 7, 2026 – Ziv Sherer, a 20-year-old judoka with dual Austrian-Israeli citizenship, is quickly making a name for himself on the international stage. After recently gaining clearance to compete for Judo Austria, Sherer has demonstrated promising talent in his debut performances and is preparing to balance rigorous training with academic pursuits.

Early Career and Recent Debut

Sherer’s eligibility to represent Austria stems from his Austrian grandmother, Ada. He joined LZ Multikraft Wels in January of this year and was officially approved to compete for Judo Austria last Monday. He made his World Tour debut at the Upper Austria Judo Grand Prix, securing victories against Olympic starter Ali Popalzai from the IJF refugee team and Dutchman Jochem Van Harten, totaling 10 minutes and 33 seconds of fight time [IJF.org]. Despite a third-round defeat against Petros Christodoulides of Cyprus, his performance earned him a countable result – reaching the top 8.

Future Plans: Training and Education

Following the Upper Austria Grand Prix, Sherer, currently residing in Haifa, plans to relocate to Linz. He intends to study economics while simultaneously training with the Judo Austria national team at the Upper Austria Olympic Center. [European Judo Union]. He is scheduled to compete next at the European Open in Dubrovnik, Croatia, at the end of March.

Adapting to a Fresh Team

Sherer is currently taking intensive German language courses, as he communicates with his teammates in English. He has already confidently stated, “I’m starting for Austria.”

Expert Assessment

Markus Moser, ÖJV sports director, praised Sherer’s debut, stating, “Ziv fought very respectably, he can be more than satisfied with his GP premiere. Of course he still lacks international experience.” [European Judo Union]

Ziv Sherer’s Recent Results

As of March 7, 2026, Sherer’s recent results include:

• March 7, 2026: -66 kg, 357th place, 27 points [IJF.org]
• November 21, 2024: Podgorica Senior European Cup – 3rd place [IJF.org]
• June 1, 2024: Graz Junior European Cup – 7th place [IJF.org]