Sibling rivalry is real; most of us have gone through it. But every so often, a younger sibling looks up to their older sibling with deep admiration and inspiration. At nine years old, Ori Sasson, the now two-time Israeli Olympic bronze medalist in judo, was motivated by his brother Alon to try the sport. Not terribly athletic when he started, Ori was captivated by the strategy and respect the sport offered and quickly fell in love with judo. Never feeling part of his peer group at school, judo became his community and safe environment where he felt like he belonged.
But there was a problem. At Ori’s first local competition, the stress and anxiety were overwhelming. Ori would feel sick, and his mind would freeze. His opponents would smell the fear and attack. This scenario happened on repeat as anxiety attacks would surface before every competition.
Ori simultaneously feared failure and success, a cacophony of polarizing emotions. In a sport where strategy and timing are paramount, this was disastrous. However, he was hell-bent on overcoming these debilitating feelings and openly spoke about his fears and anxiety, actively searching for coping strategies. He continued competing in his beloved judo and winning competitions along the way. He was suddenly on people’s radar.
By age 15, Ori was partaking in his first international competition in Germany. During the first competition, he stared down the barrel of another anxiety attack. He lost the first round, and the Israeli Judo Federation no longer sponsored his future international competitions. His dreams shattered before his eyes. He refused to be one and done and went back to train with gusto.
By 17, Ori and his brother were Israeli judo champions in their respective weight class, a proud moment for the Sasson brothers and their family. The anxiety persisted but the motivation to succeed overshadowed it. Ori was considered one of Israel’s top athletes and had his eyes set on the Olympics. The pattern of freezing before competitions persisted, and Ori decided to seek guidance.
The courage to change
At the age of 20, Ori started working with a sports psychologist, and that’s when the pendulum started to swing in his direction. He learned that his anxiety could be his strength and did not have to be his weakness. This mindset change made him look for new challenges and push himself beyond his comfort zone. He started training like a champion and thinking like one. He was simultaneously fighting two battles with the same focus – his opponents on the mat and paralyzing feelings off of it.
He dared to change and realized that courage is a learned skill; it’s a choice. However, he had three conflicts in his life that he worked to overcome:
The need for immediate gratification
Like many, Ori wanted immediate gratification. However, he learned to overcome this hurdle in order to succeed. He journaled and wrote affirmations such as “I am going to be successful” as a bold reminder of what is possible if he puts in the work and waits patiently. He also pushes for balance in his life to help him reach his goal.
The avoidance of risk-taking
Ori avoided taking the necessary strategic risks needed to succeed. He overcame that challenge by exposure to uncomfortable situations. For example, recently retired from judo, at 32, Ori is now enrolled in college, a completely new environment.
Overshadowing anxiety and fear
The anxiety was stifling. Ori was determined to know why this was happening. He learned that the stories he told himself were out of proportion to reality. Over time, he realized that nothing disastrous would happen if he lost a competition.
Having the courage to change worked, and a champion was in the making. At 25, Ori started competing again, and after a conversation with his coach, he made a drastic and strategic change. With one year until the Olympics, he would now compete as a heavyweight. He was right at the cusp, and to meet that category, he started eating 5,000 calories a day.
He was all in. His confidence improved, his resilience surpassed his previous abilities, and he trained harder than ever. With his anxiety under control, his outlook changed, and his judo improved.
By the time the 2016 Rio Olympics rolled around, Ori was calm, physically and mentally ready. Not to be distracted by politics and the news, he shut off all social media the week leading up to the competition.
As he boarded the bus to his Olympic competition, Ori felt the anxiety erupt, as it had before previous competitions. This time, he had the tools to deal with them. When he won the Olympic bronze medal, he slept with it in his hands, his dream achieved, and his battle won.
At six foot four inches tall, Ori Sasson is a big guy who overcame significant hurdles. His focus, tenacity, and willingness to work hard and listen to guidance led him all the way to the Olympic podium – twice. Ori Sasson has since retired from judo and is on to his next adventure, learning to be comfortable with being uncomfortable. With the right mindset and tools to deal with any challenge thrown his way, like all high achievers, he fears not trying more than he fears failing.
For more information on Ori Sasson’s story, view his TEDx talk.
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