Two Israeli Olympic rowers have won a gold medal for the short distance pairs’ rowing event at the prestigious Italian Open Rowing Championship in Pisa on Sunday, January 24.

The two athletes, Daniel Friedman (28) and Oleg Gonorovski (26) finished the six kilometer course with the time of 21:30:91, earning them the gold medal. This is the first time an Israeli rowing team has made it into the Italian Open, snatching the gold on its very first entry.

Ukrainian-born Daniel Friedman is Israel’s reigning national rowing champion, having won the national title eleven years in a row, and a favorite for a medal at the upcoming 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

“Daniel Friedman is preparing himself by conquering international Olympic requirements on his way to the Olympic games in Rio,” stated a spokesperson of the Olympic Committee of Israel.

Meanwhile, the Israeli female judo team accomplished an impressive achievement in Havana, Cuba, when Yarden Gerbi (26) and Linda Bolder (28) both won gold medals in the international Judo Grand Prix. On Saturday, January 23, another Israeli teammate, Shira Rishony (25), won a silver medal.

“It’s a great start for the year; I won four competitions in the Grand Prix,  and in the finals managed to defeat the Cuban champion who in the past defeated me twice,” said Yarden Gerbi following her victory.

Both Gerbi and Bolder are favorites for Olympic medals in the Rio games. Linda Bolder is the former Dutch national judo champion, winning the title twice. In 2015, she immigrated to Israel with her husband and is currently representing Israel in all international games.

“I am proud to be representing Israel, and winning the gold for me, for the Israeli Judo Association and for the country,” said Bolder.