Yarden Gerbi offers winning Olympic name patch for charity

Published August 23, 2016

Yarden Gerbi of Israel celebrating victory over Miku Tashiro of Japan during the women's bronze medal judo bout on day four of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Carioca Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Aug. 9, 2016. (Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

Yarden Gerbi of Israel celebrating victory over Miku Tashiro of Japan during the women’s bronze medal judo bout on day four of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Carioca Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Aug. 9, 2016. (Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

JERUSALEM (JTA) — Israeli judoka Yarden Gerbi, who won a bronze medal in the women’s 63-kg judo competition at the Rio Olympics, is auctioning off her Olympic name patch for charity.

Gerbi has offered the name patch for sale on eBay, and agreed to autograph it with a dedication to the buyer.

The proceeds from the auction will be donated to the Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center to be used to purchase medical equipment, Gerbi said in her description on the auction website.

As of Tuesday morning, the highest bid was $9,300.

Gerbi defeated Miku Tashiro of Japan for Israel’s first Olympic medal since the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.  Ori Sasson also won a bronze medal in the men’s judo over-100 kg. competition.

“The medal is for all of Israel, for everyone who supported me and cheered me on,” Gerbi said after her victory. “I’m waiting for someone to wake me up. I gave my soul and it paid off. Whoever said you can’t succeed in Israel is wrong.”