Photo: Lviv.ua.
The Paris Olympics were the most successful in the history of Israeli sport.
On 24 December, the names of Israel’s best athletes and coaches for 2024 were announced. This year has brought many awards to Israeli athletes, cementing the country’s reputation as a powerful sports power, Time Ukraine Israel portal reports, citing Vesty.
Leaders of the year: Tom Reuveni and Sharon Cantor
Olympic champion Tom Reuveni and silver medallist Sharon Kantor, who competed in windsurfing, were named the best athletes of the year. Their triumph on the eighth day of the Olympic Games in Paris was historic for Israel.
The breakthrough of the year: Mikhail Yakovlev
24-year-old cyclist Mikhail Yakovlev was awarded the Breakthrough of the Year title. At the Olympics, he set a record in track racing that lasted only a few minutes and won a silver medal. In addition, Yakovlev won bronze at the European Championships and silver at the World Championships, confirming his status as a promising athlete.
The best coaches: Shani Hershko and Ayelet Zusman
Among the coaches, Shani Gershko, coach of the women’s judo team, and Ayelet Zusman, senior coach of the rhythmic gymnastics team, were awarded the best coaching titles. Under Hershko’s guidance, judokas Raz Hershko and Anbar Lanir won silver at the Olympics. Zusman led her team to victories at the World and European Championships, as well as medals in the team all-around.
Discovery among young athletes
Young athletes attracted special attention this year. Roy Dror, a 19-year-old archer, became the European Youth Champion, which earned him the title of the year’s best young athlete. Among the girls, Tamar Steinberg, 18, a world champion windsurfer, who has become Israel’s main sporting hope, stood out.
The year 2024 will go down in the history of Israeli sport as a time of new records and triumphant achievements. The names of Tom Reuveni, Sharon Kantor, Mikhail Yakovlev and other athletes will be forever etched in the memory of fans, while the achievements of coaches Shani Gershko and Ayelet Zusman will set an example for future generations.
