Elham Mahamid-Ruzin

Started: She heard about goalball for athletes with a vision impairment at age 15. "I looked up one of the coaches and asked if I could participate. I was told there were no girls. Israel didn't have a women's team [at that time]. But there were teams around the world. So, we started looking for women and set up a team. I was the first to get things going." (msn.com, 09 Feb 2022; paralympic.org, 13 Apr 2021) Reason: "I love this game and it is most suitable for me." (Athlete, 01 Apr 2016) Ambition: To compete at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. (davar1.co.il, 16 Dec 2023) Milestones: She scored the first Paralympic goal for the Israeli women's team when she netted at the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. (paralympic.org, 13 Apr 2021) Additional Info: GOALBALL COUPLE Her husband Michael Rozin has served as captain of the Israeli men's goalball team. The two met at a sports camp when they were both at university in Jerusalem in 2008. "We fell in love at first sight. Even though we didn't speak the same language, we tried to communicate. It gave me the urge to learn Hebrew. Michael was the only one who came over to me to talk [at the camp]. He tried to put a smile on my face, and I knew this was true love." (paralympic.org, 13 Apr 2021) FURTHER EDUCATION She has studied for a master's degree at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. (Maya Margit YouTube channel, 31 Aug 2016)

Sporting Relatives: Her husband Michael Rozin has served as captain of the Israeli men's goalball team. (olympics.com, 06 May 2021)