Biography
Started: She began rowing in 2010. (avinevel.wix.com, 20 Oct 2014)
Reason: She began playing wheelchair basketball after sustaining her impairment, but she switched to Para rowing because she wanted to represent Israel at the Paralympic Games. "Going back to basketball was a big thing for me, but it also made me think that I want to go to the Paralympic Games. I started dreaming big dreams about sports again, as I did when I was a young athlete. But my team wasn't good enough, the Israeli national team wasn't good enough, we were last in Europe. So thinking about individual sport was actually the route to try and get to the Paralympic Games. The Paralympic Committee in Israel, they recommended rowing based on my athletic abilities and my height, even though I'd never rowed in my life. I didn't even like any water sports before. I had a dream and I decided that I would at least try." (europeanchampionships.com, 29 Jul 2022; All Inclusive podcast, 26 Apr 2021)
Ambition: To compete at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. (ynet.co.il, 28 May 2024; israelhayom.co.il, 18 Jul 2024)
Milestones: She became the first rower representing Israel to win multiple medals at the Paralympic Games by claiming silver in the women's PR1 single sculls at the 2020 Games in Tokyo. She also won bronze in the women's arms only single sculls at Rio 2016. (SportsDeskOnline, 20 Dec 2023)
Awards: In 2023 she was inducted into the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame. (jewishsports.net, 01 Jan 2023)
She was one of the flag bearers for Israel at the opening ceremony of the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo. (europeanchampionships.com, 29 Jul 2022)
She was chosen to light a ceremonial torch on Israel's Independence Day in 2019. (ynetnews.com, 18 Apr 2019)
She was named the 2015 Para Athlete of the Year by World Rowing. (paralympic.org, 29 Jul 2016)
She was named the 2015 Female Athlete of the Year by the Paralympic Committee of Israel. (jpost.com, 30 Dec 2015)
She was named The Jerusalem Post Israeli Sports Personality of the Year 2015. (jpost.com, 01 Jan 2016)
She was named in the 2015 Para Crew of the Year by the International Rowing Federation [FISA]. (paralympic.org, 21 Nov 2015)
She was named the International Paralympic Committee's [IPC] Athlete of the Month for September 2015. (paralympic.org, 12 Oct 2015)
Additional Info: FURTHER EDUCATION
She has a master's degree in early childhood education and development. (zdvo.org, 30 Apr 2021)
Sporting Relatives: Her wife Limor Samuel Goldberg has worked for the Paralympic Committee of Israel. (europeanchampionships.com, 29 Jul 2022)
Frequently Asked Questions
Personal Details
GenderFemale
Birth DateApril 24, 1982
OccupationAthlete, Motivational Speaker, Physiotherapist
EducationPhysiotherapy - University of Haifa, Israel
Languages SpokenEnglish, Hebrew
CoachDima Margolin; Sergi Bokarib
Highlights
| Rank | Event | Year | Location | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paralympic Games | ||||
| 2 | Single Sculls - PR1M1x | 2020 | Tokyo, JPN | 11:18.39 |
| 3 | Women's Arms Only Single Sculls | 2016 | Rio de Janeiro, BRA | 5:17.46 |
| 5 | Women's Arms Only Single Sculls | 2012 | London, GBR | 5:48.67 |
| World Championships | ||||
| 1 | Women's Arms Only Single Sculls | 2015 | Aiguebelette-le-Lac, FRA | 5:25.92 |
| 2 | Single Sculls - PR1M1x | 2018 | Plovdiv, BUL | 11:02.06 |
| 2 | Single Sculls - PR1M1x | 2017 | Sarasota, FL, USA | 11:20.81 |
| 2 | Women's Arms Only Single Sculls | 2014 | Amsterdam, NED | 5:33.86 |
| 3 | Single Sculls - PR1M1x | 2019 | Linz, AUT | 10:30.19 |
| 3 | Women's Arms Only Single Sculls | 2011 | Bled, SLO | 5:49.97 |
| 4 | Single Sculls - PR1M1x | 2023 | Belgrade, SRB | 10:21.75 |
| 5 | Single Sculls - PR1M1x | 2022 | Racice, CZE | 10:37.07 |
| 5 | Women's Arms Only Single Sculls | 2013 | Chungju, KOR | 5:37.75 |
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