Israeli hopes for Tokyo Olympics also depend on three former USSR athletes • Immigration project of the 1990s

• Cleganov. Medal in Beijing

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  AFP

The simple truth is that it will be short of telling how much the rise from the USSR has contributed to Israeli sports. The waves of immigration have brought and continue to bring outstanding athletes, whose achievements have raised the Israeli flag and raised hope around the world. The first Olympic medal for the rising athletes brought kayaker Michael Klaganov In 1996, Uzbekistan is 22. He has twice been the world champion and Israeli athlete twice, winning the bronze medal at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.

Joel Rezbuzov (40), who at 11 years of age from Jewish autonomy in Russia, was once Deputy European Champion of Judo. "The first time I raised the Israeli flag abroad, I felt that I would like to return my thanks to a country that has given me the opportunity to represent her and that I am her full partner," says Razbuzov, now MK in Blue and White. "The contribution of the USSR to sports does not only amount to The outstanding athletes, who do us a lot of respect in the world and in fact serve as great ambassadors for Israel, but also their coaches, who brought the knowledge and experience gained in the USSR, which was the global sports empire. "

Silent. For the fourth time at the Olympic Games // Photo: Joshua Yosef

Beyond knowledge and experience, immigrants from the USSR have also brought a sports culture that educates uncompromising achievements from home. Jacob Tomarkin, 27, the all-time successful Israeli swimmer, knows a thing or two about it: He did immigrate from Russian Chelyabinsk at the age of two, but Growing up at home alongside an athletic mother and a mountaineer grandfather. "It was clear from the culture and home I grew up from when I was born that I am an athlete," he shares. " Tomarkin.

"Why not first?"
Tomarkin, who set the record for an Israeli swimmer at the London 2012 Olympic Games, adds: "I am from the" Immigrant ", understand Russian, but unfortunately do not know how to read and write. The Russian team makes me laugh that I do not look Russian at all. I was small, but the Russian mentality is something that comes from home, the classic mentality that always has to be first. When I took two silver medals at the Singapore Youth Olympics it was my break-in. There was tremendous excitement, but Mother naturally asked me, 'Why not first?' It hurts, but it also pushes forward. " Tomarkin, who will participate in the Tokyo Olympic Games this year, will also join gymnast Alex Stilov (32), who also reflects on the continuity of the USSR's contribution to sports. This will be Stilov's fourth appearance in the Olympic Games: to date he has been the European Champion and won the European Championship the world.

Shtilov, who immigrated from Tashkent, Uzbekistan with his family when he was 16, purchased his Hebrew in the gym. "I used to work in Uzbekistan's youth team and so when I came to Israel one of the first things was to find out where there is a gym in Israel," he recalls. "The atmosphere in the hall was pleasant and facilitated my absorption process in the country and the interaction with people my age." And he has only warm words to say about his absorption: "Israeli sports gave me a luminous welcome. I never felt foreign or different in Israel, and when I joined the IDF as an outstanding athlete, I began to speak Hebrew regularly. I remember the moment when I was resting in Israel and the Ministry of Absorption received the family lighting candles. Last holiday, I remembered that and was very excited, "smiles Shtilov.

"Most at home"
The last to join the "Soviet Representation" in the Israeli delegation, and also one of the blue-and-white Olympic hopes, is Hannah Kneyseva-Minenko (30), who emigrated from Kiev eight years ago. Then, at the age of 22, and just after the London 2012 Olympic Games, she chose to leave Ukraine's national athletics team, considered one of the world's strongest in the industry, and follow in the footsteps of love. "Immigration to Israel was not easy at all," the world champion's deputy recalls in a triple jump. "I came here after a crisis, because I finished fourth in the London Olympics and without a medal. I planned to quit sports and start a family. I didn't speak a word in Hebrew and I had to rebuild my image in the country Foreign.

Knysseba-Minenko. Brought Ukrainian discipline with her // Photo: Reuters

"When I came back to practice in Israel, I was told I was dumb to do it here, because there is no sports culture in Israel and everything is good. But I grew up with tough discipline in a sports boarding school in Ukraine. To be there, you have to be the most successful there. So I made the decision: to bring the discipline I did not look for excuses, I was looking to succeed, and the Israeli environment embraced me for that, "adds Shi'an Yisrael." That my family stayed in Ukraine and still worry about me because of the security situation, in Israel I feel That at home. "