When they say Superwoman, they probably mean Sharon Tal.
She swims, shoots, runs, rides horses and fights with a sword - and soon she will also compete in the ninja course.
She does all this while competing in one of the oldest disciplines in the Olympic Games - modern five-a-side fighting.
In fact, 19-year-old Tal holds the industry on her back: since 2018, she is the only athlete in Israel who competes in it.
And not just a competitor - she also achieves.
Just at the beginning of the month, she finished in sixth place at the Under-21 World Championship held in Poland, after leading the competition in the semi-finals.
But for Tal everything can stop in an instant, since the industry does not have a union and is not budgeted by the state.
Her flights, training and equipment are all funded by the parents.
These days she is trying to raise funds for next season, where she will have to fly to many competitions to accumulate points that will get her into the Paris 2024 Olympics, but without success so far.
Tal.
Does everything from everything, photo: Private
"I am an athlete without a union," says Tal in an interview with Israel Hayom.
"My parents finance me, and it's to keep my head above water every time. I continue to train thanks to one of the coaches who agreed to give of his time, I'm in an existential war. There is fire, hunger and a very great desire here. I don't accept that I won't succeed, but I need the This money. I believe that one day I will receive the support, but until a moment ago being at the top was absurd - and here, now I am sixth in the world."
Tal, born in the village of Vitkin in the Hefer Valley, came to the sport after playing sports from a young age, when she ran a decade ago with Noa Barkman, the pioneer of the sport in Israel.
"I adored her. The way we started running for the first time, as soon as I saw her doing a battle of five - I found out that this is the thing I like the most," she recalls.
Tal.
Trains in five disciplines at the same time, photo: Maria Beatrice Mercuri
How do you train for five different branches together?
"I start very early in the morning. I have four training sessions a day, six days a week. It's a busy sport, because it's so varied and each discipline works on something different. I like getting up in the morning and going to train. Of course, it's not every day that I get out of bed in leaps and bounds, but I You enjoy busy days the most. I see how shooting practice helps me mentally in running training."
So does one have to be a perfect athlete in such an industry?
"Fight five is a very difficult competition, with four days of competition, and that is the beauty of this industry."
Sharon Tal.
"Very tough competition", photo: The Five World Ice Association
How do you overcome moments of crisis?
"I work with Idit Kugel, who is a sports psychologist and she is amazing. I am able to handle this load and routine thanks to her, and of course with help from my team and head coach Ohad Beloha."
What do you say about the ninja option in the industry?
"It's no secret that it's not a popular sport. Now there's a new format, where you compete in everything within an hour and a half. It's more action and easier to follow, like a soccer game. I hope it will bring my sport more exposure."
Sharon Tal.
"Hope that the ninja will bring exposure", photo: the World Ice Five Association
Is there criticism that horse riding is being taken out of the industry?
"Riding is an amazing and special sport, in which you work with another partner who listens to him. I know there were objections from animal organizations, and the world organization decided to take it out after Paris 2024 - but we are replacing it with ninja, which is a new sport. We here in recent years like This profession, and maybe it will be what will bring more athletes into the battle of five."
Are there already thoughts about the Olympics?
"Obviously, competing in the Olympic Games has always been my dream, ever since I can remember. There is nothing I want more than to compete in Paris 2024. If I didn't want it so much with the team next to me, I wouldn't be working so hard and enjoying the journey. You can make history and come up with a new branch".
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