The Israeli gymnasts who amazed us, and the whole world - voila! sport

An entire country was amazed. Ashram (Photo: Reuven Castro)

The summer of 2021 provided Israeli sports with some of the most exciting days in the history of the country: Artyom Dolgopyat and Linoy Ashram won two Olympic gold medals in gymnastics, and the song of "Hatikvah" was played in Tokyo against the background of the Israeli flag waving proudly at the top of the mast. An entire country watched our two representatives stand proudly at the top of the podium, grabbing their heads and struggling to digest: Yes, yes, we are the best in the world. According to many, these two gold medals are the most impressive achievement ever of Israeli sports, with a historic, sensational win in a sport that in the past was off-limits, and in recent years we have managed to slip to its top, and on the way to producing beloved and exciting athletes. In honor of Walla's festive project! In cooperation with Toto, which marks 75 years of love for Israeli sports, it is time to choose: who are the most beloved athletes in our history, and which of our great gymnasts are included among them?

To choose the 75 most beloved athletes in the history of Israeli sports click here

Huge, groundbreaking. Shtilov (Photo: Lilach Weiss Rosenberg)

Gymnastics has always been a popular sport in Israel, but only in recent decades have we begun to enjoy international successes at the highest level. The first to bring Israel a medal wasAlex Shtilov, who in 2009 won a bronze medal at the World Championships, effectively giving the opening shot to great decades. His peak achievement was a gold medal in the ground exercise at the 2013 European Championships, but his resume also includes two Olympic finals (in Beijing and London) and a slew of titles. Unlike his low-rise rivals, Shatilov stands 1.82 meters tall, but our Alex is not only exceptionally flexible and acrobatic, he has also always been both cool and kind, both professional and captivating (not coincidentally he won first place in "Dancing with the Stars"), and for us a trailblazer.

A role model. Rivkin (Photo: Reuters)

At the same time, Israel began to succeed in artistic gymnastics as well, andNetta Rivkinwill always be remembered as one of the first who brought us pride in the biggest competitions. Rivkin is the first Israeli to win a medal at the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships, and the first to win a medal at the European Championships. Already at the age of 17 she participated in the Beijing Olympics, in the London Olympics (2012) she finished seventh in the multi-fight final, and at the Rio Olympics (2016) she carried the Israeli flag at the opening ceremony thanks to her role model. Rivkin has always been a symbol of hard work, stability, dedication and dedication to the goal, even as a commentator it is always a pleasure to hear and learn from her, and it is no coincidence that to this day she works with young athletes, serves as an example and inspiration for the next generation.

Humble, simple, fighter. Artyom (Photo by Getty Images, Jamie Squire)

Artyom Dolgopyatis already a phenomenon: world champion, European champion, Olympic gold medalist, and still always so humble, always businesslike, never forgetting to thank his coaches, everyone who supported, a star without papers. He has no need to brag, because everything he has achieved in his career has been achieved through training and hard work. This is an athlete who is fun to love, fun to praise because of his rare diligence. He arrived at the Tokyo Olympics as one of the favourites after winning two gold medals at the European Championships, and was not deterred by the pressure. He made it to the final from first place, and kept his composure. He won the final by a point, because of his high degree of difficulty, and his unique quality. On the podium, too, he maintained his small, modest smile, while all the media in Israel interviewed his father, who also came to work at the factory that day and watched his son make history on television in a small way. This is Artyom: a reminder of hard work, which leads to success.

The Israeli champion drove Russia crazy. Ashram beats Avrina (Photo by Getty Images, Jamie Squire)

A few days after Artyom's gold, an international sensation arrived, which caused a storm in the sport for many months: Linoy Ashram, the Israeli from Rishon LeZion, became a gymnast who ended Russia's rule in the sport - and won the prestigious gold medal in the multi-fight competition. Even in the case of the ashram, this is not accidental. This is a gymnast who has been at the top of the world for many years, with two gold medals from the European Championships, 6 silver medals from the World Championships, always at the top, always full of faith, always noble, upright, positive and articulate. The Russians were so outraged by Ashram's victory at the Olympics that for a long time they alleged corruption and lies, in an affair that even President Vladimir Putin referred to. But we all know that Ashram rightly won, that it was the best, that its success (like that of everyone involved in the industry) came thanks to intense training and constant sacrifice. Ashram, our champion, remains a beloved star, and will likely remain so for many years to come.

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