Israel’s top swimmers target success at Worlds
The swimming events at the FINA World Championships get under way on Sunday in Budapest, Hungary, with Israel sending a delegation of 15 athletes to its first major competition under new head coach David Marsh.
After the disappointment of the Rio 2016 Olympics, the Israeli Swimming Association decided to change course by hiring Marsh to be its top professional authority and lead Israeli swimming to Tokyo 2020.
Leonid Kaufman was relieved from his role as the head coach of Israel’s national swimming team, a job he had held since 2007, as well as during much of the 1990’s.
Marsh, who was the head coach of the US women’s team at the Rio Olympics and served as a men’s assistant coach for the 2012, 2000 and
1996 US Olympic teams, has brought with him a completely different system to the one implemented by Kaufman, who learned his trade in the USSR.
Israel sent seven swimmers to Rio last summer, but only Yakov Toumarkin progressed past the heats. Every single member of the delegation, including Toumarkin, failed to set personal best times.
That frustrating showing came on the back of a mediocre display at the previous world championships in Kazan in the summer of 2015. For the first time after 10 years and five editions of the event, Israel ended the championships without having a single finalist.
Since Yoav Bruck became the first Israeli to qualify for a final at a world championships in 1994, at least one Israeli swimmer has done so in every edition of the event apart from 2005 and 2015.
Marsh is expecting an improved showing in Budapest, with two finalists in the championships to be regarded as a success.
Apart from Tourmarkin, Israel’s delegation also includes Andrea Murez, Amit Ivry, Guy Barnea and Jonatan Kopelev, as well as a group of up-and-coming youngsters.
“Our main goal in the championships is that every swimmer will maximize his ability and set personal bests, with some also reaching semifinals and finals,” said Marsh. “Our leading swimmers: Yakov Toumarkin, Itay Gurevich and Andrea Murez are setting a good example for our youngsters by being focused and swimming fast in training. Our swimmers are looking good in training and there is a great atmosphere in the delegation.”
Israel’s first representatives in Budapest were already in action last week in the open water and synchronized swimming events.
Shahar Resman registered the most impressive result, finishing the 10km final in 16th place in a time of 1:52.32 hours. Israel was represented in the solo, duet and team synchronized swimming competitions, but none managed to qualify for a final.