Gal Zukerman (גל צוקרמן; born 17 Aug 2003) is an Israeli kite foiler.[1] She won the Youth Sailing World Championships in 2022. Zukerman competed for Israel at the 2024 Paris Olympics in the Women's Formula Kite in Marseille, France, and came in eighth.
Gal Zukerman גל צוקרמן | |
|---|---|
| Born | August 17, 2003 |
| Nationality | Israeli |
| Known for | Olympic kite foiling |
Career
editZukerman was born in Kibbutz Sdot Yam, Israel, and grew up near Haifa.[2] Both of her parents were Olympians.[3] Her father Eli Zuckerman, who competed for Israel in the 2000 Sydney Olympics and came in 13th in the Men's Two Person Dinghy in a model 470 sailboat with Eldad Ronen, is the professional director of the Israel Sailing Association, but does not get involved with his daughter's model.[4] Her mother is Shani Kedmi, who represented Israel at both the 1996 Atlanta Olympics (coming in 12th) and the 2000 Sydney Olympics (coming in 4th) in Women's Two Person Dinghy with Anat Fabrikant.[5]
She began sailing at the age of five, and it was not until she was on holiday in Greece that Zukerman first got to try sailing with a kite. She had wanted to do this before, but her mother was concerned for her safety. The kite became important and back in Israel she took advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic in Israel to practice her new sport.[2]
People advised Zukerman to try a hydrofoil, and eventually she joined a course in which she fell in love with being able to silently move through the water powered by a kite.[2] Kite foiling was selected in 2019 as a new sport for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.[6]
In 2021 Zukerman competed at the Youth Sailing World Championships at Mussanah in Oman, and won.[7] She beat the Polish kitefoiler Julia Damasiewicz.[8] Zukerman said that because of political differences with Israel, none of the finalist's national anthems were played. Everyone was friendly towards her, but news of her victory was not published for a few days.[9]
In June 2022 the Dutch kitefoiler Annelous Lammerts won the Hempel World Cup Allianz Regatta at Lelystad in light winds, beating the Spaniard Gisela Pulido who took silver. Zukerman sparred with her fellow Israeli Maya Ashkenazi for the bronze position, and was successful.[10][11]
2024 Paris Olympics
editShe was one of nearly 90 athletes who were chosen to compete for Israel at the 2024 Paris Olympics.[12]
Zukerman competed for Israel at the 2024 Paris Olympics in the Women's Formula Kite in Marseille, France, and came in eighth. [13]
References
edit- ^ "ZUKERMAN Gal". 2024 Summer Olympics. Archived from the original on 21 July 2024. Retrieved 21 July 2024.
- ^ a b c "Gal Zukerman". Gin Kiteboarding. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
- ^ "Here Are the Israelis Competing in the 2024 Olympics," The Algemeiner.
- ^ "At his request: Eli Zuckerman will not deal with the Kate Foyle model," Ynet.
- ^ "I float above the water": Gal Zuckerman is Israel's Olympic hope in the Kate Foyle model," Davar.
- ^ "World Siling Confirms Formula Kite in Paris 2024". Surfer Today. 2019.
- ^ "World Sailing - Gal Zukerman". World Sailing. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
- ^ "Sailwave results for 2021 Youth Sailing World Championships at Mussanah, Oman 2021". www.sailing.org. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
- ^ "Israeli kiteboarder who won gold medal in Oman says organizers hushed up her win". Times of Israel. 25 December 2021. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
- ^ "Hempel World Cup Allianz Regatta 2022 manage2sail". www.manage2sail.com. Archived from the original on 20 May 2024. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
- ^ "Hempel World Cup Series at the Allianz Regatta - Overall". www.sail-world.com. Archived from the original on 17 July 2024. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
- ^ Manicad, Julius (10 July 2024). "Lofty goal: Israelis target strong Olympic performance". Daily Tribune. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
- ^ "Olympic Sailing Results," The Star Democrat.
External links
edit- Gal Zukerman at World Sailing
- Gal Zukerman at The-Sports.org
- Gal Zukerman on Instagram
