Gold medal performance Gold medal performance

Champion rower can sing, too

Moran Samuel won international rowing title — then sang ‘Hatikva’ because organizers didn’t have a recording ready

By ToI Staff 4 May 2012, 3:40 am

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Moran Samuel turned in two stunning performances to make Israel proud last weekend.

First, she came from behind to take the gold medal in the women’s arms and shoulders single scull competition at the Adaptive Rowing Regatte in Gavirate, Italy, surging from third place after Saturday’s races to first in the final on Sunday.

Then, on the podium, when unprepared organizers were left without a copy of “Hatikva,” Samuel took matters into her own hands: she called for the microphone and sang Israel’s national anthem herself.

In video of the medal ceremony posted to YouTube, Israelis in the crowd can be heard joining Samuel in singing the anthem. The video clip has become a hit in Israeli and Diaspora Jewish media.