Israeli swimmer clinches bronze at Paris Paralympics, nation’s third medal so far
Mark Malyar dedicates win to ‘soldiers protecting us’; tennis players Guy Sasson, Maayan Zikri win their matches, while badminton athletes Nina Gorodetzky and Amir Levi knocked out
Amy Spiro is a reporter and writer with The Times of Israel
Israel won its third medal on the third day of the 2024 Paris Paralympics on Saturday, with swimmer Mark Malyar clinching bronze in the men’s 100m backstroke in the S8 disability class.
Malyar — whose twin brother, Ariel, is also swimming in Paris — finished third with a time of 1:07.42, behind Spain’s Inigo Llopis Sanz and Japan’s Kubota Kota.
The Israeli swimmer, who has three more events at the Paris Games, won three medals in Tokyo in 2021: gold in the 400m freestyle, gold in the 200m individual medley and bronze in the 100m backstroke.
Malyar, who was born with cerebral palsy, said he was dedicating his medal to the IDF soldiers fighting to protect the State of Israel.
“I want to thank the soldiers and everyone who protects us, thanks to them we can train and we can get to this point, we’re able to live thanks to them,” he told Israel’s Sport5 broadcaster shortly after his win.
“It felt great to see the flag go up, I feel amazing,” he added after the medal ceremony.
On Thursday, the first day of the competition, taekwondo athlete Asaf Yasur won gold in his weight class, and on Friday swimmer Ami Dadaon clinched gold in the men’s 100m freestyle.
Israel had a mixed run on Saturday, with wins in rowing and wheelchair tennis and losses in badminton, goalball and boccia.
Tennis player Guy Sasson won his first round against Chile’s Francisco Cayulef in men’s singles quad tennis, and will compete again on Monday. Sasson, who won the 2024 French Open, is considered a strong medal contender for Israel.
Fellow tennis player Maayan Zikri beat Morocco’s Najwa Awane in women’s singles, advancing to the next round on Monday.
In rowing, Shmulik Daniel won his heat in the repechage round of the men’s single sculls, and will compete for a medal on Sunday.
In badminton, Nina Gorodetzky lost to China’s Yin Meng Lu in women’s singles, ending her Paralympic run, while Amir Levi lost to South Korea’s Kim Jungjun, and will also not advance to the knockout rounds.
Nadav Levi, meanwhile, lost to Argentina’s Luis Cristaldo in the playoff round of men’s boccia, failing to advance to the quarterfinals.
And in goalball, Israel’s six-woman team lost to Turkey in its second match, after a win against Brazil on Friday. The team will play China on Sunday in a game that will determine if it will move on to the knockout stage.
Sunday could mark a very successful day for Israel at the Paris Games, with finals for rowers Moran Samuel and Shmulik Daniel as well as rowing duo Shahar Milfelder and Saleh Shahin.
Malyar and Dadaon will also be returning to the water in hopes to win further medals, and shooter Yulia Chernoy will take aim at a medal in the women’s mixed 10m prone air rifle.
