Welcome to the exciting world of Israeli skating! Israel is home to some of the world’s most talented and successful figure skaters.
From international gold medalists to Olympic champions, Israeli skaters have consistently achieved remarkable success on the national and international stage.
We will explore the history of skating in Israel, highlight some of the best skaters from the country, and discuss the future of the sport in Israel. So, let’s get started and explore the world of Israeli skating!.
1. Vladislav Bykanov
Vladislav Bykanov is an internationally acclaimed Olympic short track speed skater from Israel. He has won two gold medals at consecutive European Championships, in 2015 and 2018. He was also selected to represent his country at the 2014 and 2018 Winter Olympics.
At the 2018 Olympics, Bykanov competed in short track speed skating in Pyeongchang, South Korea. His determination and skill has allowed him to become a celebrated athlete, both in Israel and abroad.
Bykanov has been a source of inspiration for many, demonstrating that hard work and commitment can bring success on a global stage.
2. Alexei Bychenko
Alexei Bychenko is a remarkable figure skater who has achieved great success in the sport. A native of Ukraine, Bychenko represented his birth country in figure skating competitions until 2009. After that, he began representing Israel.
His impressive accomplishments include a silver medal at the 2016 European Figure Skating Championships and a bronze medal at the 2016 Rostelecom Cup. Bychenko is the first Israeli skater to medal at the European Championships, making his mark in the sport.
His accomplishments are a testament to his hard work and dedication to the sport. He is an inspiration to many up-and-coming figure skaters and a reminder of the rewards that come from hard work and determination.
3. Evgeni Krasnopolski
Evgeni Krasnopolski is a retired pair skater from Ukraine who currently resides in Israel. He and his skating partner, Andrea Davidovich, made history in 2014 when they became the first Israeli pair to qualify for the Olympic Games.
Their impressive debut earned them a 15th place finish at the Sochi Olympics that year. Before competing with Davidovich, Krasnopolski had a successful career with his previous partner Danielle Montalbano, with whom he skated from 2009 to 2012.
4. Hailey Kops
Hailey Esther Kops is an impressive figure skater with a unique background. She was born in the United States but competes for Israel in international competitions.
Most recently, she was part of the team that represented Israel at the 2022 Winter Olympics. At the Olympics, Hailey was partnered with Evgeni Krasnopolski. The pair skated together in the team event, but they were unable to medal.
Before competing for Israel at the Olympics, Hailey had also competed for the country at the World Junior Figure Skating Championships.
At the Championships, Hailey was paired with Artem Tsoglin and they managed to qualify for the final segment. Hailey’s success in international competitions speaks to her talent and dedication to the sport.
She is an inspiration to aspiring figure skaters everywhere, showing that with hard work and dedication, anything is possible.
5. Daniel Samohin
Daniel Samohin is an accomplished retired Israeli figure skater. He achieved great success in his career, most notably winning the 2016 World Junior Championship. He has also won two ISU Challenger Series medals, with the most prestigious being a gold medal at the 2015 U.S.
International Classic. Samohin has been an inspiration to other Israeli figure skaters and has motivated them to reach for higher goals. Throughout his career, he has demonstrated a strong work ethic and a passion for the sport of figure skating.
His accomplishments are a testament to his dedication and commitment to the sport.
6. Mark Gorodnitsky
Mark Gorodnitsky is a talented figure skater from Israel. He has achieved considerable success in his career, having won a silver medal at the 2018 Volvo Open Cup and three Israeli national championships.
His success in the sport has made him a well-known figure in the skating world and he is highly respected for his skill and dedication. Gorodnitsky’s commitment to excellence is evident in his achievements.
He has trained consistently throughout his career and puts in the necessary hard work to reach his goals.
He has become a role model for aspiring skaters in Israel and is an inspiration to those who are looking to pursue a career in figure skating. Gorodnitsky’s achievements have also earned him recognition from the international skating community.
He has been invited to compete in international competitions and has also won awards and accolades for his performances in both national and international competitions. The Israeli skater’s success is a testament to his hard work and dedication.
He has shown that through determination and focus, one can achieve their goals and become a successful figure skater. He is an inspiration to many in the skating world and is sure to be remembered for his outstanding achievements.
7. Adel Tankova
Adel Tankova is an accomplished Israeli figure skater. She has represented Israel in multiple international competitions, including the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea.
At the Olympics, Tankova competed in two events: ice dancing with her partner Ronald Zilberberg and a team event. Tankova and Zilberberg showed off their impressive skills on the ice, competing against some of the best figure skaters in the world.
They put on a spectacular performance, demonstrating their dedication to the sport. Though they did not win a medal, they did receive a lot of praise for their efforts. Tankova’s success has been a great source of inspiration for figure skaters in Israel.
She has shown that with dedication and hard work, anything is possible.
8. Netta Schreiber
Netta Schreiber is an Israeli retired competitive figure skater who achieved impressive success in her sport. She was a three-time Israeli national champion and a two-time Israeli junior national champion.
Her career accomplishments included competing at the 2014 and 2015 World Championships. In 2014, she competed in the ladies’ singles event at the World Championships in Saitama, Japan. She performed well, finishing in 12th place overall.
The following year, she competed in the same event at the World Championships in Shanghai, China. She performed even better, placing tenth overall. Netta Schreiber retired from competitive figure skating after the 2015 World Championships.
Since then, she has remained active in the sport as a coach and judge. She also works as a choreographer and has choreographed programs for many skaters, including Israeli National Champion Alexei Bychenko.
Netta Schreiber is an excellent example of an athlete who achieved success in her sport and then went on to make an impact in the figure skating world through coaching and judging. Her accomplishments are a testament to her dedication and passion for the sport.
9. Aimee Buchanan
Aimee Buchanan is a former competitive figure skater who has a unique background, having competed for both the United States and Israel. She was born in the United States but moved to Israel where she began her figure skating career.
Aimee has had a lot of success in her career, becoming a two-time Israeli national champion and representing Israel in the team event at the 2018 Winter Olympics.
She has been praised for her dedication and hard work, and her achievements have been inspirational to many young figure skaters aspiring to compete in the Olympics.
Aimee’s story is a reminder of the importance of hard work and dedication and shows that with enough determination, anything is possible.
10. Paige Conners
Paige Conners is an American-Israeli pair skater who has achieved great success in her sport. In 2017, she and her skating partner Evgeni Krasnopolski won the bronze medal at the CS Minsk-Arena Ice Star.
This impressive accomplishment was followed by an even more impressive achievement in 2018 when Conners and Krasnopolski represented Israel at the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea. They competed in both pairs skating and a team event.
Their hard work and dedication paid off, as they came away with a great showing at the Olympics. Conners and Krasnopolski have proven themselves to be a formidable pair, and their accomplishments are a testament to their commitment to the sport.
11. Ronald Zilberberg
Ronald Zilberberg is an Israeli Olympic figure skater who made history by becoming the first Israeli to compete in figure skating at the 2018 Winter Olympics.
He was accompanied by Adel Tankova, also an Israeli figure skater, and together the two of them participated in ice dancing and a team event in Pyeongchang, South Korea. The 2018 Winter Olympics were an exciting time for Israel, as Ronald and Adel became the first Israeli figure skaters to compete in an Olympic games.
The two of them put in a lot of effort and dedication to represent their country, and they succeeded in making a mark on the international stage.
Their accomplishments were a source of pride for the people of Israel, and they were celebrated both during and after the games. Ronald and Adel faced a number of challenges throughout their Olympic journey.
Not only did they have to face the pressure of competing on an international stage, but they also had to overcome language barriers and unfamiliar surroundings.
Despite these obstacles, they managed to persevere and produce a stunning performance in the ice dancing and team events. The accomplishments of Ronald and Adel have inspired and motivated other Israeli figure skaters to follow in their footsteps.
Thanks to their hard work and dedication, the 2018 Winter Olympics was a momentous event for Israel and its figure skating community.
12. Michael Shmerkin
Michael “Misha” Shmerkin is an accomplished figure skater who has achieved many awards and honors throughout his competitive career. He is a two-time silver medalist at the Skate Canada International, a 1993 Ondrej Nepela Memorial champion, and the 1995 Skate Israel champion.
Shmerkin has also competed in the final segment at two Winter Olympics, six World Championships, and four European Championships, demonstrating his skill and commitment to the sport of figure skating. His accomplishments in the sport have made him one of the most respected figure skaters in the world.
He has been praised for his technical ability and artistry, as well as his dedication to the craft.
He is one of the few athletes who have been able to compete in the highest levels of international competition while still maintaining a strong focus on artistic expression. Shmerkin’s accomplishments are a testament to his hard work and dedication.
He has demonstrated a commitment to excellence in his sport, and his achievements have earned him the respect of many in the figure skating world.
His accomplishments serve as an inspiration to other figure skaters, and he will likely continue to be a leader in the sport for years to come.
13. Alexandra Zaretsky
Alexandra “Sasha” Zaretsky is a retired ice dancer from Israel. She is an accomplished figure skater, having achieved many accolades in her career. Together with her brother Roman Zaretsky, Sasha won bronze at the 2009 Skate America competition.
She also won the 2009 Golden Spin of Zagreb and was recognized as a three-time medalist at the Nebelhorn Trophy. To top it off, Sasha and Roman were crowned the three-time Israeli national champions. Sasha Zaretsky’s record as an ice dancer is truly impressive and inspiring.
14. Roman Zaretsky
Roman Zaretsky is an Israeli retired ice dancer who achieved incredible success throughout his career. Alongside his sister, Alexandra Zaretsky, Roman won a bronze medal at the 2009 Skate America competition and went on to become the 2009 Golden Spin of Zagreb champion.
Additionally, Roman and Alexandra were three-time Nebelhorn Trophy medalists and three-time Israeli national champions. This impressive list of accomplishments speaks to the tremendous achievements Roman made as an ice dancer.
Roman and Alexandra’s success is a testament to their commitment and dedication to the sport.
15. Alexei Beletski
Alexei Beletski is an Israeli former competitive ice dancer. With his wife Natalia Gudina, he was a very successful ice dancer, placing as high as 14th at the World Championships, and 9th at the European Championships.
He also had the opportunity to compete at the Winter Olympics. The two of them married in 1999, and their commitment to each other and to their sport has been unwavering. Beletski and Gudina have worked together for many years and their partnership has been incredibly successful.
They have achieved great heights in the world of competitive ice dancing.
They have placed as high as 14th at the World Championships, as high as 9th at the European Championships, and had the privilege of competing at the Winter Olympics. Not only have Beletski and Gudina achieved great success together, but they have also had a strong personal relationship.
They married in 1999, and have been together ever since. They are a testament to the power of hard work and dedication to a shared goal. Alexei Beletski and Natalia Gudina have had an impressive career as competitive ice dancers.
They have competed at the highest levels of the sport and achieved great success. They have also maintained a strong personal relationship, having married in 1999 and stayed together ever since.
They are an inspiring example of what can be achieved when two people put their minds and hearts into something.
16. Andrea Davidovich
Andrea “Anya” Davidovich is a former competitive pair skater who made history with her partner, Evgeni Krasnopolski. They were the first pair representing Israel to qualify for the Olympics and achieved a 15th place finish at the Sochi Olympics.
Anya has since moved on from competitive figure skating and is currently attending New York University, where she is studying computer science.
Her dedication to her studies and her career is an inspiration to many, showing that it is possible to achieve success in many different areas. Anya’s story serves as a reminder that with hard work and dedication, anything is possible.
Conclusion
Israel has some of the best skating players in the world. These players are highly skilled and have achieved great success in international competitions. With their dedication and hard work, they have earned the admiration of fans and skaters across the world.
Their passion and determination are an inspiration to all who want to excel in the sport of skating.
