Israeli swimmer wins golds at world championships

HISTORY was created in Israeli swimming last weekend at the 2021 FINA Short Course World Championships, held in the United Arab Emirates’ capital, Abu Dhabi.

On Saturday, 18-year-old Anastasia Gorbenko won her country’s first gold medal in the event’s history, touching the wall first in the women’s 50m breaststroke final in 29.34 seconds.

She set a new Israeli women’s record and finished 0.16 of a second in front of runner-up Benedetta Pilato of Italy.

The next day, Gorbenko won another gold medal, clocking 57.80 seconds to come first in the women’s 100m individual medley final, edging French swimmer Beryl Gastaldello.

“I’m really happy – this is the best time I’ve ever done,” said Gorbenko. “I’m enjoying it here . . . it’s incredible!”

Gorbenko ended her brilliant meet by missing out by just 0.14 of a second on making the 100m breaststroke final.

Earlier this year, when still 17, she became the first Israeli female swimmer to make an Olympic final, coming 8th in the 100m backstroke in Tokyo.