Israel’s Top Swimmers Are On The Move
By Buky Chass
JERUSALEM, December 10. EITHAN Urbach and Vered Borochovski, two of Israel's two best swimmers ever, are about to hit the road.
Vered Borochovski, Israel's best ever female swimmer, is about to relocate to Australia. After a span of two years, during which she has hardly improved her records in the fly and I.M. events, and in order to try to bring some change into her swimming career in the run-up to the Athens Olympics, Vered is making a move.
At the moment she plans to spend six months in Sydney and train with some of Australia top swimmers under one of Australia's top coaches, Brain Sutton. She will be guided by Australia's Madame Butterfly, Susie O'Neill, who will be seeing Vered periodically.
Vered will leave Israel right after the Europeans Short Course Championshipss this month and will be back for the Worlds in Barcelona in late July. Her further plans are unknown.
Eithan Urbach, Israel's most decorated swimmer ever — European Junior Champion, European Senior silver medalist, World and Olympic Games finalist in the 100 back is considering retirement.
Urbach, who swam one of his best times in the 100 back (55.71) at the European Championships, but failed to final, took a three-month break (his longest ever) after this competition in Berlin 2002. He then tried to make a comeback, but stopped training about three weeks ago. The rumor has it that Eithan is about to announce his retirement shortly.
Eithan and his coach, Leonid Kaufman, have both declined to speak with the media at the moment. Eithan's agent, Mr. Agiv, said that an announcement will be made shortly.
Four swimmers will represent Israel at the European Short Course Championship in Germany: Yoav Gat, Miki Halika, Vered Borochovski, and Ania Gostamelski.