Tel Aviv, January 13 – Israeli surfer Nimrod Mashich, the bronze medalist at the 2010 World Championship, ranked No. 1 in the world, was chosen by the Olympic Committee of Israel as Israel’s 2010 athlete of the year, in a festive ceremony held …….

in Herzeliya with the attendance of hundreds of guests, including Knesset Member Alex Miller, Chairman of the Education and Sport Commission of the Knesset, Mrs. Orly Fruman, Director General of the Culture and Sport Ministry, Israeli sports leaders, and coaches and Olympic athletes from across all generations.

Nimrod Mashich received an award in the name of the late Yoram Aubrokovitz, a former president of the Olympic Committee of Israel, and a special cash prize of 40,000 Israeli shekels.

Yehiam Sharabi, the taekwondo coach whose trainees Bat El Gaterer (2010 Europe champion), Moti Lugacy (who won the bronze medal at the European championships this year) and

Gili Haimovich (who won a gold medal at the Youth Olympics Games in Singapore), was chosen “outstanding Coach of the Year” and received a cash prize of 20,000 Israeli shekels.

The female windsurfer Ofir Halevy and the swimmer Jacob Tomarkin were chosen as the outstanding Young athletes of the year and each received a special bonus of 5,000 Israeli shekels.

From right: Zvi Varshaviak, President of the Israeli NOC, Nimrod Mashich, and Knesset Member Alex Miller.