Sinai Says: By transcending sports she gets my vote

Inbal Pezaro won three silver medals at the Beijing Paralympics, but far more importantly displayed the true spirit of sport.

By ALLON SINAI
Allon sinai 88 (photo credit: Courtesy)
Allon sinai 88
(photo credit: Courtesy)
Avraham Grant's accomplishments in 2008 will likely never be repeated by an Israeli in our lifetime. Finishing with Chelsea as a runner-up in the English Premier League and coming tantalizingly close to a Champions League title are achievements which were simply unthinkable for an Israeli coach a year ago, and remain unimaginable now. Shahar Zubari's bronze medal triumph at the Beijing Olympics was also a truly remarkable feat. Zubari was almost unknown last year, but proved his metal in China and ended the Games as a household name. Andy Ram's career year, the dethroning of Maccabi Tel Aviv by Miki Dorsman's Hapoel Holon, and Elyaniv Barda's superb goal scoring form also very much deserve praise and recognition. However, only one Israeli athlete transcended the sporting field in the past 12 months and therefore gets my vote for the 2008 sporting personality of the year. Inbal Pezaro won three silver medals at the Beijing Paralympics, but far more importantly displayed the true spirit of sport. Titles and medals are all very important, but Pezaro's success sends out a message of far greater significance. Despite suffering at birth from a blood problem in her spinal cord, which caused her to become crippled in her lower limbs, Pezaro has smiled through her struggles and has tackled difficulty with determination. The 21-year-old has overcome the adversity and has become an inspiration, not just to disabled athletes, but to us all. The past year has seen many sporting heroes reach extraordinary peaks, but Pezaro stands above the rest. The swimmer has reminded us that sport is much more than just goals, baskets and championships. Sport serves society by providing us with examples of all that is good about man, and with Pezaro we've got the best model we could have ever hoped for. Allon@jpost.com