Samuel, who won bronze in rowing in 2016 will look to duplicate or better that feat in Tokyo. The Karmiel native suffered a spinal stroke in 2006 paralyzing her lower body but was able to complete her degree and become a physical therapist. Samuel has competed in wheelchair basketball and in fact was the only woman on a men’s team. She is also taking part in rowing competitions while entering her third Paralympic Games.
Levi is one of the founders of Boccia in Israel, N12 reported. He won fourth place in the 2019 European Championship. Levi has cerebral palsy, and in 2019 worked with design students from Shenkar College of Engineering and Design to create adaptive clothing for himself and other Israeli Paralympic athletes, Israel 21 reported.
The Paralympic Games are slated to take place right after the Summer Olympics come to an end in Tokyo. From August 24-September 5, roughly 4,400 athletes will be participating in 22 disciplines in Japan.
Among those athletes will be 25 Israelis who will be taking part in half a dozen sports as the blue-and-white will look to build on their all-time medal count in the Games. Since 1960, Israel's teams have won a total of 375 medals.
At the last Games in Rio de Janeiro, Israel captured three bronze medals with two of those athletes returning to action in the 2020 Games.