Hanna Knyazyeva-Minenko receives congratulatory phone-call from Israel’s President Rivlin, on her win in the triple-jump at the athletics world championships in Beijing.

By i24news

Fourteen years after Israel’s last medal at the World Athletics Championships, Hanna Knyazyeva-Minenko has won the silver medal in the triple-jump. She also broke the national record, achieving a jump of 14.78 meters.

Colombia’s Caterine Ibarguen comfortably retained her world title at the games in Beijing, stretching her winning streak to 29 competitions and achieving a best of 14.90 meters for the gold medal. Olympic champion Olga Rypakova of Kazakhstan took the bronze.

Hannah Minenko – Photo: AFP

This is Israel’s third ever medal at the championships, with previous awards going to pole-vaulter Alex Averbukh, who won bronze in 1999 and silver in 2001.

Knyazyeva-Minenko finished in sixth place at the previous world championships in Moscow two years ago, which was her first major sporting event as an Israeli citizen. Born in the Kyiv region of Ukraine, the 25-year old took Israeli citizenship in 2013 and started to compete on behalf of the Israeli team.

Knyazyeva-Minenko won a bronze medal in the European Championship, and finished in sixth place at the World Championships two years ago. Until now, her highest placing was in fourth position at the London Olympics in 2012, however this was still as a representative of the Ukrainian squad.

Presidential thanks

Israel’s President Rivlin spoke with Knyazyeva-Minenko, and expressed his appreciation.”I was thrilled to hear that you broke in particular your personal record and the Israeli record,” Rivlin told her in a telephone conversation.

“You inspire the power of perseverance. The national heart is expanding with Israeli pride,” he said.

View original i24news publication at:
http://www.i24news.tv/en/news/sport/83205-150824-silver-medal-for-israel-at-world-athletics-championships