Monday, January 18th, 2016
14:30-16:30   Session: Yes We Can - Women Making a Difference
TED Style Talks

 

moran-samuel s

Moran Samuel grew up in the city of Karmiel in the northern part of Israel.  In her youth she was a member of the Israeli National Youth Basketball team. By the age of 24 she was a standout basketball player, winning a spot on Israel’s national women’s team, playing Division 1 professionally, coaching girls’ basketball and in her second year of college, studying physiotherapy. A sudden and rare spinal stroke left her paralyzed from the chest down.

Throughout her rehabilitation Moran didn’t give up, approaching her paralysis with determination and perseverance and after 3 months she managed to regain some muscle function and return to her studies. In 2009 she graduated from Haifa University as an infant and child developmental physical therapist. Today she works with young children with varying levels of developmental problems.  In November 2013 she completed her Master's degree in Child Development at Haifa University.

Five years ago Moran decided to go back to her first love and began to play wheelchair basketball. Being an athlete again was a significant and powerful step for her.  She represented Israel at the 2011 and 2013 European Wheelchair Basketball Championships, and was elected for the All Star team of the tournament. She also went on to become the sole female on the men's wheelchair basketball team at Tel Aviv's Beit Halochem.

In November 2010, Moran took up competitive rowing. She trains at the Daniel Rowing Center in Tel Aviv. Moran won a Bronze medal at the World Championship in Bled 2011 and qualified for the 2012 London Paralympic games where she finished in 5th place in the finals. Now she is aiming for a medal at the 2016 Rio games. Together with her new coach Paola Grizzetti from Italy, Moran works and trains hard.  She was a Silver medalist at the 2014 World Rowing Championship in Amsterdam and in September 2015 captured the gold medal at the 2015 World Rowing Cup in Italy and qualified for the 2016 Rio Paralympic Games.