One talented and determined Arab-Israeli is aiming to do something that has not been done in 46 years, make the National Olympic team. Not since the Soccer star Rafat Turk in the 1976 Montreal Olympics has an Israeli of Arab descent made the team. Much of this has to do with the fact that from the start of the first Intifada, many Arabs have shied away from associating with the State for fear of retribution, but that is rapidly shifting with more Arabs participating in National Service, including the Army as well as Israel’s various sports teams.
Adam Mara'ana, is now the latest Athlete from Israel’s Arab sector who is breaking through into the Nation’s mainstream. Beginning today (Thursday, August 11, 2022), he will participate in the European Championships in Rome, Italy. If he qualifies, he will be only the third athlete overall from Israel’s Arab community to represent the Jewish State at the Olympics. Aside from Turk in 1976, weightlifter Edward Maron represented the State in 1960.
Mara’ana, who just celebrated his 19th birthday a month ago, was born in and still lives in the Northern coastal city of Haifa. He made his initial introduction to the world of swimming at the age of 3, when his father, a Muslim Arab - threw him into the water: "Without knowing how to walk, I would learn how to swim," he told Israel Hayom in their exclusive interview.
נבחרת השליחים המעורבת של ישראל עלתה לגמר אליפות אירופה בשחייה - https://t.co/buhWDSdHBp pic.twitter.com/dVGssRhfx9
— מגוון החדשות (@r0QPh35NAIbPhiI) August 12, 2022
The way he began his swimming career is not a shock, considering that his father manages a beach on the Mediterranean called Bat Galim which is in Haifa. His mother, Alexandra Nikonov, who is a Russian Immigrant, teaches piano, so it is no surprise that Adam has played for over eight years himself.
Adam tried several other sports when he was young, including judo, one of the most popular sports in Israel, and one where the National Teams often excel. When he was a pre-teen, Mara’ana was crowned National champion twice in his division. He tried his hand at sailing but was less successful at it. Adam surfs when he is not working to hone his swimming skill, claiming that "this is what clears my head from the pressure of the competitions." It is amazing how his respite from his work in the water is the water.
His home revolves around sports. His 14-year-old sister Ella was a rhythmic gymnast but retired not long ago when she found it difficult to continue the long hours of training and maintain the strict weight necessary to compete on a global scale.
On reflection, Adam believes that by age ten, he became ‘professional.’ In 2013 he participated in a national competition for the first time. At age 15, he was already added to the adult team and successfully represented the team in the backstroke, bringing international medals and even breaking Israeli swimming icon Yaakov Tomarkin's records.
During the first major interview of his career with the ‘right wing’ leaning Israel Hayom newspaper, Adam said, "I want to be the first Arab-Israeli swimmer in the Olympics." The fact he chose Israel Hayom to be his first national interview is telling; it shows an allegiance to the State that many in the world do not know exists in the Jewish State. By choosing Israel Hayom, many see Mara’ana making a statement that he is an Israeli Nationalist and proud to represent his country.
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Asked his opinion on why only two Arabs have even made it to the National Team, Adam responded that it has less to do with politics and more to do with the fact that swimming is simply not a popular sport in the Arab community. "Swimming is not too popular. Not much attention is paid to it, and this is highlighted by the fact that there is are not many facilities in the area to train in. Some Arab athletes proved that it doesn't matter where you come from; whatever you do, just be successful."
He continued by saying he believes the sport needs more Arab representation, "we need more for the population to want it. Swimming is an amazing sport; everyone should try it, but there is no awareness, and they don't know what they are missing. My best friend is Arab and it is accessible to him and he swims, but a lot of the friends - if they do sports, then it's Only soccer."
Mara’ana’s father is Arab, and his mother is Russian, which has piqued a lot of interest. Many wonder which side he identifies with more. He was adamant in his response that it is his Arab side that he embraces more. “I tell them that Mara'an is an Arab name. I am half Russian and half Arab. I am Israeli and come from a mixed city, and things like this happen when a Jew marries a Muslim woman and vice versa. The beauty of this city, in this country where there is so much mixing."
Many would be shocked to find out that he also served in the Israel Defense Forces. Serving in the Navy, an elite posting for any conscript, He had the opportunity not to serve, as his father is Arab and the IDF has draft exemptions for the Arab community, but he refused. "Even though I could get away with it because my father is Arab-Muslim, I didn't choose to use it, and I wanted to contribute my part - everyone joins the army, so why shouldn't I join? I didn't want to feel different, and I came to contribute."
A week ago, Mara’ana jumped to the national pool in the sports facility at Wingate, a national institution known to churn out professional athletes, at the Israel Championship, where he already set a great result of 54.54 seconds in the qualifiers in the 100-meter backstroke and qualified for the European Championship for the second time.
Mara’ana arrived in Rome, where he is expected to participate in the heats for 50, 100, and 200-meter backstroke. "The result I did in the Israeli championship should be enough to reach the semi-finals," said the swimmer about his goals in the Italian capital, "I'm in good shape, I was very happy that I qualified and was very excited. I even got on the track, and within two months of training in Wingate, I shaved over a second From my time. I'm motivated.”
Last year Anastasia Gorbenko won gold at the championships, which gave Adam a lot of motivation in these championships. "Seeing Nastya swim is inspiring. I had goosebumps watching her win the previous European Championship. I was there, and when she beat Katinka Hoso, it's something crazy, and I said to myself - that's what I want to do too."
🥇🇮🇱🏊🏻♀ KOL HAKAVOD to Israel's Anastasia Gorbenko who made history with Israel's first ever gold medal at an Olympic #swimming event at the European Aquatics Championship held in #Budapest.
— Israel ישראל (@Israel) May 23, 2021
Anastasia also set a new Israeli record!
📷/Israel Swimming Association pic.twitter.com/ecANRtlmZO
When asked by Israel Hayom what it means to be on the team, Mara’ana replied that "It's exciting. When I received the national team shirt for the first time, I walked around with it everywhere; I pointed out that there were the letters of Israel next to the name. When I go to the end and see the flag, it excites me no matter where I am."
"When I stood at the podium after the Israeli championships and heard the national anthem, tears fell from my eyes. At the multi-nation competition where I was first on the podium, I took the flag and held it tight. I sang the national anthem proudly and said it was the craziest moment in my life. I wanted to do the same in other competitions, but I didn't succeed, but I hope I still got to feel this feeling."
Adam’s story needs to be told all over the world. An Arab who is proud of his Israeli citizenship is not unusual in Israel it is becoming the norm increasingly. No matter what happens in Rome this weekend, Israel’s national swim team is being led by a half Arab, Half Russian Jew from the diverse and mixed city where peace between Arab and Jew is lived daily is a victory in itself.
