Former Israel Swimming Coach Leonid Shaikht Passes Away at 70
The Israeli swimming community is mourning the death of Leonid Shaikht, a former coach of the Israeli national team and a veteran figure in the sport, who passed away on Wednesday at the age of 70. His funeral is scheduled for Thursday at 12:00 PM at Har HaMenuchot.
Shaikht dedicated decades to coaching and nurturing swimmers, mentoring hundreds of athletes including national champions, members of the Israeli national team, and Olympians. For many years, he was a central figure at the Hapoel Jerusalem swimming club, alongside his national team duties.
Born and raised in Kazakhstan, Shaikht began his coaching career there, leading a local team to a national championship. He coached the Soviet Union national team between 1985 and 1991, and served as head coach for the Kazakhstan national team from 1989 to 1991, guiding two swimmers to the 1988 Seoul Olympics.
He immigrated to Israel in the early 1990s and quickly became a prominent figure in Israeli swimming. From 1991, he coached at Hapoel Jerusalem, eventually becoming the club's head coach and professional director, contributing to numerous achievements until 2025. Concurrently, he coached the Israeli national team with Dr. Leonid Kaufman from the 1990s until 2004, overseeing the team's participation in three Olympic Games.
Notable swimmers he coached include Olympians Vadim Alexeev, Yoav Meiri, Tomer Frankel, and Alexey Galybinsky, as well as Liran Konoblov, David Gamburg, Roni Bava, and Nastia Korotkov. In August 2024, the Israel Swimming Association honored Shaikht with a recognition award for his lifelong contribution to the sport, acknowledging his significant impact on Israeli swimming through generations of athletes and coaches.
Hapoel Jerusalem described him as the "beating heart" of the club, a legendary coach, father, mentor, and guide. The Israel Swimming Association lauded him as one of Israel's top swimming coaches for decades, who dedicated much of his life to the sport and led the national team through three Olympic appearances. Shaikht is survived by his two sons, Yigal and Avi, both involved in swimming as coaches, and four grandchildren.
