Hapoel Center Names Athletes and Teams of the Century

The Hapoel Center, a major Israeli sports organization, celebrated its 100th anniversary by honoring its athletes, coaches, and teams of the century. The annual Champions' Evening event recognized individuals and groups who have brought international pride to Israel over the past century.

Among the honorees were artistic gymnast Linoy Ashram, the first Israeli to win an Olympic gold medal in her sport at the Tokyo Games, and her coach Ayelet Zussman. Taekwondo athlete Asaf Yasur, a Paralympic champion in Tokyo and Paris and a world champion, along with his coach Yechiam Sharabi, were also recognized. Sailing's Gal Fridman, who won Israel's first Olympic gold medal in Athens and later coached Tom Reuveni to gold in Paris 2024, was honored alongside his coach Gur Steinberg. Moran Samuel, a world champion and Paralympic medalist in rowing, completed the list of individual athletes and coaches.

Team accolades included Hapoel Tel Aviv's football club for winning the Asian Club Championship in 1967, Hapoel Jerusalem's basketball team for winning the FIBA EuroCup in 2004, and Hapoel Tel Aviv's basketball team for winning the FIBA EuroCup in 2024.

Gal Fridman expressed gratitude to the Hapoel Center for its continuous support of Israeli sports, calling it a home that elevates the nation's athletes. Linoy Ashram described her selection as a tremendous honor and hoped it would inspire more young girls in Israel. Hapoel Center Chairman Prosper Ben Hamo highlighted the organization's growth since its founding in 1926 by the Histadrut labor federation, emphasizing its role in placing Israel on the global sports map. Hapoel Center CEO Kineret Tzadok noted the difficult selection process, underscoring the dedication behind each honoree and the organization's commitment to fostering future champions.