Former Israeli Artistic Swimmer Turns Trauma into Theater, Exposing Abuse

Yael Polka, a former Israeli champion in artistic swimming, has channeled her traumatic experiences in the sport into a powerful theatrical production titled 'Gold.' The play, which has also inspired another production called 'Podium,' draws on the testimonies of Olympic athletes from Israel and the United States, revealing a dark underbelly of abuse, starvation, humiliation, and sexual assault beneath the sport's glamorous surface.

Polka's own athletic career was cut short by a severe knee injury sustained during training in Barcelona, which ultimately prevented her from competing in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Despite being the reigning Israeli champion, she was excluded from the duet competition, a decision she initially found painful but later understood due to the extreme synchronization required. A subsequent injury to her other leg led to her retirement.

Transitioning from the pool to the stage, Polka, now a coach for Israel's national artistic swimming team and a theater director, began exploring her experiences. 'Gold' depicts young women performing dry-land routines while Polka, playing the coach, narrates stories of artistic swimming, including reading Simone Biles' statement about the exploitative culture in gymnastics. The play highlights how national representation can turn an athlete's body into a 'national body,' responsible to the state, yet often feeling abandoned.

Polka recounts instances of body shaming from a young age, including being called overweight by a national coach at 14, and later experiencing inappropriate touching from a masseur at over 17, which she only recognized as sexual assault years later. She emphasizes that while the play is critical, its critique extends beyond sports to society and the state's neglect of its athletes, citing Simone Biles' public struggles as an example of the backlash elite athletes can face.

Despite the harsh revelations, Polka now coaches the Israeli national team, aiming to create a healthier environment. She strictly avoids commenting on her athletes' weight, relying on a private dietitian for weigh-ins and meal plans. Polka believes in constructive feedback, humor, and patience, ensuring her athletes feel supported and empowered, a stark contrast to the pressures she endured.