The Maccabi Haifa Carmel Association is one of the leading sports associations in Israel. About 3500 athletes are registered in the association from young to adult age in its groups and in various branches.
The young athletes of Haifa record impressive successes over the years - in swimming, judo, fencing, athletics and more. I came to the spacious complex of the Maccabi Haifa Association to get to know the athletes and their coaches up close, and maybe to understand a little how such valuable and special young people are produced who devote all their time and energy to sports while their peers are usually busy with completely different things...
Meet the people behind the sweat, the determined challenges and the successes - the athletes and coaches behind them.
◄ Mia Sorsky, Israeli champion in taekwondo and her coach, Artyom Kharchenko • Watch
Mia Sorsky, Israel Taekwondo Champion 2023
Mia Sorsky, only 13 years old and has already managed to participate in over 30 competitions and also win the title of Israeli champion for 2023. Next to her is coach Artyom Kharchenko, an Olympic taekwondo coach and a member of the city council.
Taekwondo, a Korean martial art that developed in the 20th century, combines traditional elements with modern fighting techniques. The martial art is characterized by fast and strong moves that combine kicks, punches, blocks and elements of self-defense. Taekwondo has been considered an Olympic sport since 2000, and has since gained great popularity around the world.
In Israel he is successful and recognized for his achievements in the international arena, including participation in Olympic competitions. The industry promotes values of excellence, sportsmanship and respect and appeals to diverse populations and different ages.
Young people with strong character
Artyom shares the sense of pride he feels when he sees his athletes develop and grow, also professionally, as competitors, but no less - as human beings. He excitedly adds that the greatest satisfaction for him is to see his trainees when they join the army - young people with strong character.
The goal: Olympics
At the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Avishag Samberg won a bronze medal, the first in the Taekwondo branch from Israel, since her appearance, the branch has gained great exposure in Israel. When Mia watched Abishag, she realized that this was her big dream - to compete in the Olympic Games. It is clear to her that she must work very hard and put her all into making this dream come true.
"Every loss is a learning"
"Losing in competitions is a significant part of the journey to success," says Artyom. "Every loss is a lesson that provides tools for the rest of the way." Instead of shying away from losses, Artionem suggests embracing them as an integral part of the process.

◄ Alice Naguib, Israeli champion in artistic gymnastics and coach Anna Wiener • Watch
A lot of sacrifices and hard work
Alice Naguib is the Israeli champion in artistic gymnastics three times already, she shares with us her journey starting from the moment she fell in love with the sport at a very young age, through the challenges and hard work and how she feels now, when she is a young and successful athlete.
Alice says that as a young athlete she trains every day, there are many concessions, personal and social, but since most of her friends train with her, she does not feel a lack of company.
Alice reveals that before every competition she makes sure to perform some exercises that she believes bring her luck. Her favorite exercise is the ball exercise.
"There are difficulties, pressure and pain, but in the end it's worth it"
Artistic gymnastics is a very intense branch, each exercise requires absolute precision, physical strength and incredible flexibility. "There are crises, there are pains and stress," she says honestly, "but despite everything, it's worth the effort." Alice's goal is clear: to stand on the podium at the Olympics.
◄ Anna Viner, director of the branch at Maccabi Haifa •
"It hurts when a trainer is unable to continue"
It took me very little time to understand Anna's level of investment in her gymnastics. For her, every gymnast is just like her daughter. She candidly tells about the difficulty she feels every time when her gymnast decides, after all the investment and efforts she put into her, to retire. Despite this, Anna accepts the gymnasts' decisions with love and releases them in peace, while wishing them success in the future.

◄ Kirill Garsimenko and coach Oren Malka • Watch
"I'm not afraid to disappoint others"
Kirill shares that swimming, as an individual sport at its core, gives him a significant advantage in that he is not afraid to disappoint anyone but himself. He feels that when he swims alone he is spared the pressure of disappointing others, which makes it easier for him to focus on his personal achievements and improving performance.
Kirill is one of the leaders in his age group in short distances, in butterfly and backstroke styles.
"A lot of training and a lot of faith in my coaches"
Kirill's big dream, like the dream of most swimmers at his level - to conquer the Olympic pool. He is not afraid of hard work and is ready to do whatever it takes to get to the podium!
Immediate connection to water
Oren Malka, Israeli champion for 2018, shares his unique approach to finding young swimmers who have the potential to become professionals. According to him, there is a clear sign that the child has the spark and will be able to achieve impressive achievements - an immediate connection to water. When the child enters the pool and shows an ability to learn quickly and face challenges that are often quite complicated, Oren recognizes the potential for success. For him, this is the proof that the boy will be able to go far and fulfill himself in swimming.
"Every jump in the water you learn something new"
Oren Malka is an experienced coach and it is important for him to emphasize the importance of encouragement for the athletes, even after losses in competitions. "Every match is an opportunity to learn and develop" is also his message to his athletes. "Every time you jump into the water, you have an opportunity to learn something new"

I discovered young children, full of determination, perseverance and motivation, I could feel their passion for their sport and their willingness to dedicate themselves and do everything to reach the most desired summit - the Olympic podium!
No less than that, I was impressed by the uncompromising dedication of their coaches, who also function as their father and mother, and surely influence them as much as they do. The investment of the coaches, the concern, in successes and failures, in encouragement, guidance, good and bad, is admirable and inseparable from the journey.