Ayelet Zussman | |
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איילת זוסמן | |
Born | March 27, 1979 |
Nationality | Israeli |
Alma mater | Ruppin Academic Center |
Occupation | Head coach of the Israeli Rhythmic Gymnastics |
Known for | Trainer of Rhythmic Gymnastics in Hapoel Rishon LeZion club and coach of multiple European/World medalists and Linoy Ashram 2020 Olympic champion |
Ayelet Zussman ( Hebrew: איילת זוסמן, born 27 March 1979) is an Israeli rhythmic gymnastics coach and formerly a gymnast, she was champion of Israel in 1994.
Ayelet took her first steps in the world of rhythmic gymnastics when she was 6 years old. She trained for a year under former Israeli national team coach Ilanit Lazar and then went to Irina Vigdorchik as Ilanit left the country. [1]
In 1994, at the age of 15, she became the champion of Israel, she could not repeat her achievement a year later due to a back injury and at the age of 17 she decided to end her career as an athlete. [2] She served as a physical training officer in the general staff of the Israeli Army. At the end of military service, Ayelet was asked to remain in the army with a contract ready, but she decided to return to gymnastics, this time as a coach. [1]
A graduate of the Ruppin Academic Center, she has a bachelor's degree in business administration and sports management. [3]
Since 2009, she has been the coach of Linoy Ashram, [1] a multiple winner of World and European Championships, [4] as well as the Tokyo Olympic champion. [5] And a choreographer for Neta Rivkin, and the rhythmic gymnastics' group. [6]
After her achievement in Tokyo she's been appointed as the head coach of the Israeli rhythmic gymnastics team until 2028, [7] meaning Zussman is currently not only coaching the nation's top individuals, like Daria Atamanov the 2022 European champion, [8] but the group as well [9] after Vigdorchik went to train the Russian team. [10]