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One of Israel's Most Famous Athletes
To Highlight Passport To Israel
Ask any Israeli to name three of Israel’s most famous
athletes, and the chances are that he will name Shaul
Ladany as one of the three. A participant in the 1972
Olympic games in Munich, Shaul is one of the survivors
of this savage massacre. On Sunday, May 18, Shaul will
lead the Walk For Israel, as part of the community cele
bration of Israel Independence Day, “Passport To
Israel.”
Born in Yugoslavia, Shaul was a survivor of the
Bergen-Belsen death camp, being liberated when he was
8 years old. He emigrated to Israel in 1948 and graduated
from high school in Tel Aviv. After serving as an artillery
officer in the Israeli Defense Forces, he graduated with a
degree in engineering from the Technion, where he went
on to receive his master’s degree in engineering. He went
on from there to supervise construction of the Knesset
building.
Not content with this, he earned a degree in business
administration from Hebrew University in Jerusalem,
and then enrolled in Columbia University where he
received his Ph.D. in business administration and indus
trial engineering.
During the mid-’50s he became a marathon runner in
Israel. However, because there were few runs of this sort
in Israel, he became interested in walking as a sport,
walking 25 miles a day, for four days. Through this, he
started his career as a “race walker,” and what a career it
has been! He has participated as a race walker in Macca-
biah’s in Israel, and the Olympic games in Mexico (1968)
and Munich (1972).
In 1965, Shaul broke the oldest (then) existing U.S.
Track and Field record for walking in the 50-mile event.
For 10 years consecutively, he not only won these events,
but each year broke the previous record that he had set;
from eight hours and 11 minutes (1967) to seven hours, 23
minutes and 50 seconds, for 50 miles, which is still the
world’s record. Actually, because today’s race standards
are in kilometers and not miles, this record will probably
stand forever. Last month, Shaul turned 50; what did he
do to celebrate? He walked 50 kilometers.
From 1968 to 1974, Shaul was on the faculty of Tel
Aviv University. In 1975 he joined the faculty of Ben-
Gurion University of the Negev in Beersheva. He is now
on his second sabbatical in Atlanta, where he is doing
research in industrial engineering at Georgia Tech.
Since the 1960s, Shaul has been one of Israel’s best
known athletes, since he has won almost every national
and international championship in his class of race walk
ing. Now that he has reached middle age, he participates
in the masters class (40 years of age and up, in 10-year
increments), 40 kilometers.
Shaul has not only won championships in Israel and
the United States, but also in Belgium, Switzerland and
South Africa. He has published over 50 professional
papers and three books. He is currently looking for a
publisher for his race-walking biography.
Shaul Ladany is a real world class champion. You can
join him in the Walk For Israel on Sunday, May 18. Plan
to be there.
For futher information, call Itzhak Sordo, 875-7881.
BBYO Reaches Out
BBYO is forming a boys’ chapter in East Cobb/ Ros
well. BBYO offers religious, cultural, community service,
social and sports programs. BBYO is the country’s largest
Jewish youth organization, serving those in eighth
through 12th grades. For more information, contact the
BBYO office, 876-0343.
Midtown Experience In The Arts
MEA registrations are coming in quickly. In anticipa
tion of our summer needs, we are asking for donations of
the following, to enhance the experience of our youngs
ters this summer: two sewing machines; white cotton
T-shirts, all sizes; cotton cloth, any colors.
If you would like to donate any of these, call Chana
Shapiro, 875-7881.
JOIN THE TREND TO A HEALTHIER LIFE.
Aerobics by Debbie May, Aerobic Program Instructor at
AJCC/Zaban. Before joining the Center’s staff, Debbie
was the principal choreographer for “Diet Pepsi Aero
bics” and Shaklee “Slim Aerobics.” Call 396-3250 for
more information.
/L v ^
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PAGE 13 THE SOUTHERN ISRAELITE May 2, 1986