Delila Hatuel
Encyclopedia
Delila Hatuel is an Israeli Olympic foil
fencer
. She represented Israel at the 2008 Summer Olympics
, and has been ranked as high as ninth in the world.
. Her brother Maor Hatuel is also a fencer, as is her aunt, Lydia Hatuel-Zuckerman
, who has won 16 Israeli championships and competed on behalf of Israel at the 1984 Olympics
, the 1992 Olympics
, and the 1996 Olympics
. Her father Haim's younger brother, Yitzhak Hatuel
, also fenced in the 1984 Olympics
for Israel. Delila, her father, and Lydia train Jewish and Arab children in fencing at Acre's Olympic Fencing Center.
in Cape Town
, South Africa, and eighth in the team foil 1998 European Fencing Championships
in Plovdiv
, Bulgaria.
In July 2007, Hatuel finished sixth in individual foil at the European Fencing Championships, in Ghent
, Belgium. Throughout 2008, she finished in the top 10 in the Fencing World Cup
circuit, and was ranked in the top 16 in the world.
In April 2008, she was ranked 9th in the world in women's foil. In July 2008, at the 2008 European Fencing Championships in Kiev
, Ukraine, she defeated Olympic foil champion Valentina Vezzali
, but injured her knee at the end of the bout. She finished seventh in individual foil in the tournament.
Due to her torn knee ligament
s that included a torn anterior cruciate ligament
(ACL), surgery, and resulting swelling, she almost missed out on participating in the Olympics the following month. However, after she underwent treatment in a hyperbaric oxygen chamber at Assaf Harofeh Medical Center
in Tzrifin
, Israel, she was allowed to compete. Exposure to oxygen under high pressure speeds up the body's natural healing process.
Hatuel, ranked 11th in the world, represented Israel at the 2008 Summer Olympics
in Beijing, China, in foil fencing. She came in 19th in the foil competition, losing 10–9 to reigning world title holder Viktoriya Nikishina of Russia, who was part of the gold-medal winning Russian team. In the match, she requested medical assistance at the outset after executing a sharp move. Hatuel tied the score with seconds to go, but the Russian prevailed in overtime.
Hatuel later said: "I'm sad, but this loss has nothing to do with my injury. I lost in a tight match." A reporter for Haaretz
, however, noted that despite her denial, "it seems that Hatuel's knee injury was agonizing". Hatuel said she would rest, and have another knee surgery, noting: "I want to be in the 2012 Olympics Games in London."
Foil (fencing)
A foil is a type of weapon used in fencing. It is the most common weapon in terms of usage in competition, and is usually the choice for elementary classes for fencing in general.- Components:...
fencer
Fencing
Fencing, which is also known as modern fencing to distinguish it from historical fencing, is a family of combat sports using bladed weapons.Fencing is one of four sports which have been featured at every one of the modern Olympic Games...
. She represented Israel at the 2008 Summer Olympics
Israel at the 2008 Summer Olympics
Israel competed at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China. This was Israel's 14th participation in the Summer Olympics.43 Israeli athletes competed in Beijing, the largest Israeli delegation in Olympic history, the previous record having been 40 at Sydney 2000...
, and has been ranked as high as ninth in the world.
Biography
Hatuel is Jewish, and was born in Acre, IsraelAcre, Israel
Acre , is a city in the Western Galilee region of northern Israel at the northern extremity of Haifa Bay. Acre is one of the oldest continuously inhabited sites in the country....
. Her brother Maor Hatuel is also a fencer, as is her aunt, Lydia Hatuel-Zuckerman
Lydia Hatuel-Zuckerman
Lydia Hatuel-Zuckerman is an Israeli fencer. One of Israel's top female fencers, she competed in the foil event at the 1984, 1992, and 1996 Olympiads.-Family:...
, who has won 16 Israeli championships and competed on behalf of Israel at the 1984 Olympics
Israel at the 1984 Summer Olympics
Israel competed at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, United States. The nation returned to the Summer Games after participating in the American-led boycott of the 1980 Summer Olympics...
, the 1992 Olympics
Israel at the 1992 Summer Olympics
Israel competed at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain.Israel won its first ever Olympic medals at these Games. The first medallist in Israel's history was Yael Arad, who won silver on July 30 in judo's under-61 kg category for women, and she was followed a day later by another...
, and the 1996 Olympics
Israel at the 1996 Summer Olympics
Israel competed at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, United States.- Bronze:* Gal Fridman — Sailing, Men's Mistral Individual Competition-Athletics:Men's Triple Jump:*Rogel Nachum*Qualification — 16.67m...
. Her father Haim's younger brother, Yitzhak Hatuel
Yitzhak Hatuel
Yitzhak Hatuel is an Israeli fencer. He competed in the individual foil event at the 1984 Summer Olympics.He is the brother of Israeli Olympic fencer Lydia Hatuel-Zuckerman , and uncle of Israeli Olympic fencer Delila Hatuel and Israeli fencer Maor Hatuel.-References:...
, also fenced in the 1984 Olympics
1984 Summer Olympics
The 1984 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held in Los Angeles, California, United States in 1984...
for Israel. Delila, her father, and Lydia train Jewish and Arab children in fencing at Acre's Olympic Fencing Center.
Fencing career
Hatuel finished ninth in the team foil 1997 World Fencing Championships1997 World Fencing Championships
The 1997 World Fencing Championships were held in Cape Town, South Africa at the newly constructed Foreshore Exhibition Centre.-Men's events:-Women's events:-Medal table:-References:*...
in Cape Town
Cape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
, South Africa, and eighth in the team foil 1998 European Fencing Championships
European Fencing Championships
The European Fencing Championships is an annual competition organized by the Confédération européenne d'escrime.- Host cities :*1981 : Foggia *1982 : Mödling *1983 : Lisbon *1991 : Vienna *1992 : Lisbon *1993 : Linz *1994 : Krakow *1995 : Keszthely...
in Plovdiv
Plovdiv
Plovdiv is the second-largest city in Bulgaria after Sofia with a population of 338,153 inhabitants according to Census 2011. Plovdiv's history spans some 6,000 years, with traces of a Neolithic settlement dating to roughly 4000 BC; it is one of the oldest cities in Europe...
, Bulgaria.
In July 2007, Hatuel finished sixth in individual foil at the European Fencing Championships, in Ghent
Ghent
Ghent is a city and a municipality located in the Flemish region of Belgium. It is the capital and biggest city of the East Flanders province. The city started as a settlement at the confluence of the Rivers Scheldt and Lys and in the Middle Ages became one of the largest and richest cities of...
, Belgium. Throughout 2008, she finished in the top 10 in the Fencing World Cup
Fencing World Cup
The FIE Fencing World Cup is an international professional fencing competition by the Fédération Internationale d'Escrime. Fencers from the members of the Fédération Internationale d'Escrime are allowed to compete in several events around the world. Events include Men's and Women's Epee, Sabre and...
circuit, and was ranked in the top 16 in the world.
In April 2008, she was ranked 9th in the world in women's foil. In July 2008, at the 2008 European Fencing Championships in Kiev
Kiev
Kiev or Kyiv is the capital and the largest city of Ukraine, located in the north central part of the country on the Dnieper River. The population as of the 2001 census was 2,611,300. However, higher numbers have been cited in the press....
, Ukraine, she defeated Olympic foil champion Valentina Vezzali
Valentina Vezzali
Maria Valentina Vezzali is an Italian fencer who has won five Olympic gold medals in foil competitions.-Career:...
, but injured her knee at the end of the bout. She finished seventh in individual foil in the tournament.
Due to her torn knee ligament
Ligament
In anatomy, the term ligament is used to denote any of three types of structures. Most commonly, it refers to fibrous tissue that connects bones to other bones and is also known as articular ligament, articular larua, fibrous ligament, or true ligament.Ligament can also refer to:* Peritoneal...
s that included a torn anterior cruciate ligament
Anterior cruciate ligament
The anterior cruciate ligament is a cruciate ligament which is one of the four major ligaments of the human knee. In the quadruped stifle , based on its anatomical position, it is referred to as the cranial cruciate ligament.The ACL originates from deep within the notch of the distal femur...
(ACL), surgery, and resulting swelling, she almost missed out on participating in the Olympics the following month. However, after she underwent treatment in a hyperbaric oxygen chamber at Assaf Harofeh Medical Center
Assaf HaRofeh Medical Center
Assaf HaRofeh Medical Center, also known as Assaf HaRofeh Hospital, is a hospital in Israel. It sits on a campus, 15 kilometers from Tel Aviv and Ben Gurion Airport.-History:...
in Tzrifin
Tzrifin
Tzrifin is an area in Gush Dan in central Israel, located on the eastern side of Rishon LeZion and including parts of Be'er Ya'akov. The area proper is defined as an 'area without jurisdiction' between the two cities....
, Israel, she was allowed to compete. Exposure to oxygen under high pressure speeds up the body's natural healing process.
Hatuel, ranked 11th in the world, represented Israel at the 2008 Summer Olympics
Israel at the 2008 Summer Olympics
Israel competed at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China. This was Israel's 14th participation in the Summer Olympics.43 Israeli athletes competed in Beijing, the largest Israeli delegation in Olympic history, the previous record having been 40 at Sydney 2000...
in Beijing, China, in foil fencing. She came in 19th in the foil competition, losing 10–9 to reigning world title holder Viktoriya Nikishina of Russia, who was part of the gold-medal winning Russian team. In the match, she requested medical assistance at the outset after executing a sharp move. Hatuel tied the score with seconds to go, but the Russian prevailed in overtime.
Hatuel later said: "I'm sad, but this loss has nothing to do with my injury. I lost in a tight match." A reporter for Haaretz
Haaretz
Haaretz is Israel's oldest daily newspaper. It was founded in 1918 and is now published in both Hebrew and English in Berliner format. The English edition is published and sold together with the International Herald Tribune. Both Hebrew and English editions can be read on the Internet...
, however, noted that despite her denial, "it seems that Hatuel's knee injury was agonizing". Hatuel said she would rest, and have another knee surgery, noting: "I want to be in the 2012 Olympics Games in London."