Nimrod Shapira Bar Or
Encyclopedia
Nimrod Shapira Bar-Or is an Israel
i swimmer.
He and Arab-Israeli Olympic swimming hopeful Jowan Qupty
were high school roommates and best friends. He won a silver medal in the 200 meter freestyle
, and a bronze medal in the 400 meter freestyle, at the 2007 European Junior Swimming Championships. He won a silver medal in the 100 meter freestyle at the 2009 Maccabiah Games
.
Shapira Bar-Or represented Israel at the 2008 Summer Olympics
in the 100 meter and 200 meter freestyle, and has qualified to represent Israel at the 2012 Summer Olympics
.
, who is a Christian Israeli Arab, had known each other when they were children, and swum together for the Jerusalem United swim club in Israel. They attended The Bolles School
, in Jacksonville, Florida, together. There they were roommates for two years, swim team teammates, and became best friends. Qupty's father, commenting on the friendship and teamwork between his Christian Arab Israeli son and his son's Jewish Israeli roommate/teammate, said: "Just to see them together after the race jumping and hugging each other; they were so happy. I was looking at them through my tears. Coming from our part of the world, you don't see that." The younger Qupty observed that "people were amazed all the time" that he – a Palestinian – and a Jew could coexist, and Shapira Bar-Or said: "It shows how simple the situation is. If I can live with a Palestinian guy, I'm sure in our country we can live with a couple millions of Palestinians and Israelis together."
In November 2006, he won the 200 yard freestyle (1:38.37) at the Florida State 1A Championships, and was runner-up in the 500 yard freestyle. He was named Times-Union 2006 Florida All-First Coast Swimmer of the Year.
, where he majors in Management Information and Systems in the Eller College of Management
. In 2009, he was a silver medalist at the NCAA Championships at College Station, Texas as part of the Arizona Wildcats
800 free relay team (6:11.82), and in 2010, he was a bronze medalist in the same event in Columbus
, Ohio. He was honored as a member of the Pac-10 All-Academic First Team. He was named the Counsilman-Hunsaker National Collegiate Swimmer-of-the-Week on November 17, 2010, and again honored in 2011 as a member of the Pac-10 All-Academic First Team. His fastest times in college competitions, through March 2011, were 19.92 in the 50 yard freestyle (2010), 42.37 in the 100 y freestyle (2011), 46.44 in the 100 y fly (2010), 1:33.50 in the 200 y freestyle (2010), 1:43.71 in the 200 y fly (2010), and 1:44.85 in the 200 y IM (2011).
in the 200 m freestyle (1.50.36), in Antwerp, Belgium. He finished behind Mikhail Polischuk
of Russia. He also won a bronze medal in the 400 m freestyle (3:54.83).
In March 2008, he swam on the team that set a new Israeli record in the 4×200 meter freestyle relay, at 7:20.87, at the 2008 European Championships in Eindhoven, Netherlands. In July 2008, he set a new Israeli record in the 200 meter freestyle, at 1:48.76 at the Croatian Open Championships in Dubrovnik
, Croatia. He broke his own national record in the 200 meter freestyle the next month at the Olympics.
In July 2009, he set a new Israeli record in the 100 meter freestyle, at 48.93, at the World Championships in Rome, Italy. Also at the 2009 World Championships, he swam on the team that set a new Israeli record in the 4×100 meter medley relay, at 3:36.23.
In August 2009, he won gold medals in the 50 m (22.75; surpassing the 14-year-old former record of 22.79 established by Yoav Bruck
), 100 m (49.49), 200 m (1:49.36), and 400 m freestyle races at the Israeli Summer National Championships at Wingate Institute
in Netanya
. In July 2010, he won gold medals in the 50 m, 100 m (49.89), 200 m, and 400 m freestyle races at the Israeli Long Course National Championships.
in Beijing
, China. In the 100 meter freestyle
he swam a 49.10 (a national record) and came in 26th, and in the 200 meter freestyle
he swam a 1:47.78 (also a national record) in the first heat, and a 1:48.16 in the semi-finals, coming in 15th. He was the first Israeli swimmer to compete in an Olympic semi-finals.
He will compete on behalf of Israel at the 2012 Summer Olympics
, in London.
(49.02; behind Jason Lezak
, and a new Israeli record) at the July 2009 Maccabiah Games
.
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
i swimmer.
He and Arab-Israeli Olympic swimming hopeful Jowan Qupty
Jowan Qupty
Jowan Qupty is an Israeli Arab swimmer. His hometown is Jerusalem, Israel. He swims the breaststroke.He and Jewish-Israeli Olympian Nimrod Shapira Bar-Or were high school roommates and best friends...
were high school roommates and best friends. He won a silver medal in the 200 meter freestyle
Freestyle swimming
Freestyle is an unregulated swimming style used in swimming competitions according to the rules of FINA. The front crawl stroke is almost universally used during a freestyle race, as this style is generally the fastest...
, and a bronze medal in the 400 meter freestyle, at the 2007 European Junior Swimming Championships. He won a silver medal in the 100 meter freestyle at the 2009 Maccabiah Games
2009 Maccabiah Games
The 2009 Maccabiah Games were the 18th incarnation of the Maccabiah Games, being held in July 2009. According to the organizing committee these were the largest games held yet. On the 13th of July, more than 6,000 Jewish athletes from all over the world joined Team Israel's 3,000 participants at...
.
Shapira Bar-Or 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 the 100 meter and 200 meter freestyle, and has qualified to represent Israel at the 2012 Summer Olympics
Israel at the 2012 Summer Olympics
Israel is scheduled to compete at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, United Kingdom from July 27 to August 12, 2012.- Athletics:Israeli athletes who have so far achieved qualifying standards:*Achieved A standard:...
.
Biography
Shapira Bar-Or is Jewish, and his hometown is Jerusalem, Israel. Although he played basketball for a top Israeli junior team, a knee injury that he suffered at 11 years of age led him to shift his focus to swimming.High school
Shapira Bar-Or and fellow Israeli swimmer Jowan QuptyJowan Qupty
Jowan Qupty is an Israeli Arab swimmer. His hometown is Jerusalem, Israel. He swims the breaststroke.He and Jewish-Israeli Olympian Nimrod Shapira Bar-Or were high school roommates and best friends...
, who is a Christian Israeli Arab, had known each other when they were children, and swum together for the Jerusalem United swim club in Israel. They attended The Bolles School
Bolles School
The Bolles School is a private college preparatory day and boarding school in Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. It has a lower school , a middle school, and a high school, spread across four campuses around the Jacksonville area, and enrolls about 1,800 students a year. The school was founded in 1933 as...
, in Jacksonville, Florida, together. There they were roommates for two years, swim team teammates, and became best friends. Qupty's father, commenting on the friendship and teamwork between his Christian Arab Israeli son and his son's Jewish Israeli roommate/teammate, said: "Just to see them together after the race jumping and hugging each other; they were so happy. I was looking at them through my tears. Coming from our part of the world, you don't see that." The younger Qupty observed that "people were amazed all the time" that he – a Palestinian – and a Jew could coexist, and Shapira Bar-Or said: "It shows how simple the situation is. If I can live with a Palestinian guy, I'm sure in our country we can live with a couple millions of Palestinians and Israelis together."
In November 2006, he won the 200 yard freestyle (1:38.37) at the Florida State 1A Championships, and was runner-up in the 500 yard freestyle. He was named Times-Union 2006 Florida All-First Coast Swimmer of the Year.
College
After high school, Nimrod Shapira Bar-Or attended the University of ArizonaUniversity of Arizona
The University of Arizona is a land-grant and space-grant public institution of higher education and research located in Tucson, Arizona, United States. The University of Arizona was the first university in the state of Arizona, founded in 1885...
, where he majors in Management Information and Systems in the Eller College of Management
Eller College of Management
The Eller College of Management is a business and public administration school at the University of Arizona located in Tucson, Arizona. The Eller College of Management began in 1913 as bachelor's degree program in commerce before becoming the University of Arizona School of Business and Public...
. In 2009, he was a silver medalist at the NCAA Championships at College Station, Texas as part of the Arizona Wildcats
Arizona Wildcats
-Athletic program:The University of Arizona participates in the NCAA's Division I-A in the Pacific-12 Conference Arizona participates in the conference's South Division, along with Arizona State, Colorado, UCLA, USC, and Utah...
800 free relay team (6:11.82), and in 2010, he was a bronze medalist in the same event in Columbus
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
, Ohio. He was honored as a member of the Pac-10 All-Academic First Team. He was named the Counsilman-Hunsaker National Collegiate Swimmer-of-the-Week on November 17, 2010, and again honored in 2011 as a member of the Pac-10 All-Academic First Team. His fastest times in college competitions, through March 2011, were 19.92 in the 50 yard freestyle (2010), 42.37 in the 100 y freestyle (2011), 46.44 in the 100 y fly (2010), 1:33.50 in the 200 y freestyle (2010), 1:43.71 in the 200 y fly (2010), and 1:44.85 in the 200 y IM (2011).
European Junior Championships
In July 2007, he won a silver medal at the European Junior Swimming ChampionshipsEuropean Junior Swimming Championships
The European Junior Swimming Championships is an annual swimming competition for European swimmers organized by the Ligue Européenne de Natation and held over five days...
in the 200 m freestyle (1.50.36), in Antwerp, Belgium. He finished behind Mikhail Polischuk
Mikhail Polischuk
Mikhail Mikhailovich Polischuk is a freestyle swimmer from Russia, who won the silver medal in the 4x200m freestyle relay at the 2008 Summer Olympics.-External links:*...
of Russia. He also won a bronze medal in the 400 m freestyle (3:54.83).
Israeli national championships and records
In August 2007, he won a gold medal in the 400 m freestyle (3:55.23), and established the Israeli 18-and-under national record in the 200 m freestyle (1:50.06) at the Israeli Summer National Championships.In March 2008, he swam on the team that set a new Israeli record in the 4×200 meter freestyle relay, at 7:20.87, at the 2008 European Championships in Eindhoven, Netherlands. In July 2008, he set a new Israeli record in the 200 meter freestyle, at 1:48.76 at the Croatian Open Championships in Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik is a Croatian city on the Adriatic Sea coast, positioned at the terminal end of the Isthmus of Dubrovnik. It is one of the most prominent tourist destinations on the Adriatic, a seaport and the centre of Dubrovnik-Neretva county. Its total population is 42,641...
, Croatia. He broke his own national record in the 200 meter freestyle the next month at the Olympics.
In July 2009, he set a new Israeli record in the 100 meter freestyle, at 48.93, at the World Championships in Rome, Italy. Also at the 2009 World Championships, he swam on the team that set a new Israeli record in the 4×100 meter medley relay, at 3:36.23.
In August 2009, he won gold medals in the 50 m (22.75; surpassing the 14-year-old former record of 22.79 established by Yoav Bruck
Yoav Bruck
Yoav Bruck is a former swimmer from Israel, who competed in three Summer Olympics for his native country, starting in 1992....
), 100 m (49.49), 200 m (1:49.36), and 400 m freestyle races at the Israeli Summer National Championships at Wingate Institute
Wingate Institute
The Wingate Institute is a sports training facility located south of Netanya, Israel, established in 1957. Named after Orde Wingate, the facility serves as the host facility for numerous Israeli national teams as well as a military training base....
in Netanya
Netanya
Netanya is a city in the Northern Centre District of Israel, and is the capital of the surrounding Sharon plain. It is located north of Tel Aviv, and south of Haifa between the 'Poleg' stream and Wingate Institute in the south and the 'Avichail' stream in the north.Its of beaches have made the...
. In July 2010, he won gold medals in the 50 m, 100 m (49.89), 200 m, and 400 m freestyle races at the Israeli Long Course National Championships.
Olympics
Shapira Bar-Or competed on behalf of Israel at the 2008 Summer OlympicsIsrael 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
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
, China. In the 100 meter freestyle
Swimming at the 2008 Summer Olympics – Men's 100 metre freestyle
The Men's 100 metre freestyle event at the 2008 Olympic Games took place between August 12 and 14 at the Beijing National Aquatics Center. This swimming event used freestyle swimming, which means that the method of the stroke is not regulated . Nearly all swimmers use the front crawl or a variant...
he swam a 49.10 (a national record) and came in 26th, and in the 200 meter freestyle
Swimming at the 2008 Summer Olympics – Men's 100 metre freestyle
The Men's 100 metre freestyle event at the 2008 Olympic Games took place between August 12 and 14 at the Beijing National Aquatics Center. This swimming event used freestyle swimming, which means that the method of the stroke is not regulated . Nearly all swimmers use the front crawl or a variant...
he swam a 1:47.78 (also a national record) in the first heat, and a 1:48.16 in the semi-finals, coming in 15th. He was the first Israeli swimmer to compete in an Olympic semi-finals.
He will compete on behalf of Israel at the 2012 Summer Olympics
Israel at the 2012 Summer Olympics
Israel is scheduled to compete at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, United Kingdom from July 27 to August 12, 2012.- Athletics:Israeli athletes who have so far achieved qualifying standards:*Achieved A standard:...
, in London.
Maccabiah Games
He won a silver medal in the 100 m freestyleSwimming at the 2009 Maccabiah Games
Swimming at the 2009 Maccabiah Games was held over a four day period from July 19 to July 23. All swimming events took place at the Wingate Institute in Netanya.-Medal table:Retrieved from Maccabiah Games 2009 Official Website.-Men's events:...
(49.02; behind Jason Lezak
Jason Lezak
Jason Edward Lezak is an American Olympic swimmer, winner of 4 Olympic gold medals.He formerly swam for Irvine Novaquatics. He graduated from Irvine High School in 1994, and then from the University of California, Santa Barbara in 1999. He is a member of the Rose Bowl Aquatics swim club...
, and a new Israeli record) at the July 2009 Maccabiah Games
2009 Maccabiah Games
The 2009 Maccabiah Games were the 18th incarnation of the Maccabiah Games, being held in July 2009. According to the organizing committee these were the largest games held yet. On the 13th of July, more than 6,000 Jewish athletes from all over the world joined Team Israel's 3,000 participants at...
.
External links
- Profile on ArizonWildcats.com
- Sports-reference bio
- ESPN bio
- Swimmingtimes.com high school results
- "2008 Olympic Games-Bolles Swimmers in Beijing and US Trials", by Nimrod Shapira Bar-Or, bollesswimming, September 29, 2008