Yuval Freilich

Yuval Shalom Freilich (יובל פרייליך; born 24 January 1995) is an Israeli épée fencer. In 2012 at 17 years of age he was the #1-ranked épée cadet in the world, and in 2015 he was the #1 ranked junior épée fencer in the world. He won the gold medal in men's épée at the 2019 European Fencing Championships.[3]

Yuval Shalom Freilich
יובל פרייליך
Freilich, 2016
Personal information
Born (1995-01-24) 24 January 1995[1]
Israel
ResidenceNeve Daniel and Havatzelet HaSharon
Sport
Country Israel
SportFencing
Weaponépée
Handleft-handed[2]
National coachOhad Balva
ClubHapoel Kfar-Saba[1]
FIE rankingcurrent ranking
Medal record
European Championships
2019 DüsseldorfIndividual

Biography

Yuval Freilich was born in Israel, and grew up in a religiously observant Jewish home in Gush Etzion in the settlement of Neve Daniel, and in Havatzelet HaSharon.[2][3][4] His parents Gabby (a radiologist) and Rachel Freilich had emigrated to Israel from Sydney, Australia, and he has five siblings.[2][5][4][6] He is the nephew of former Organisation of Rabbis of Australasia president Rabbi Dovid Freilich.[5]

When he was a child his family moved to Australia in 2000 for five years, where Freilich attended Moriah College primary school, but then returned to Israel in 2004.[2][4][5] He served as a soldier in the Israel Defense Forces, and trained at Wingate Institute.[4] He later attended Open University of Israel in Netanya, Israel, and IDC Herzliya, where he double majored in Law and Government.[7][8]

Fencing career
Yuval Freilich, 2013

Freilich began fencing at the age of five.[3] His coach is Ohad Balva, and his club is Hapoel Kfar-Saba[1][9]

In 2011 he won the European Cadet Championship.[5] In 2012 at 17 years of age Freilich won the men’s épée World Cadet and Junior Fencing Championship in Moscow, and became the #1-ranked épée cadet in the world.[10]

In March 2014 Freilich won the European Men's Épée Junior Championships.[11] In April 2014 Freilich came in 6th at the World Men's Épée Junior Championships.[11]

In March 2015 Freilich again won the European Men's Épée Junior Championships.[11] In 2015 he was the #1 ranked junior épée fencer in the world.[12] In February 2016 he won a Men's Épée bronze medal at the Peter Bakonyi World Cup in Vancouver, Canada.[11][13]

On June 18, 2019, Freilich won Israel’s first European fencing title in the men’s individual épée tournament at the 2019 European Fencing Championships in Düsseldorf, Germany.[9] Israel’s first European medal had been won by Noam Mills, who won a women’s individual épée bronze medal in Leipzig, Germany, in 2010.[9]

See also

References
  1. "Fencers; Yuval Shalom Freilich," Eurofencing.
  2. "Freilich, Yuval Shalom", The International Fencing Federation.
  3. "In first, Israeli wins European fencing championship; 24-year-old Yuval Freilich takes the gold in Dusseldorf contest; ‘it’s the most incredible feeling,’ he says," The Times of Israel, 18 June 2019.
  4. Uri Talshir (14 March 2014). "Making a point: Israel’s finest fencer - on Sabbath, too; Yuval Freilich had to learn not only to perfect his moves but to compete on the Sabbath," Haaretz.
  5. "Former Moriah student wins European fencing championship," Australian Jewish News, 19 June 2019.
  6. David Brinn (16 July 2010). "‘Only Israel’ strikes a chord on YouTube; Pro-Israel hasbara song- 350,000 views," Jerusalem Post.
  7. "Athletes / Freilich, Yuval Shalom," universiade2013.
  8. "IDC Herzliya Hall of Fame," IDC.
  9. "Freilich Makes History For Israel With First European Fencing Crown," Eurofencing, 18 June 2019.
  10. "Israeli Wins Fencing Championship in Moscow," The Canadian Jewish News, 20 April 2012.
  11. "Fencing - Yuval Shalom Freilich", the-sports.org.
  12. Nicole Jomantas (19 January 2015). "U.S. Men’s Epee Team Finishes Seventh at Basel Junior World Cup," USA Fencing.
  13. Allon Sinai (15 February 2016). "Fencer Freilich finishes on the podium for Israel," Jerusalem Post.
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