Igal Pazi

File:Pazi, Igal. Paralympic gold medalists for Israel.jpg

Igal Pazi at the 1988 Paralympic Games, Seoul

Igal Pazi (Hebrew: יגאל פזי‎) (Born 31 Dec 1939) An Israeli Paralympic Medalist, member of the Israeli volleyball team between 1973-1990. Won three Paralympic medals (2 Gold, 1 Silver), four World Cups (2 Gold, 2 Silver) and four Euro Cups (1 Gold, 3 Bronze).

Biography

Igal Pazi was born at Kibutz Usha (Israel), son to Rachel (Rushka) and Shmuel Pazi.

At the Six Days War Pazi served at the 78th patrol platoon of the Alexandroni reserves infantry brigade, which fought at the Golan Heights. At the Friday afternoon, June 9, 1967, Pazi stepped on a foot mine on the platoon's way to Dabashia.

Losing his right leg below the knee, Pazi was hospitalized at the Rambam hospital at Haifa, where he was cared by his future wife, the nurse Judith Cohen-Aloro. The two got married on Nov 5, 1967.

Volleyball career

Olympic medal record
Volleyball (Paralympics)
	1976 Toronto	Volleyball
	1980 Arnheim	Volleyball
	1988 Seoul	Volleyball
Volleyball World Cup
	1976, Germany	Volleyball
	1983	Volleyball
	1986, Israel	Volleyball
	1989, Poland	Volleyball
Volleyball Euro Cup
	1973	Volleyball
	1979	Volleyball
	1987	Volleyball
	1989	Volleyball

File:1988 Seoul Paralympics Games. Israel's valleyball team wins silver medal.jpg

Silver medal to Israel. 1988 Seoul Paralympic Games

Prior to his injury, Pazi played volleyball at the Zevulun team.

A couple of years after rehabilitation, Pazi returned to the volleyball court, playing for disabled group formed at Haifa.

Pazi than joined the national disabled team, since its formation at 1973. Other team members were Hagai Zamir, Aharon Danziger, Shlomo Eshkol, Ron Fradkin, Moshe Berblat, Gad Lanzer, Dani Giladi and Eliezer Kalina as player-coach.

With the formation of "Beit Halohem" at Tel Aviv (1974), the sport for disabled in Israel gained momentum, particularly the volleyball team, reaching unprecedented achievements.

The team also played in the "regular" league in Israel with great success.

Pazi retired from the national team at 1990.

External links

• The Alexandroni brigade at the Six Days War, from the brigade's website.
• An article about the national volleyball disabled team, Haaretz, 09.08.2011
• Results for pazi from the International Paralympic Committee