Olympic Gold Medalist Dara Torres To Be part of Maccabi U.S. Coaching Employees For 2026 Maccabiah Games

Courtesy: Maccabi USA

Philadelphia, PA –Dara Torres, a 12-time Olympic Medalist in swimming, will function the Head Coach of the U17 Swim Team on the Maccabiah going down in Israel this summer time from June 30 – July 14, 2026. Dara competed with Team USA on the 1984, 1988,1992, 2000, and 2008 Olympics, successful gold medals within the 4×100 meter freestyle relay on three separate events, together with a Gold Medal within the 4×100 meter medley relay. Torres has held world data in every of those occasions, together with three separate world document occasions within the 50-meter freestyle. Dara Torres famously made two historic comebacks in each 2000 and 2008, the place she received a mixed eight medals and was acknowledged because the Best Comeback Athlete on the 2009 ESPY Awards.

“I am incredibly excited and honored to coach the U17 swim team at the Maccabiah,” mentioned Dara Torres. “Being able to share my experiences with the next generation of Jewish swimmers and help them grow both in and out of the pool is truly meaningful to me.” All our Swimming workforce members will likely be a part of the general USA Team – that will likely be 1,300+ members robust – and the biggest Maccabiah but.

Torres will coach the U17 Swim Team alongside Assistant Coach Marlene Bruten, who competed for Team Mexico within the 1988 Olympics. They will be part of Open Head Coach Jim Skirboll, a Level 5 Certified Coach from the American Swimming Coaches Association, and Open Assistant Coach Carey Apple because the teaching employees for the U.S. Delegation on the 2026 Maccabiah.

The 2026 Maccabiah would be the world’s second-largest worldwide sporting occasion and can encompass over 10,000 athletes from 80 nations taking part in over 40 completely different sports activities. To be taught extra in regards to the sports activities and age divisions supplied, please go to www.maccabiusa.com.

The Maccabiah Games is greater than a global sporting competitors; it’s a celebration of Jewish tradition, unity, and satisfaction. Israel Connect, Maccabi USA’s distinctive cultural and academic program, takes place for seven days following the formal conclusion of the Games. All Junior, Open and Paralympic athletes take part in this system the place they’ve the chance to tour historic and non secular websites, participate in cultural identification seminars and practice with their groups, all whereas creating lifelong relationships.

Previous Maccabiah individuals from the USA have included Anthony Ervin, Jason Lezak, Lenny Krayzelburg, Garrett Weber-Gale, Mark Spitz and plenty of extra national-level athletes.

ABOUT THE MACCABIAH – Traditionally held each 4 years, the primary Maccabiah came about in Israel in 1932 with athletes from 18 nations. By 2017, the video games grew to incorporate almost 10,000 Jewish athletes from greater than 60 nations, making it the second largest worldwide multi-sport occasion, and one of many largest gatherings of the Jewish diaspora across the globe. In July 2022, Maccabi USA despatched its largest-ever delegation of greater than 1,300 to Israel, bigger than the normal USA Olympic Team.

ABOUT MACCABI USA – Maccabi USA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit group with an intensive historical past of enriching Jewish lives by athletic, cultural and academic applications. Maccabi USA is the official sponsor of the United States workforce to the World Maccabiah Games, the Pan American and European Maccabi Games, and the Maccabi Youth Games, in addition to a sponsor of the JCC Maccabi Games for teenagers in North America.