Zohar Zimro

Israeli long-distance runner

Zohar Zimro
זוהר זימרו

Zohar Zimro at the 2012 Olympics

Personal information
Nationality| Israeli
Born|  (1977-07-25) July 25, 1977 (age 47)
Ethiopia
Height| 1.71 m (5 ft 7+1⁄2 in)
Weight| 57 kg (126 lb)
Sport
Country|  Israel
Sport| Running
Event| Marathon
Achievements and titles
Personal bests|

* Half Marathon: 1:06:04
* Marathon: 2:14:28
* 10,000m: 29:53.33[1]

Zohar Zimro (or Zemiro; Hebrew: זוהר זימרו; born June 15, 1977) is an Israeli marathon runner.[2][3]

He was born in Woozaba, Ethiopia,[4] and is one of about 120,000 Israeli-Ethiopians, a community that includes fellow Israeli Ethiopian marathoners Setegne Ayele and former Olympian Asaf Bimro.[5][6] His personal best time is 2:14:28. He represented Israel at the 2012 Summer Olympics.

## Early life

[edit]

He was born in Ethiopia in 1977, and immigrated to Israel at the age of 10.[7][8]

## Running career

[edit]

At the age of 16 he was discovered by his high-school sport teacher.

### 2009

[edit]

His debut was a 23rd place at the Berlin Marathon in 2:23:48.

### 2010

[edit]

After a 22nd place at the Paris Marathon he came in 38th at the 2010 European Athletics Championships in Barcelona with a time of 2:36:58.[3][9]

### 2011

[edit]

Zimro training (2011)

On January 6, 2011, he ran the 34th Tiberius Marathon in Israel in a time of 2:21:33, coming in second of all Israelis and 18th of all runners.[10] In February 2011, he ran a half marathon in Ein Gedi, Israel, in a personal best time of 1:06:19.[2]

In April 2011, he ran the Amsterdam Marathon in a personal record time of 2:14:28, coming in 10th.[2][11][12] In doing so, he qualified to represent Israel at the 2012 Summer Olympics.[13] Asked for his reaction, he said: "it is the happiest moment in my life." His time was 7 seconds short of Israel's national record time in the marathon, which was set by Ayale Setegne.[10]

Zimro was named Athlete of the Year in 2011 by the Israel Athletics Association.[14]

### 2012

[edit]

In January 2012, he won the Israeli championships, while finishing 15th in the Tiberias Marathon in 2:15:06.[15]

He was the only Israeli distance runner in the 2012 Summer Olympics. He described himself as "an ardent Zionist who is extremely proud and honoured to represent Israel", and said "To make aliyah as a child from Ethiopia and to end up representing Israel in the Olympics is the closing of a circle – a Cinderella story."[16] He finished 80th in the marathon at the 2012 Summer Olympics,[17][18]

## Philanthropy

[edit]

In 2008, he established a non-profit organization with elite long-distance runners, called Running From The Heart. The founders are helping children and youth from diverse backgrounds to deal with problems and accomplish their goals in life through running.

Every week in all weather conditions, the children are educating by running, and learn how to break their limits in order to succeed.

## Achievements

[edit]

Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Event | Notes

|
|
|
|
|

Representing  Israel
2011  | World Championships | Daegu, South Korea | —  | Marathon  | DNF[7]
2012  | Olympics | London, United Kingdom | 81st  | Marathon  | 2:34:59
2013  | World Championships | Moscow, Russia | 39th  | Marathon  | 2:25:23
2014  | World Championships | Copenhagen, Denmark | 83rd  | Half Marathon  | 1:06:04[7]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "European Athletics - Athlete: Zohar Zimro". Archived from the original on 2014-10-06. Retrieved 2014-09-29.
2. ^ a b c "Profile of Zohar Zemiro". All-Athletics.com. February 20, 2011. Retrieved November 20, 2011.
3. ^ a b "Zemiro Zohar Biography". IAAF. August 25, 2007. Retrieved November 20, 2011.
4. ^ Zohar Zemiro. Web.archive.org. Retrieved on 2014-10-11.
5. ^ "Ethiopian-Born Marathoner Runs for Israel". Forward.com. 28 July 2012. Retrieved 21 November 2021.
6. ^ "13th IAAF World Championships; Men's Marathon" (PDF). IAAF. September 4, 2011. Retrieved November 20, 2011.
7. ^ a b c "Zohar ZIMRO | Profile | World Athletics". Worldathletics.org. Retrieved 21 November 2021.
8. ^ "Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council | Israel's own Parade of Nations on display in its multicultural Olympic delegation". Archived from the original on 2016-02-16. Retrieved 2014-09-29.
9. ^ "European Athletics Championships Results". newsbank.com. August 1, 2010. Retrieved November 20, 2011.
10. ^ a b "Israeli Athletic Association - News". Archived from the original on October 6, 2014. Retrieved October 1, 2014.
11. ^ "Details; Bib number 8011". Evenementen.uitslagen.nl. Retrieved November 20, 2011.
12. ^ "Report". ABN AMRO Marathon Rotterdam. Archived from the original on August 20, 2011. Retrieved November 20, 2011.
13. ^ Yaari, Eliezer (July 17, 2011). "Israeli swimmers earn a spot at 2012 Summer Olympics". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved November 20, 2011.
14. ^ "Meet your Jewish and Israeli Olympic Athletes: Part 1 - Print Article - Shalom Life". Archived from the original on October 15, 2014. Retrieved September 30, 2014.
15. ^ "Twambe clocks 2:07:30 course record in Tiberias | NEWS | World Athletics". Worldathletics.org. Retrieved 21 November 2021.
16. ^ "Zohar's going for gold". Thejc.com. Retrieved 21 November 2021.
17. ^ "Zohar Zemiro Bio, Stats, and Results | Olympics at Sports-Reference.com". 18 April 2020. Archived from the original on 2020-04-18. Retrieved 21 November 2021.
18. ^ "Europeans end on a low for Israel's athletes". JPost.com. 18 August 2014. Retrieved 21 November 2021.

## External links

[edit]

* Zohar Zimro at World Athletics
* Zohar Zimro at Olympics.com
* Zohar Zimro at Olympedia
* Zohar Zimro at the Olympic Committee of Israel (archived) (in Hebrew)
* Zohar Zimro at Tilastopaja OY

Authority control databases: People |

* World Athletics

|