Esther Roth-Shachamarov (1952- )

The Greatest Israeli Athlete

"Esther Shachamarov reached a climax in Munich, but not the ultimate climax. She's only 20 years old - this is an age where everything still lies ahead of her. With every attempt and every achievement that is behind her - Esther Shachamarov can look forward to a future Olympic final. Will this in fact be the nature of Shachamarov's future? We will only know of this after a discussion with Esther after she returns home. Her future - it is Esther's and dependant mainly on her."

These words were written by Esther Roth-Shachamarov's trainer, the late Amitzur Shapira, in a column in the Ma'ariv newspaper, immediately after his trainee advanced to the finals of the 100 meter hurdles in the 1972 Munich Olympic Games.

On the same day Amitzur was taken hostage together with 10 other members of the Israeli delegation. When the words were published in Ma'ariv he was already no longer alive. Roth was forced to bow out of the final thereby maybe denying Israel it's first ever Olympic medal.

This is, in a nutshell, the life story of Israel's greatest athlete of all time. Already in 9th grade Shachamarov broke the Israeli hurdling record. In the Asia Games of 1970 she won three medals (gold in the pentathlon, gold in the 100m hurdles and silver in the long jump).

In 1971 was crowned "Sportswoman of the Year" in Israel and "Sportswoman of the Year" for the entire Asian continent. She aimed at only one thing: the 1972 Munich Olympics. She was ready for it. Then came the terrible tragedy.

Roth-Shachamarov wanted to retire after the Olympics but her husband, Peter Roth, persuaded her to continue. She won in the 1974 Asia Games in Teheran and was chosen for a second time as "Sportswoman of the Year"; participated in the 1975 Asian Championships in Seoul and arrived prepared for the Montreal Olympics. In this year too she was crowned "Sportswoman of the Year".

After a delay of four years, Shachamarov reached the finals of the 100m hurdles at the 1976 Montreal Games and finished in sixth place with a time of 13.02 seconds. That year she was chosen as "Sportswoman of the Year" for the third time.

Her best times during the years 1972-1976 in the 100m, 200m and 100m hurdles are still today regarded as excellent. Her record in the 200m has still not been broken till today. Her record in the 100m was only broken in 2002.

Esther Roth-Shachamarov has been chosen to the Hall of Fame of the Olympic Committee.