Israel is sending a team to participate in the Lifesaving World Championships for the first time this year.
The ILS Lifesaving World Championships are the world championships for lifesaving sport events, conducted every two years and attended by qualified members of the International Life Saving Federation (ILS) from various countries around the world. For the first time, Israel is sending two representatives to participate in the competition.
The championships are being held in Riccione, Italy, from Sept. 21-Oct. 3, 2022, following a two-year delay due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Competitive lifesaving is a sport that involves "a variety of competitions to further develop and demonstrate lifesaving skills, fitness and motivation," according to the ILS.
Competitors at the Lifesaving World Championships will have their skills tested in events that simulate emergency swimming rescue scenarios. The sporting activity consists of elements of rescue, such as reaction speed, running, swimming or paddling on a lifeboard in the sea in the fastest possible time.
Israel is being represented by Israel Lifesaving Federation co-founder CEO Paul Hakim, and Israel Lifesaving Federation volunteer and board member Sarah Vanunu.
Hakim, 61, is participating in the beach flags and beach sprints events, and finished in fourth and sixth place, respectively, in the masters semifinals competitions.
Vanunu, 40, is participating in ocean swimming events.