Igal Pazi

Igal Pazi

Igal Pazi at the 1988 Paralympic Games, Seoul
Personal information
Born	31 December 1939 (1939-12-31) (age 84) Usha, Israel
Medal record Men's volleyball Representing Israel Paralympic Games 1976 Toronto Volleyball - standing 1980 Arnhem Volleyball - standing 1984 New York Volleyball - standing 1988 Seoul Volleyball - standing Volleyball World Cup 1976 Germany Volleyball 1983 Volleyball 1986 Israel Volleyball 1989 Poland Volleyball Volleyball Euro Cup 1979 Volleyball 1973 Volleyball 1987 Volleyball 1989 Volleyball

Igal Pazi (Hebrew: יגאל פזי, also transliterated Yigal Pazi, born 31 December 1939) is as an Israeli Paralympic medalist, who was a member of the Israeli volleyball team between 1973-1990. He won four Paralympic medals (3 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

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
• Yigal Pazi at the International Paralympic Committee