Igal Pazi

Background

Igal Pazi was born at Kibutz Usha (Israel), son to Rachel (Rushka) and Shmuel Pazi.

Career

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. The two got married on November 5, 1967.

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. The team also played in the "regular" league in Israel with great success.

Pazi retired from the national team at 1990.

Achievements

• Won three Paralympic medals (2 Gold, 1 Silver), four World Cups (2 Gold, 2 Silver) and four Euro Cups (1 Gold, 3 Bronze). 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.