Yuval Freilich
Yuval Shalom Freilich (יובל פרייליך; born 24 January 1995) is an Israeli épée fencer. In 2012 at 17 years of age he was the #1-ranked épée cadet in the world, and in 2015 he was the #1 ranked junior épée fencer in the world. He won the gold medal in men's épée at the 2019 European Fencing Championships.[3]
Yuval Shalom Freilich יובל פרייליך | ||||||||
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![]() Freilich, 2016 | ||||||||
Personal information | ||||||||
Born | [1] Israel | 24 January 1995|||||||
Residence | Neve Daniel and Havatzelet HaSharon | |||||||
Sport | ||||||||
Country | ![]() | |||||||
Sport | Fencing | |||||||
Weapon | épée | |||||||
Hand | left-handed[2] | |||||||
National coach | Ohad Balva | |||||||
Club | Hapoel Kfar-Saba[1] | |||||||
FIE ranking | current ranking | |||||||
Medal record
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Biography
Yuval Freilich was born in Israel, and grew up in a religiously observant Jewish home in Gush Etzion in the settlement of Neve Daniel, and in Havatzelet HaSharon.[2][3][4] His parents Gabby (a radiologist) and Rachel Freilich had emigrated to Israel from Sydney, Australia, and he has five siblings.[2][5][4][6] He is the nephew of former Organisation of Rabbis of Australasia president Rabbi Dovid Freilich.[5]
When he was a child his family moved to Australia in 2000 for five years, where Freilich attended Moriah College primary school, but then returned to Israel in 2004.[2][4][5] He served as a soldier in the Israel Defense Forces, and trained at Wingate Institute.[4] He later attended Open University of Israel in Netanya, Israel, and IDC Herzliya, where he double majored in Law and Government.[7][8]
Fencing career
![](../I/Trevejo_v_Freilich_Fencing_WCH_EMS-IN_t084538.jpg.webp)
Freilich began fencing at the age of five.[3] His coach is Ohad Balva, and his club is Hapoel Kfar-Saba[1][9]
In 2011 he won the European Cadet Championship.[5] In 2012 at 17 years of age Freilich won the men’s épée World Cadet and Junior Fencing Championship in Moscow, and became the #1-ranked épée cadet in the world.[10]
In March 2014 Freilich won the European Men's Épée Junior Championships.[11] In April 2014 Freilich came in 6th at the World Men's Épée Junior Championships.[11]
In March 2015 Freilich again won the European Men's Épée Junior Championships.[11] In 2015 he was the #1 ranked junior épée fencer in the world.[12] In February 2016 he won a Men's Épée bronze medal at the Peter Bakonyi World Cup in Vancouver, Canada.[11][13]
On June 18, 2019, Freilich won Israel’s first European fencing title in the men’s individual épée tournament at the 2019 European Fencing Championships in Düsseldorf, Germany.[9] Israel’s first European medal had been won by Noam Mills, who won a women’s individual épée bronze medal in Leipzig, Germany, in 2010.[9]
References
- "Fencers; Yuval Shalom Freilich," Eurofencing.
- "Freilich, Yuval Shalom", The International Fencing Federation.
- "In first, Israeli wins European fencing championship; 24-year-old Yuval Freilich takes the gold in Dusseldorf contest; ‘it’s the most incredible feeling,’ he says," The Times of Israel, 18 June 2019.
- Uri Talshir (14 March 2014). "Making a point: Israel’s finest fencer - on Sabbath, too; Yuval Freilich had to learn not only to perfect his moves but to compete on the Sabbath," Haaretz.
- "Former Moriah student wins European fencing championship," Australian Jewish News, 19 June 2019.
- David Brinn (16 July 2010). "‘Only Israel’ strikes a chord on YouTube; Pro-Israel hasbara song- 350,000 views," Jerusalem Post.
- "Athletes / Freilich, Yuval Shalom," universiade2013.
- "IDC Herzliya Hall of Fame," IDC.
- "Freilich Makes History For Israel With First European Fencing Crown," Eurofencing, 18 June 2019.
- "Israeli Wins Fencing Championship in Moscow," The Canadian Jewish News, 20 April 2012.
- "Fencing - Yuval Shalom Freilich", the-sports.org.
- Nicole Jomantas (19 January 2015). "U.S. Men’s Epee Team Finishes Seventh at Basel Junior World Cup," USA Fencing.
- Allon Sinai (15 February 2016). "Fencer Freilich finishes on the podium for Israel," Jerusalem Post.