Israeli Neta Rivkin is the 7th Best Rhythmic Gymnast in the World

Neta Rivkin is the all time best Israeli rhythmic gymnast. She has achieved what no one else has: She won silver medals in the individual hoop competition and in clubs at the 2011 Rhythmic Gymnastics European Championships, and a bronze medal in the individual hoop final at the 2011 Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships.

Her biggest achievement to date is placing 7th all around in the 2012 London Olympic Games.

I am a huge fan of rhythmic gymnastics (I even took classes for a year). Israel's recent successes in the sport have made me very proud and inspired by the Olympians hard work and dedication. Having been in the sport (for a short time) I know how difficult behind the scenes it truly is. Everything leads up to that minute and a half in a glittery leotard and perfected makeup but it really is blood, sweat and tears to get there.

Reading through articles and watching interviews with Neta Rivkin, I was even more inspired--she truly is a role model. The hardworking athlete dedicates her entire life to the sport and her hopes and dreams are all focused on the Olympics. However, she completed the army, like all citizens do AND continued to train (although many times world class athletes are permitted to continue with their training and skip out on it). She represented Israel in the 2008 Beijing Olympics at the age of 17 (!) and placed 14th all around--an incredible achievement. She went through a very difficult time after losing her father to cancer, the person she was closest to.

Watching her interviews on YouTube made me realize this is the true face of strength. Rivkin seems quiet and delicate in her features however her strength in the sport is immense. She knows how to pick herself up after falling. She proved that in her London 2012 qualifications when in round 2 out of 4 she dropped the ball and was placed in 14th place with only the top 10 going to the finals. Israeli journalists dismissed her and said she had no chance.

She proved them wrong.

In her 3rd and 4th rotations of the qualifications she picked herself up and landed in 9th place--heading straight for the all around finals.

Her quiet strength and endurance are an inspiration to us all. We should be looking up to athletes like Rivkin not silly celebrities and TV personas. These athletes are accomplishing their dreams through hard work and dedications overcoming obstacles and hardships along the way. They stop at nothing to reach their goals.

Neta Rivkin was born June 19, 1991 in Petah Tikvah Israel. She has been coached from age 6 by Ela Samofalov, who scouted her out in a basketball game. She made her first Olympic appearance in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games at age 17 and placed in all around 14th place. She has reached the all around London 2012 all around finals in 9th position.

She dedicated her first medal to her father who passed away--who was her biggest supporter and fan.

She speaks Hebrew, English and Russian.

1. All around finalist in the London 2012 olympic games--places 7th

   (was chosen to hold the Israeli flag in the London Olympics 2012 closing ceremony)

2. Bronze medal in the individual hoop final at the 2011 Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships.
3. She won silver medals in the individual hoop competition and in clubs at the 2011 Rhythmic Gymnastics European Championships
4. Placed 14th at the age of 17 in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games
5. In 2012 Season, Neta won the bronze medal in All-around at the World Cup series in Tashkent.

Don't be fooled by their glittery leotards and ribbons. Rhythmic gymnasts are TOUGH. Every move is perfectly controlled; every toss has been done dozens of times. They train long hours; have tough coaches, high expectations and lots of pressure. You need to be mentally as well as physically strong to make it in this sport.

Rivkin has been training since age 6. Training for the Olympics means dedicating 8-10 hours a day to gymnastics. Rivkin is a firm believer in hard work in an interview she said that with hard work and dedication, the sky is the limit, you can achieve anything.

Her father passed away from cancer. He was his daughter's biggest supporter and according to Rivkin "There was no one closer to me that wanted me to succeed as much as him". This was a huge blow for the young athlete--a devastating personal trauma.

However she believes that he is watching over her.