Israel has previously clinched Olympic medals in judo, sailing, and gymnastics. Now, Michael Yakovlev, a recent immigrant from Russia, is poised to add track cycling to that list, after finishing 3rd in today's (Wednesday's) sprint.
One of the Israeli Olympic Committee's primary objectives for each Olympic Games is to secure a medal in a "new" sport—one in which Israel has yet to reach the podium. While Israel has already garnered six medals in Paris, they've all been in "traditional" sports such as judo, sailing, and artistic gymnastics.
However, 23-year-old track cyclist Michael Yakovlev, who immigrated from Russia two years ago, has a promising chance to write the first illustrious chapter for this sport in Israel.
Yakovlev's immigration was a quick– The Jewish athlete realized he couldn't pursue his Olympic dream as a Russian representative due to sanctions imposed on the country's athletes following the invasion of Ukraine.
Consequently, he opted for an 18-month cooling-off period, during which he abstained from competition entirely, to switch his allegiance to Israel. Remarkably, only 24 hours elapsed between his decision and his departure, leaving behind his entire life in his homeland to embark on a new chapter.
Yakovlev's choice to relocate to a country with no established track cycling tradition was significant.
Although a velodrome was inaugurated in Tel Aviv five years ago, established by Sylvan Adams, who also sponsors and mentors Yakovlev, the sport remains in its infancy in Israel.
Yakovlev is undeterred by this. Having already secured two bronze medals at the World and European Championships representing Russia, he declared in the same interview, "I'm viewed as a traitor by them; Israel is now my home." In January, he clinched a bronze medal for Israel in the European Championship sprint competition.
Yakovlev has observed that there's a young generation of cyclists in Israel that merely requires development, and he's unequivocal about his role in this. "I aim to help the country create its own legacy in this sport," he stated in the interview.
While his family, who immigrated after him, chose to settle in northern Israel, Yakovlev resides in Tel Aviv. Integration into Israeli society is a priority for him, and he's studying Hebrew with an online tutor twice weekly.
The cyclist has transitioned from one conflict zone to another, and while people occasionally jest about this, he shared that alongside his aversion to war ("I abhor the loss of life"), he's concerned for his family in the Carmiel area, which is frequently within missile range.
Yakovlev has familiarized himself with Israel's unofficial "Cycling Holiday," Yom Kippur, but admits he's still adjusting to local driving habits during his daily road training. "The driving here is erratic and fast. It's disconcerting when they overtake you so closely," he shared, adding that there's a positive side: "Many people now recognize and encourage me."
In today's race, Israeli cyclist Mikhail Yakovlev briefly set a new Olympic record in the men’s sprint at the 2024 Paris Olympics with a time of 9.152 seconds, finishing third overall and will now advance to the 1/32 finals, which will take place later this afternoon (Wednesday).
Yakovlev will participate in the keirin on Saturday (a race where cyclists follow a motorized pacer that gradually accelerates to 50 km/h for men and 45 km/h for women).
* Ynet and the Times of Israel contributed to this article.
