Rower Moran Samuel has become the first Israeli to win a medal in the current Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, coming in third in the 1,000-meter female single sculls race final with a time of 5:17.46 minutes. Samuel won the bronze medal in a close finish against Lily Wong from China, who crossed the finish line in 5:16.65 minutes and won the silver medal. The gold medal went to Rachel Morris from the United Kingdom, who crossed the finish line after 5:13.69 minutes. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called Samuel to congratulate her, saying that her medal is "an extraordinary achievement. We are proud of you. You and your friends in the delegation represent the Israeli spirit, and you are truly a heroine." President Reuven Rivlin also praised Samuel, saying, "When there is ability, there is nothing that can stand in the way of will. You brought us great honor and represented the State of Israel in the best manner possible. Congratulations, you are a champion!" Culture and Sports Minister Miri Regev also praised the athlete, and said Samuel is "a role model, the pride of women and Israeli sports." Samuel, who is paralyzed from the waist down, was initially disappointed at winning the bronze, as she has in the past won gold in a race of the same distance. Soon afterward, however, her mood changed. "I have my son, Arad [meaning bronze in Hebrew], at home, and now I also have a bronze medal," she said happily. "I think I began very well. The conditions weren't to my advantage; I am injured. This is no excuse, but my hand was so worn out I couldn't use it. At the end of the day, it's a great pleasure, and to my family at home, I love you!" Samuel said her performance was compromised because of a strong wind that hit her in the last 250 meters. "I had hoped for a race with no wind, but you can't ask for that type of thing in rowing. The end result makes me happy, because you can also finish with no medals at all," she said. Samuel, who stood at the podium with her partner, Limor, and their son in tow, said an Olympic medal is a "very sweet" thing. "I wanted to play the national anthem for everyone at home," she said. "I gave all that I could, I gave it my all on the water but there were those who were better than me. That stung my heart, but I'm happy. We came a long way, and it's fun to finish with a medal." Samuel also thanked the 100 Israelis who came to support her. "I felt them pushing me forward," she said. The Samuel family celebrated with relatives, friends and neighbors, who were all excited by Samuel's accomplishment. "Congratulations are coming from all around," said Samuel's sister, Meirav. "A bronze medal is a huge achievement for her, for the delegation, and for the country. We are proud of her, and when she comes back to the country we will celebrate with her." Samuel began her sports career as a basketball player, representing the Israeli national team and the northern Israeli city of Karmiel in Europe. She fulfilled her military service as an outstanding athlete. After suffering a spinal stroke in 2006, Samuel became paralyzed from the waist down. She wanted to continue playing basketball on a wheelchair, but it became her secondary sport after she began rowing. Samuel represented Israel in the Paralympics in London four years ago, where she finished in fifth place. In 2014, she finished second in the World Rowing Championships, and in 2015 she won the gold in both the World Rowing Cup and the World Rowing Championships.
