One-Legged Woman Takes Inspirational Swim in the Israeli Snow

Image by Ilanit Yurman Facebook

By Lior Zaltzman February 4, 2016

It was a nice, cool day at Israel’s Mount Hermon, the country’s only ski resort. The slopes were open, the ski lifts running and many Israelis were taking the opportunity to try the alpine sport. And yet this Wednesday, some skiers were greeted by quite an uncommon sight: a one-legged woman in a bathing suit, goggles and swim cap “swimming” in the fresh white snow.

Forty-five-year-old Ilanit Yurman lost her leg to cancer when she was 9. When reporter Guy Varon asked why she was swimming in the snow, she answered “because I can!”

Ilanit, a bank worker by trade, is an accomplished triathlete and open water swimmer. She uses the WEST method, a therapeutic technique invented by Israeli professional swimmer, coach and therapist Ori Sela, to improve her swimming.

Ilanit and her fellow WEST swimmers went to try snow swimming, which is apparently, something a lot of passionate swimmers are into these days.

The group appears to be having a great time in this video:

אילנית חלתה בסרטן כשהייתה בת9 ורגלה נקטעה. על השאלה למה היא שוחה בבגד ים בשלג, בחרמון היא עונה – כי אני יכולה (!) pic.twitter.com/5vBPYcszhu

— Guy Varon (@guyvaron) February 4, 2016

Ilanit told the reporter that her next challenge is a 12-kilometer swim in the open sea, in preparation for a pretty big feat: swimming in the English Channel Relay.

“It’s important for me to be an inspiration to others so that people see that everything is possible and go for it.”

I don’t know about you, but we are definitely inspired.

[H/T Mako]

Lior Zaltzman was the Forward’s Digital Fellow. Follow her on twitter @liorca.

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