Jonatan Kopelev
Personal information
NicknameJohnny[1]
NationalityIsraeli
Born (1991-10-01) 1 October 1991 (age 32)
Height1.92 m (6 ft 4 in)
Sport
SportSwimming
StrokesBackstroke
ClubMaccabi Haifa

Jonatan Kopelev (or Yehonatan, Hebrew: יהונתן קופלב; born 1 October 1991) is an Israeli swimmer. He competes in 100 m backstroke, 200 m backstroke, and 50 m backstroke. He won a gold medal in the 50 m backstroke at the 2012 European Aquatics Championships.

Early and personal life

Kopelev began swimming at age seven, at the Maccabi Haifa Carmel club.[1] He and his wife Monada live in Haifa, Israel.[1]

Swimming career

His club is Maccabi Haifa.[2] Kopelev competes in 100 m backstroke, 200 m backstroke, and 50 m backstroke.[3]

Kopelev won a gold medal in the 50 metre backstroke at the 2012 European Aquatics Championships in Debrecen, Hungary.[1] In doing so he became the first Israeli swimmer to win a gold medal at the European championships.[1] He qualified for the 2012 Olympics, swimming a 54.38 in the 100 m backstroke in a competition in Slovenia in June 2012, but was unable to compete in the Games due to an appendectomy.[4][5]

Kopelev came in eighth in the men’s 50 m backstroke at the 2013 World Aquatics Championships, with a lifetime best of 24.73.[6]

In July 2016 he posted the fastest time in 2016 for the men’s 50 m backstroke with a time of 24.60, also setting a new Israeli record.[7]

In December 2018 Kopelev came in second in the 50 S backstroke in the Israel International Arena Winter Championship with a time of 24.25.[2]

Kopelev competed for Israel at the 2019 World Aquatics Championships.[8]

See also

References

External links