One of the most remarkable stories to emerge from the Israeli delegation to the Paris 2024 Olympics is that of Mikaella Moshe: Israel's first female archer, who, just two years before the opening ceremony, was a rhythmic gymnast. In the French capital, she already set a new Israeli record and, more importantly, paved the way for other athletes looking to switch disciplines.
Two of those following in her footsteps are Michelle Munitz, 17, who recently became the reserve archer in the team category following the retirement of an Olympic archer, and Stefanie Kompanyets, 16. Munitz won a gold medal at the 2022 European Junior Championships in the ball apparatus but had to abandon her campaign for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics due to spinal issues.
Kompanyets also competed as a junior gymnast but felt she had reached her limit just before moving up to the senior level. Both athletes were encouraged by Racheli Faige-Weigorchik, head of the elite sports division, to explore other sports.
What makes the transition easier for gymnasts is their hypermobility, particularly in the elbows. Unlike the average person who struggles with the precise bending and extending movements required for archery, gymnasts naturally possess this ability.
"I had a back injury and decided to retire. I was completely at peace with the decision," said Munitz. "It’s a lifelong injury, and I had no other choice. They suggested various sports to me, but I wanted to follow Mikaella." Kompanyets added: "Racheli suggested taekwondo or archery. I didn’t want to do taekwondo because I didn't like the physical contact. Archery seemed more elegant." Munitz agreed, saying: "They offered me taekwondo too, but I don’t like being weighed. Archery felt more feminine."
Their first training session was, in a word, nerve-wracking. "I was scared of the social aspect and worried I wouldn't succeed," admitted Munitz, who is seen as having great potential in the sport. "When I arrived, everyone was staring at me. It was a bit weird," Kompanyets recalled. "The coach spoke to my mom, and then I shot my first arrow. Suddenly, it wasn’t intimidating anymore – it was interesting."
Moshe chuckled as she reflected on seeing her former teammates join her sport. "It was nice to see Michelle because we trained together for years. Both of them felt they didn’t achieve their dreams in gymnastics and are now trying to find a new path."
The shift in the environment has been significant. Gone are the leotards and barefoot routines; now, they walk across fields in sturdy shoes. "It’s more comfortable. The atmosphere is different, and the air feels freer. In gymnastics, it was like there wasn’t enough oxygen," Munitz joked. "But there are insects here. I got bitten by mosquitoes!" Kompanyets added with a laugh, "My leg turned red!"
The relaxed dress code is another welcome change. "No more bald spots from the tight buns," Munitz said. "But I can’t have long nails – I need to hold the bowstring." Kompanyets finds the technical side of archery challenging. "Assembling the bow looks complicated. I see the athletes screwing it together every time. I need to remember the steps because, eventually, I'll have to do it on my own."
The language barrier also adds a new challenge. In rhythmic gymnastics, conversations were primarily in Russian, while archery training is conducted in Hebrew and English under British coach Richard Priestman, a two-time Olympic bronze medalist. "I don’t speak much English, but the coach says I’ve improved," Munitz said. "I didn’t attend school much as a gymnast, but now I do. Hopefully, this will help me with my language skills." Kompanyets, who relies on translations, quipped: "Instructions? Rules? All I know is you have to hit the yellow circle."
The Israeli sports community is excited by the concept of talent transfers, and a special event, Talent Transfer, will be held at Wingate Institute on Friday. Its goal is to identify athletes with exceptional abilities and guide them toward disciplines where they have a higher chance of achieving global success, including those who retired from their original sport but still have untapped potential.
Munitz and Kompanyets, both high school juniors who jokingly claim they already aced their physical education matriculation exam, are eager to stay in the world of elite competition. Despite the transition, their passion for professional sports remains strong.
"My dad had a hard time with my retirement, but my mom accepted it better," Munitz revealed. "Eventually, he came around. My whole family supports me, including my sister Daniella (the reigning European Clubs Champion). We always dreamed of competing together in the Olympics, and it still might happen."
Both athletes recount their first rainy-day training session with excitement. "It was on my first day here," Kompanyets recalled. "I kept shooting even though they told me I could stop. I had an umbrella, and everything around me was soaked. The target looked like a wet newspaper. I felt like a heroine in a movie."
Still, leaving gymnastics wasn't easy. "I gave it everything I had. I thought it would be hard to let go, but life goes on," Kompanyets reflected. Munitz shared a similar sentiment. "I had been thinking about retiring for a while. Ultimately, I made the decision, and it turned out to be the right one. It was tough, especially since my friends and sister are still there. But when I said goodbye, I knew I didn’t want to be a regular high school student – I wanted something more," she said.
"The decision to retire was difficult. I had been a gymnast since I was three," Moshe added. "I was 19 when I realized it wasn’t going to happen." Munitz, looking ahead, remains optimistic: "It was sad that I didn’t achieve my dream in gymnastics, but I left with something valuable. I was a European champion, and now I’m here, aiming to fulfill my Olympic dream."
