Tragedy in Israeli sports. The coach of the Paralympic kayak team and former kayaker Barak Lufen was killed in a terrorist attack in Dizengoff, this was allowed to be published today (Friday). 35 years old at the time of his death, he is survived by his wife Dana and three children.
Lupine, who has been a partner in two Olympic teams in Beijing 2008 and London 2012, won a bronze medal at the 2006 European Championships in the 200m, and served as a partner of Sydney Olympic medalist Michael Kalganov. He later coached Paralympic rower Pascal Berkowitz and reached the 2016 Rio Paralympic finals with her.
Lufen, a native of Kibbutz Ginosar, won seventh place in the 500m at the European Championships alongside Kalganov and sixth place at the World Championships. In recent years, he has coached the Paralympic team and kayak coach at Hapoel Tel Aviv. He also coached the Israeli women’s team.
The Olympic Committee responded to Lufen’s move: “The late Barak Lufen, was an outstanding athlete in the kayak industry, a talented paddler and a member of Israel’s Olympic staff. Barak was killed by an injustice in a terrorist attack on Dizengoff Street. Lightning was the magic of man, man of the earth and sea, the salt of the earth. A person with a special personality, a smile that does not touch his lips and has endless giving. In recent years, Barak has concentrated on coaching and educating the next generation, and especially on coaching athletes and Paralympic rowing teams. He recently successfully completed the National Coaches Program – the most senior venture for coaches in Israeli sports – Podium. The Olympic family bows its head at the passing of an exemplary athlete, coach and person. ”
Minister of Culture and Sports Trooper Corps: ‘Great sadness with the news of the death of Barak Lufen who was killed in last night’s attack. Barak, was an Olympic athlete in the past and an outstanding Paralympic coach today. Barak was known as a professional and dedicated sportsman. Heartfelt condolences to his family. Of blessed memory”.
Wingate Institute response: “The Wingate Institute, the National Institute for Excellence in Sports, bows its head with the announcement of the identity of the third person killed in yesterday’s horrific attack in Tel Aviv, Barak Lufen. Barak, one of Israel’s best athletes and coaches The senior coaches’ program – “Podium”. Its instructors and course staff alongside the institute’s faculty stand in amazement and pain in his memory tonight. We extend our condolences to Barak’s family and lovers, with them Magini and Tomer Morad. “
Gili Lustig, CEO of the Olympic Committee who has known Barak for many years: “The Olympic Committee and the Achievement Sports Unit bow their heads with the bad news. We have known Barak since he was a young kayaker in the Jordan Valley. We marked him as the coach of the future. He just recently completed the podium course, our exclusive coaching course. He was so special, even in his appearance he was handsome, and he was beautiful inwardly and outwardly, the salt of the earth. Embracing his family and friends. It’s inconceivable, the heart is torn. “
The entire people of Israel share in the heavy grief of the family members of Barak Lufen, 14, who was killed in the third brutal attack in Dizengoff. A father of three from Givat Shmuel.
The heart is torn.
Of blessed memory. pic.twitter.com/KfIXW7eTXo– Naftali Bennett בנט (ftnaftalibennett) April 8, 2022