Aviad who is one of the prominent swimmers in Israel also participated and won two silver and one bronze medal in the last Maccabi Games in Staten Island. Aviad is now aiming for the Olympic Games in Athens.

The Hapoel Arad swimming team participated last week in a national swimming competition, the "Millenium Swim", that was held in Kiryat Bialik. Five hundred swimmers, from 25 different sports clubs in Israel competed in this event. Ten swimmers from Arad participated in this high level competition, significantly improving their personal records and almost all coming in the first three places in individual events for their age group. The Arad-team won three good medals all won by Aviad Pick.

Representing Arad were Dikla and Ayala Wand, Matan Vaknin, Yuri Kossov, Matheos Filio, Lital Kindel, Michal Ankori, Miro Fiborkat, Amir Ofer and Aviad Pick.

Fourteen years old Aviad Pick continues to win medals and improve his record time and is presently considered one of Israel's lead swimmers in his age group. Aviad won the gold medals in the 100-meter freestyle, 100-0meter butterfly and 50-meter freestyle, ending the last swim ahead of 50 other competitors. Aviad, with the coaching of Yaron Eilat who is also a former nation champion and resident of Arad, is constantly improving his achievements. Aviad dedicates his time and energy to swimming, which he sees as his professional future. "I am not afraid to say that today I am striving to participate in the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens. But until then, there is much work to be done", thus he summarizes his achievements.

His coach Yaron Eilati does not hide from Aviad the long and difficult road ahead. In a few weeks Aviad will attend an international competition in Germany which will be followed by the Israel Championship Games and the future certainly looks promising.

Shvat 5761 - February 2001