Philadelphia, PA, September 7 – Sloane Milstein, Open Equestrian Chair for the 19th Maccabiah USA Organizing Committee, is pleased to announce the appointment of Olympian Neal Shapiro as the Coach for Equestrian Show Jumping at the 19th World Maccabiah Games. The Games will take place in Israel in July 2013 and the Equestrian Team will be part of the 1000+ member Team USA, the largest traveling USA Team to compete in ANY international athletic competition.
Shapiro, of Robbinsville, NJ, was a double medal winner at the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich, Germany, with team silver and individual bronze medals. He has also twice won the Grand Prix of Aachen, the world’s most prestigious Show Jumping competition. Shapiro was inducted into the Show Jumping Hall of Fame in 2010.
“I have always wanted to visit Israel and contacted Sloane as soon as I learned about the [Maccabiah] Games from an article in the New York Times as it seemed like a great way to explore the country,” said Shapiro. “It is an international, Olympic-sanctioned competition, so my expectations are to help build an elite equestrian team for the USA who will compete to the best of their abilities as well as to experience their heritage and the culture of Israel.”
He is a consummate horseman with a fascinating breadth of experience and astonishing humility. Shapiro has also spent 20 years cultivating a career as a harness racing trainer, and in his spare time, he is a pilot and accomplished organist. He and his wife, Elisa, run Hayfever Farm in Robbinsville, NJ, where they train and teach hunters, jumpers and equitation.
“We are honored and excited to have him as part of our team,” said Sloane Milstein. “With his experience as an international competitor, coach and administrator, we can be assured that our team will have a positive experience in Israel. Neal is as interested in helping to build a solid equestrian team for Maccabi USA as he is in participating in the Maccabiah Games.
The selection of riders for both show jumping and dressage has been extended to November 15, 2012. Anyone interested in participating must fill out an application at maccabiusa.com. Upon completion of the general application, equestrian specific selection requirements will be sent. For additional information please contact Sloane Milstein at sloanemilstein@yahoo.com.
About the organization:
Maccabi USA (MUSA) is a federally-recognized not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization with an extensive history of enriching Jewish lives through athletic, cultural and educational programs. The organization is the official sponsor of the United States Team to the World Maccabiah Games, the Pan American Maccabi Games and the Maccabi competitions in Europe and Australia, as well as a sponsor of the JCC Maccabi Games for teens in North America. As the official Maccabi representative in the U.S., Maccabi USA supports Jewish athletic endeavors, enhanced by cultural and educational activities in the United States, Israel and throughout the Diaspora.
MUSA develops, promotes and supports international, national and regional athletic-based activities and facilities. It strives to provide Jewish athletes the world over the opportunity to share their heritage and customs in competitive athletic settings. MUSA supports programs that embody the Maccabi ideals of Jewish Continuity, Zionism and Excellence in Sport. Maccabi USA Builds Jewish Pride Through Sports.