Pekerman Nina

About

Nina Pekerman is an internationally renowned Israeli athlete, born on September 28, 1977, in Chisinau, Republic of Moldova. She had a childhood marked by health challenges, being born premature and frail, but she found strength through sports from the age of nine. At 17, determined to write her own destiny and escape anti-Semitism in Moldova, she emigrated to Israel through the Jewish Agency's NAALE program. After mandatory military service in the Israel Defense Forces, where she worked as a fitness instructor for combat soldiers, Pekerman studied physical education for people with disabilities at the Wingate Institute. Nina Pekerman's athletic career spanned multiple disciplines, demonstrating remarkable versatility and perseverance. She was the Israeli national triathlon champion between 2004-2007 and again in 2009, winner of the Maccabiah Games in triathlon in 2005, and placed 25th at the 2003 Road Cycling World Championships, second tier. Upon transitioning to the Ironman distance in 2009, Pekerman found her peak, conquering multiple titles and international top placements, including second place in the 30-34 age group at the 2010 Ironman World Championship in Hawaii, 12th place at the 2011 European Championship, and first place at Israman Negev in 2014. Pekerman lives in Kfar Saba, Israel, and has dedicated her life not only to competitive sports but also to education. She coaches swimming for triathlons, practices hydrokinesiotherapy, and holds classes for baby aquatic activities. Her personal life has been marked by difficult moments, including the loss of her father in 2004 and her mother's cancer diagnosis, but she has always chosen to turn these challenges into motivation to continue. In 2023, at the age of 46, she became a mother through assisted reproductive techniques, fulfilling a long-held personal dream.