Keren Leibovitch

Keren Or Leibovitch (also Keren Or Leybovitch; born July 25, 1973) is an Israeli Paralympic swimmer.

Leibovitch is a three-time world champion, a five-time European champion, a holder of three world records (for the 100-meter and 200-meter backstroke and the 100-meter freestyle), and a seven-time Paralympic medal winner.

Early life and injury Leibovitch, who is Jewish, was born in Hod HaSharon in Israel. She first swam at the age of two. Leibovitch is paralyzed from the waist down. After two major operations, she still had permanent back and leg injuries. She broke three world records along the way.

She was given the honor of lighting the ceremonial flame to open the 2001 Maccabiah Games at Teddy Stadium in Jerusalem.

She set a world record in 2002 in the 100-meter women’s freestyle, with a time of 1:08.90. She won three gold medals in the Israeli Swimming Championships for the Handicapped in 2003, and, set a world record for the 50-meter backstroke (37.78 seconds), also earning gold medals in the 50-meter and 100-meter freestyle events. By 2004, she was also the world record holder in the 100-meter freestyle.

In September 2004 she won a gold medal in the women's 100-meter backstroke (1:19.55) at the 2004 Paralympic Games in Athens. and the 50-meter freestyle) and a bronze medal (in the 200-meter individual medley). The world record holder in the event, she finished in 1:19.55, nearly five seconds faster than second place Dóra Pásztory of Hungary. The Games hosted competing athletes from 136 countries.

At the 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing, a year after giving birth to her first child, she narrowly missed winning her eighth Paralympic medal, coming in fourth in the 100-meter backstroke.