Noga Nir-Kistler

Noga Nir-Kistler (May 18, 1979 – December 14, 2021) was an Israeli-born American Paralympic swimmer and table tennis player who won a Pennsylvania State Championship in table tennis in competition against able-bodied former champions, participated in table tennis in the 2008 Beijing Paralympics, and won a bronze medal representing the United States in the 2012 London Paralympics in the 200-meter breaststroke. In December 2003, she won a title at the U.S. Open National Championships at the United States Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

In December 2006, she won a gold and silver at the U.S. Open Table Tennis Championship in Las Vegas.

Nir-Kistler won two silver medals at the 2007 Parapan American Games in Rio de Janeiro in both table tennis singles and doubles.

In 2008, she was ranked the top U.S. female paralympic table tennis player, and eighth in the world among those with Class 5 (least) handicapped players.

2004 Paralympics She was chosen as a U.S. team member for the 2004 Summer Paralympics in table tennis. Due to a downturn in her health, however, she did not travel with the team to participate in the games. She had several coaches and training partners attributed to the team's success, including Jason Brader, owner of the well-known FASST Performance Center in the Lehigh Valley, John Larson, Head Coach of the Emmaus Aquatic Club (EMAC), and George Frick, owner of A&H Sporting Goods, who often acted as a sponsor.

At the 2013 World Championships in Montreal, she won a silver medal in both the 100-meter breast stroke and freestyle, and bronze medals in the 50-meter butterfly and 4x50 medley relay.

Death She died on December 14, 2021, at age 42.