2004 Olympic Champion Yvonne Boenisch becomes national coach in Israel

German Olympic Champion Yvonne Boenisch will leave her hometown and club Potsdam and will become national coach in Israel. For Potsdam a sad milestone as Boenisch was not just the head coach of the club but also the face of the club.

"This is a huge challenge for me," says the 35-year-old. The importance of Judo is very high in Israel. Five of the nine Olympic medals of Israel ever came from judo. Boenisch just witnessed the U23 European Championships in Tel Aviv where also the training center of the Israeli Judo Association is based. Boenisch should prepare the women for the Olympic Games in 2020 in Tokyo.

Talent breeding was also her goal in Potsdam. Since 2009 the 2004 Olympic Champion has been working as a trainer. In 2012, she took over the post as head coach, and successful. With her team-mates Axel Kirchner and Mario Schendel, she formed the UJKC as one of the best training clubs. In the U18 age category, Potsdam is even the number one in Germany. The U14 girls recently won the German Youth Cup. Philipp Galandi won the European Cup in Malaga in November and finished third in the U23 European Championship.

Boenisch had to take a difficult decision leaving Potsdam. "A decisive point for me was the performance sports reform. The performance centre in Frankfurt (Oder) was recently closed and Potsdam would also be affected as a regional base." Boenisch said: “I have looked after many young people in recent years, we are a small family. The harmony in the coaching team is unique, it breeds the successes."

Boenisch moves to the training center Tel Aviv for two months, then she will get an apartment. She is looking forward to the better weather in the Mediterranean. "I am a sun-lover. Nine months a year are flip-flop time for me."