Tamara Metal


Tamara Metal is an Israeli former Olympic high jumper and long jumper, and captain of the Israel women's national basketball team.

Early and personal life

Metal was born in Poland, immigrated to Israel at the age of two in 1935, and is Jewish. She married "Shumi" Shumacher, who organized the third through seventh Maccabiah Games.

Sports career

Her personal bests were 1.50 in the high jump, and 5.34 in the long jump.
In 1950, Metal was captain of the Israel women's national basketball team, and also competed in the high jump and the long jump.
Metal competed for Israel at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki at the age of 18. She was Israel's flag-bearer at the Games, and captained Israel's track and field team. In the Women's High Jump she came in 17th with a height of 1.40, and in the Women's Long Jump she came in 29th with a distance of 5.16.
She was chosen as torch bearer at the 1973 Maccabiah Games, but Metal recited the Vow of the Maccabiah Games instead because she was pregnant. In 1976, she was chosen by the International Olympic Committee to travel to Greece and participate in the lighting of the Olympic Torch which would be carried to Montreal, for the Olympic Games. After she stopped competing herself, she coached women's basketball.