Israeli athlete who excelled in sprinting and long jumping, winning multiple national championships and setting records in the 1950s and 1960s.
Amitzur Shapira was a renowned Israeli sprinter and long jumper who made his mark in the athletic world, earning recognition as a prominent coach and educator. Tragically, his life was cut short in the 1972 Munich Massacre, where he was taken hostage and murdered by Palestinian terrorists along with 10 other members of the Israeli Olympic team.
Born on July 9, 1932, in Mandatory Palestine, Shapira grew up to become an accomplished athlete, exceling in sprinting and long jumping. He later dedicated his life to coaching and education, working at the Wingate Institute as a teacher and educator for many years.
During the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, Germany, Shapira served as the head coach for the Israeli track and field team. On September 5, 1972, he and 10 other members of the Israeli Olympic team were taken hostage by Arab terrorists. In a botched rescue attempt by Munich police and Bavarian border guards, two of the hostages were shot, and the remaining nine, including Shapira, were brutally murdered on the tarmac of Furstenfeldbruck airbase.
One of Shapira's protégés, Esther Shachamarov, went on to become an Israeli Olympic athlete in 1976, reaching the finals and making history as the first Israeli to do so. When she heard about her coach's tragic murder, she withdrew from the 1972 Olympics. Shapira's legacy extends beyond his own accomplishments, as his students and athletes continue to make their mark in the world of athletics.
Shapira was married and had four children. His grandson, Shahak Shapira, is a well-known German artist and comedian.
Amitzur Shapira was laid to rest in Kiryat Shaul Cemetery in Tel Aviv. His tragic death serves as a reminder of the senseless violence that occurred during the Munich Massacre, and his legacy continues to inspire future generations of athletes and coaches.
Amitzur Shapira's life was marked by his passion for athletics, his dedication to education, and his tragic demise in the Munich Massacre. Though his life was cut short, his legacy continues to inspire and motivate athletes and coaches around the world.
