Competing in the Olympics is not only about winning for yourself. Your country’s name is one, and when you are Amit Elor, it’s more complicated than just that. Although Elor was born an American, she has Israeli roots, which only doubles the pressure on her. Despite having the added pressure of not only performing for her country but also her heritage, she has managed to be one of the top contenders when it comes to wrestling.

Behind the athlete that the USA has hopes for during the 2024 Paris Olympics is a team of her family, partner, and coaches who have helped her reach here. So as Elor gets ready to prove herself this year, let’s take a look at all the people behind her success in the women’s freestyle 68 kg event.

Who are Amit Elor’s Israeli father and mother?

Amit Elor’s family background is pretty fascinating. Her parents, Elana and Yair Elor, are both from Ashkelon, a city in southern Israel. Yair, who has since passed away, and Elana moved to the U.S. in the 1980s for educational purposes. Despite living in the States, they kept their Israeli roots strong. Her mother, Elana, still speaks fluent Hebrew and keeps up with Israeli news as the family stays close to tradition.

Although she doesn’t practice Hebrew as much now, she took a Hebrew class to improve her reading and writing skills. Although she was born an American, she often visits Israel, where she spends time training with local wrestling clubs when she is not spending time with her family.

An unfortunate fact about Elor is that both of her grandfathers were Holocaust survivors. While talking about her family’s difficult past, she explained that her grandfathers “had blond hair and blue eyes, which we believed helped them survive the Holocaust by looking more like the German stereotype,” which helped them survive it. However, that is in the past now, and Elor is made for great things.

Meet Amit Elor’s boyfriend, Micael Ferreira Galvão

Amit Elor got lucky as she found another athlete to call her partner. Mica Galvão, her boyfriend, was born on October 8, 2003, in Manaus, Brazil. He is known around the circuits as the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu prodigy, as he achieved his black belt at just 17, making him the youngest to do so in the world. In 2020, Mica won the Abu Dhabi World Pro championship in the 77 kg brown belt division and secured second place at the EUG tournament.

Galvão’s early start in Jiu Jitsu came when he was only 2 years old, and he entered a professional tournament by age 4. By the age of 10, he was also practicing Luta Livre, adding to his diverse skill set. His achievements in Jiu Jitsu include first-place finishes in several prestigious events: the CBJJ Brazilian Nationals Juvenile (2015), the IBJJF World Championship Juvenile (2019), and multiple AJP Grand Slam titles (2020–2021).

Elor and Ferreira are often found posting videos and pictures of themselves on Instagram, doing challenges, and showcasing their athletic personalities. Her boy, Ferrarira, has been extremely supportive of her career and has pushed her to be the Olympian she is today.

Who are Amit Elor’s coaches? Meet the USA wrestler’s team

Amit Elor’s coaching squad is like a dream team of wrestling experts who have helped her reach the stage she is competing at today. First up is Jessica Medina, the US National Women’s Developmental Coach. Jessica has been with Amit through thick and thin, from multiple training camps to international tournaments. When Amit had that rough patch with a broken arm in Russia, Jessica was there with her upbeat personality to lift Amit’s spirits and keep her motivated.

Another crucial figure is Andrew Barth, founder of the Titan Mercury Wrestling Club. Thanks to Andrew, Amit’s had access to top-notch coaching, training camps, and competitions that have really helped her grow. Roberto Gonzalez is another key player in Amit’s corner. He’s the one who fine-tuned her cradle technique and made conditioning circuits both challenging and fun. Plus, John Welch, who first introduced wrestling to Amit’s family through her brother, made the sport enjoyable and accessible.

There is also Elena Pirozhkova, a world champion and two-time Olympian who now heads the wrestling program at New Jersey City University. Pirozhkova is the mentor that Elor has needed, as she shared her experiences, helping the young wrestler avoid mistakes in her career. All of these people are why Amit Elor stands as Team USA’s promising star. With her head in the game, she is set to achieve great things, and we wish her the best of luck for her performance this year.

Do you think Amit Elor will bring home the gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.