Elazar and Cuzmiciov on a mission to make history for Israeli sport

Eylon Elazar and Kevin Cuzmiciov are currently pursuing a very ambitious goal – and what is usually regarded as any athlete’s ultimate dream. Their objective is not only to represent Israel to the best of their ability on the international circuit, but to eventually do so at the Los Angeles Olympic Games in less than two years. Such an endeavour is supported, even with the provision of a psychologist and physio, by the Israel Olympic Committee as well as by the Israel Volleyball Association (IVA). The most important event of the year is, according to their own words, the CEV EuroBeachVolley 2026 currently taking place in Stare Jablonki. 

Eylon and Kevin are making their second straight EuroBeachVolley appearance after enjoying their premiere last year in Düsseldorf. “This championship is the main goal of the season – and this is where we are judged on our continued progress,” Elazar said after securing a spot in the knockout phase following a 2-0 victory over Portugal’s Pedrosa/Campos. “The National Olympic Committee and the Israel Volleyball Association have joined forces to support us as much as possible. The goal and dream is to compete at LA28, in front of the local crowd, including the large Jewish community based in Southern California,” Cuzmiciov adds. 

This ambitious, long-term programme started three years ago with the arrival of Italian coaching staff including Matteo Varnier. Even though the team is based primarily at Wingate Institute in Netanya, where as many as six state-of-the-art Beach Volleyball courts are now available, Eylon and Kevin spend most of their time abroad. “Apart from travelling from tournament to tournament, we also need to find opportunities to train and practice with elite teams, especially since we do not have any other duo of the same level back home in Israel. For this reason, we spend much of our time abroad, including in Spain, France, and even in the USA. We are grateful for the opportunities we are provided with – since it is only by playing against or training with some of the best teams in the world that we can become more and more competitive,” Elazar adds. 

Cheered on by a small, yet passionate group of family, friends, and other relatives who had travelled to Stare Jablonki, the Israelis admit that at times they face some constraints under the current, quite complicated geopolitical circumstances. “First and foremost, we are athletes wishing to represent our home country, Israel, as best as we can. I think most of the time we are well received and treated nicely by all the other teams and their coaching staff. Of course, there are some extra security provisions and arrangements – but as Israeli elite athletes we are accustomed to that,” Elazar continues. “We try to keep sport separated from politics – as it should be.” 

Israeli Volleyball is on the rise. The men’s national team reached the semis of this year’s European League, is due to compete at EuroVolley in a few weeks and the U22 national team claimed a historic bronze medal at the European Championship held in Portugal earlier this summer. “There is a core group with four strong players, who – even though they are still very young – have gained much experience from spending two seasons abroad in competitive national leagues such as those of Germany and France. These players have helped raise the overall level of the national team and it is certainly a good thing that they are performing so well. At the end of the day, we are one big family – Volleyball and Beach Volleyball – gathered under the umbrella of the Israel Volleyball Association. Their success is also our success and vice versa,” Elazar continues. 

The road to LA28 is still long but under the wise and experienced guidance of their coaching staff – and with the support of key stakeholders back home and even abroad in America – Eylon and Kevin are fully determined to make history for Israel when the next Olympics take place in Southern California.