Touching the Sky – Sports Under Fire

In July 2014, amidst the intense rocket fire of "Operation Protective Edge," the 78th Israel Athletics Championships were held at the Hadar Yosef Stadium in Tel Aviv. This photograph captures athlete Hanna Knyazyeva-Minenko in a moment of peak focus and explosive power during the Triple Jump final. In this competition, Minenko recorded a result of 14.23 meters, earning her the gold medal and the title of Israeli Champion. The image highlights the sharp contrast between athletic precision and the volatile security reality of the time: while the stands remained largely empty as spectators stayed away due to the threat of missile attacks and Home Front Command restrictions, Israeli athletics continued to demonstrate resilience and excellence on the field. The photograph was featured in the "Local Testimony" (Edout Mekomit) photojournalism exhibition in the Sports category, serving as a poignant visual record of the Israeli story during the summer of 2014 – sports under fire.