Uri Bergman

Who is Uri Bergman?

Uri Bergman is an Israeli paralympic swimming champion.

Bergman was born in 1953 in Kibbutz Givat Brenner and contracted polio as a young baby. In his youth he was active in the Kibbutz's water polo team, and later joining the Israel Sports Center for the Disabled. Throughout the years he won 12 medals at the Paralympic Games.

Bergman was certified as a swimming instructor, social worker and as a psychotherapist. He also completed a PhD in psychological rehabilitation and social work. Bergman was hired as coordinator for swimming and hydrotherapy at Wingate College and as a swimming coach at the Sports Center for the Disabled. He also coached Hapoel's water polo team and the Maccabiah's water polo teams in 1993. He was also head coach for Israeli swimmers attending the Paralympic Games, in some of which he was also a referee.

Bergman is active with the Israeli Paralympic Committee. In 2000 he was introduced into the International Swimming Hall of Fame.