Getting to Know: Shachar Tal – Ohio State Buckeyes
5/7/2008 12:00:00 AM | General, Men's Gymnastics
Travelling abroad is always an exhilarating adventure. But living in another country is whole different story. For Buckeye gymnast Shachar Tal, training and attending classes at The Ohio State University keeps him away from his native land Israel for more than nine months a year.
The sophomore recently sat down with OhioStateBuckeyes.com to talk about his experience in the U.S. and what he misses from home.
How does competing as an NCAA student-athlete compare to competing as a member of the Israeli Senior National Team?
“For me, the biggest difference is competing as a team. The pressure is different when you are competing as a team. Its fun and exciting competing as a team. In Israel, I only competed for myself in quiet gyms. I had never competed in front of a large crowd like the type at a NCAA championships where it’s crazy and loud.”
The U.S. Senior National Team holds only a few team practices because its members live in different cities around the country. How does Israel run its program?
“We practice a lot as a national team. We don’t have as many gymnasts to choose from in Israel like the U.S. does. Instead, we have only two gyms that athletes who are able to compete on the senior and international platform train at. We hold month-long training camps in Russia and Belarus.”
What was it like training while carrying out your mandatory military service?
“In high school, I thought continuing to train for gymnastics while serving in the Army was going to be easy because I wouldn’t have homework but I was wrong. The older guys warned me it wasn’t going to be easy but I didn’t listen. As it turns out, whatever skills you have going into the Army is all you’re going to have when you leave. There wasn’t time to work on new skills like I thought there would be.”
So, what do you miss?
“I miss the weather. In Israel, about eight months of the year is summer-like weather; whereas most of the year it’s cold in Ohio. Even in the spring, Ohioans say it’s warm but it’s still cold to me.”
On Israel …
“It’s a different country. I’ve been to many countries and it is just different. It’s so broad. The things we have and the complications just make it different.”
My Favs
Favorite dish: Hummus. The hummus made in the U.S. just isn’t the same.
Favorite holiday: Purim. It’s like Halloween here where everyone wears costumes.
Favorite vacation spot: The Red Sea. Eilat is the southernmost city in Israel and is a party city with lots of hotels and a nice beach.
