Moran Samuel

Moran Samuel was born in 1982 in Karmiel

Moran Samuel was born in 1982 and grew up in Karmiel, the daughter of Yehudit and Avraham Samuel. She began playing basketball in her hometown with the Nirosoft Karmiel team. She later played on the Israel women's national basketball team.

In 2006 a congenital blood vessel defect in her spine left her paralyzed in her lower body. After rehabilitation she earned a bachelor's degree in physical therapy and a master's degree in early childhood education, both from the University of Haifa. She works as a pediatric physical therapist.

She helped rebuild Israel's women's wheelchair basketball team and reached the 2011 European championship with it. She also played for Beit HaLohem Tel Aviv as the only woman on a men's team. In 2013 she captained Israel at the European championship and was named to the All Star Team.

She began rowing in 2010 and finished fifth at the 2012 London Paralympics. She became world champion in 2015, won bronze at the 2016 Rio Paralympics and silver at the Tokyo Paralympics. At the 2024 Paris Paralympics she won gold.

She lit a torch at the 2019 Independence Day ceremony. In 2025 she took part in the fourth season of Dancing with the Stars. She and her wife have 2 children.