New Zealand sailor Jo Aleh inducted into Jewish Sport Hall of Fame
New Zealand Olympic sailing champion Joanna (Jo) Aleh has been inducted in the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame.Aleh became a double-gold medallist (with Olivia Powrie) in the women’s 420 Class event at the 2012 and 2016 Rio Olympics, and at the 2007 and 2013 world championships.
Jo Aleh
Together they have won five World Championship medals in the women’s 420 class including a silver at the 2016 World Championships in February 2016 in Argentina.
Aleh’s father is Israeli and her British-born mother is a former member of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).
Growing up in west Auckland, Aleh convinced her non-sailing parents that she wanted to take up the sport after watching Team New Zealand win the America’s Cup. She represents the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron.
At age 22, Aleh was ranked #1 in the world in March 2008 in Women’s Laser Radial class (singles), and #1 in Women’s 470 class in 2013.
Jo Aleh in action Photo: Facebook
International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame co-chairmen Alan Sherman of Potomac, Maryland and R. Stephen Rubin of London announced election results.
Regarding the recent announcement Aleh says: “I am very honored to be included into the Jewish Sports Hall of Fame and I hope too that I have even more to give in my sporting career.
“I have had an awesome 12 years of Olympic campaigning, not all easy of course, but that is all part of the journey. I am proud to have represented New Zealand for all this time, also the Jewish community,” says Aleh.
The formal inductions are to be held July 4, 2017 at the Hall of Fame Museum located on the Wingate Institute campus in Netanya, Israel.
The purpose of the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame (IJSHOF) is to honour Jewish men and women, worldwide who have accomplished extraordinary achievements in sports and to honor those who have made significant contributions to society through sports.
