As summer hits its peak, the idea of dodging daily obligations and heading to the beach for a few hours can be extremely appealing. But for Eylon Elazar and Kevin Cuzmiciov, the beach doesn’t represent an escape from responsibility — it is where it begins.

As Israel’s most successful beach volleyball pair, they carry with them not only their own ambitions but the hopes of a sport still searching for its defining moment in the Holy Land.

Since beach volleyball was introduced at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games, Israel has never sent a team; with only 24 pairs in the competition, only the best of the best walk on that Olympic sand.

So Elazar knows what’s at stake as the team tries to make the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.

“I wake up every single day knowing that my goal is to be part of the first-ever Israeli duo to represent Israel in beach volleyball at the Games,” says the 25-year-old.

The Israeli Olympic Committee’s sports director, Yaniv Askenazi, appreciates the significance of this duo.

“They are a good team and have a good support staff, so the pieces are there,” he tells The Times of Israel. “Given their progress in recent times, we’re optimistic that they will make it to LA, but also realistic that there’s a long way to go. Should they make it, it will be wonderful for the whole sport, and they will bring a great energy to the delegation.”

At the start of 2025, with their ranking close to 100, this was a pipe dream for the Israelis. But somewhere during their crisscross of the globe, something clicked. Maybe it was experience, chemistry or confidence. Most likely it was all three, and winning became a habit as they stood on the podium in India and Mexico,........

© The Times of Israel