Natalia Austromov, age 22, champion amateur boxer. For the past six consecutive years, Natalia has won the Israeli Women's Boxing Championships and at last year's European Championships, won the silver medal, after only losing in the finals to the World Champion from Russia.

Natalia came to Israel in 1992 with her family from the FSU. In 2000, her parents were divorced and her father severed all contacts with his family, probably returning to Russia. As the eldest, she was forced to take on a parental role and assist in raising her five brothers and sisters. Although her mother holds a Masters degree in psychiatry from a Russian university, she was never able to obtain the necessary licenses to work in her field in Israel.

Natalia began boxing in 2001 while studying computer science and physics at her high school in Afula. Upon graduation, she enlisted into the IDF and was recognized as an "outstanding athlete" in the sport of boxing, thereby allowing her to continue training. At the same time, she registered at the Open University to begin her studies in Natural Sciences, majoring in Physics. Recently, on November 15, 2006, Natalia traveled to India to participate in the World Boxing Championships, where she hopes to represent Israel honorably and maybe even win a medal. The Jewish Agency for Israel provided Natalia with partial funding for her trip to the World Championships in India; the Partnership 2000 Afula/Gilboa region together with its partner communities from the SNEC purchased a training outfit, and an athletes' bag for the journey. We all wish her the best and keeping our fingers crossed!