Yizhar Cohen (swimmer)

Yizhar Cohen (יזהר כהן, born August 12, 1962), also known as Izhar Cohen, is an Israeli paralympic swimmer.

Biography
Cohen was born in Kibbutz, Degania Alef. In 1985, he was blinded by a land mine while serving with the Israel Defense Forces.

Cohen works as a Shiatsu therapist and is married and father of two.

Swimming career
Following his loss of eyesight, he began practicing disabled sports in athletics and swimming. Since 1987, he has taken part in international competitions, including six Paralympic Games held between 1988 and 2008. Until 2004, he also took part in four world championships and eight European championships.

Cohen swims in breaststroke, butterfly, freestyle and backstroke. In 2008, he focused on freestyle swimming. At the 1987 European Championship in Moscow, he won four gold medals. In the 1988 Summer Paralympics, he won three gold medals and one silver. He won more medals at the 1992 Summer Paralympics (1 bronze) and the 1996 Summer Paralympics (1 silver).

At the 2008 Summer Paralympics, Cohen was the Israeli flag bearer.