Hanna Knyazyeva-Minenko won the bronze medal in the triple jump at the European Indoor Championships. Photo: Augustas Didžgalvis via Wikimedia Commons.

JNS.org – Israel’s Hanna Knyazyeva-Minenko on Sunday became an Olympic contender after capturing the bronze medal in the triple jump at the European Indoor Championships in Prague.

In her first attempt in the Prague arena, Knyazyeva-Minenko jumped a distance of 14.49 meters (47.5 feet), setting a new Israeli indoor record. Her medal is the first for Israel at the European Indoor Championships since 2000.

Knyazyeva-Minenko noted the symbolism of her medal coming on International Women’s Day.

“We have amazing female athletes in Israel who will go on to reach places on the podium,” she said.

“As far as [my coach Alex Merman and I are] concerned, we look at every single jump in every single competition,” added Knyazyeva-Minenko. “Hard work will eventually lead to the results we want.”

A native of Ukraine, Knyazyeva-Minenko followed her partner, decathlete Anatoly Minenko, to Israel. At the 2012 London Olympics, competing for Ukraine, she placed fourth in the triple jump. She will be 26 years old when the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Summer Olympics arrive.