Abigail Klein Leichman
September 17, 2019, Updated September 18, 2019

Mark Malyar, 19, has never let cerebral palsy keep him down. Training in the pool at the Ilan Sport Center in Haifa, Malyar worked his way to the top.

Last week, he won a gold medal in the 400-meter freestyle swim at the World Para Swimming Allianz Championships in London, in the S7 disability class (limited use of legs). And he did it in 4:33, breaking the previous record of 4:39 set in 2013.

Allianz WOW Moment | Day 2 of London 2019

Magic moment! ????????'s Mark Malyar smashes the old record to clock in a phenomenal new world record time in the men's 400m freestyle S7. ???? | Presented by @Allianz

Posted by World Para Swimming on Tuesday, September 10, 2019

Malyar also won a silver medal in the competition, which attracted some 600 swimmers from approximately 60 countries. He’s been assured a spot in the Paralympic Games in Tokyo next summer.

Joining Malyar on Team Israel for swimming at the 2020 Paralympics will be Ami Dadaon, who won a silver and a bronze medal in the London championships, held September 9-15.

Israel’s team returned with four medals from the 2019 World Para Swimming Allianz Championships in London. Photo by Karen Isaacson/Israel Paralympic Committee

The 2019 World Para Swimming Allianz Championships originally were to take place in Malaysia. When that southeast Asian country announced it would not allow Israeli athletes to compete, officials relocated the competition to London.

Give it up for ???????????????????? #TeamIsrael's???????????????? latest WORLD CHAMPION, ????????Mark Malyar won the World Para Swimming Championships in London for his amazing 400 m freestyle swim. BTW he also set a new world record!

Posted by Follow Team Israel on Tuesday, September 10, 2019

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