Tamir Bloom
Encyclopedia
Dr. Tamir Bloom is an American epee fencer
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At the end of a busy 3rd year that cut into his training, Bloom took a break from medical school for the 1999–2000 academic year to focus on preparing for Sydney. But when a torn ACL
caused him to miss the World Championships (where he could have qualified), he postponed an operation, wore a brace, and attempted to qualify by accumulating enough points in international tournaments. In May 2000, he won the Western Hemisphere Zonal qualification tournament in Buenos Aires
, making the team in his final attempt to qualify for the Olympics.
At the 2000 Sydney Games, Bloom lost in the 2nd round of individual épée to Arnd Scmitt, the top-ranked épée fencer in the world. Bloom finished 29th.
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in his hometown of New York City. While a full-time student, he continued fencing, winning the individual épée U.S. national championship in both 1998 and 1999.
Bloom finished 20th in the team épée event at the 1997 World Championships,
He was unable to compete at the 1999 World Championships in Seoul
because of a torn anterior cruciate ligament
in his right knee which he suffered playing basketball in October 1999. Bloom made the trip to Seoul with the intention of competing and helping the US team secure a berth to the Olympics, but days before the event he was barred from competing by the chief of the US Fencing delegation. Since there was not enough time for an alternate to fly over and take his spot, the team's coach, 4-time Olympian Michael Marx
, took Bloom's spot; the American trio finished 15th, failing to earn the U.S. a berth in the team épée competition at the 2000 Olympics. Bloom missed a significant number of competitions while injured, but he accumulated enough World Cup points to qualify and ultimately win the 2000 Olympic Zonal Qualifier in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Bloom went on to become the only American men's epee fencer to qualify for the Sydney Olympic Games.
in 2001.
Fencing
Fencing, which is also known as modern fencing to distinguish it from historical fencing, is a family of combat sports using bladed weapons.Fencing is one of four sports which have been featured at every one of the modern Olympic Games...
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Olympics
At the 1996 Atlanta Games, Bloom placed 31st in individual epee. He was a member of the U.S. épée team that finished 8th, after being eliminated by Italy in the quarterfinals, 45-44.At the end of a busy 3rd year that cut into his training, Bloom took a break from medical school for the 1999–2000 academic year to focus on preparing for Sydney. But when a torn ACL
Anterior cruciate ligament
The anterior cruciate ligament is a cruciate ligament which is one of the four major ligaments of the human knee. In the quadruped stifle , based on its anatomical position, it is referred to as the cranial cruciate ligament.The ACL originates from deep within the notch of the distal femur...
caused him to miss the World Championships (where he could have qualified), he postponed an operation, wore a brace, and attempted to qualify by accumulating enough points in international tournaments. In May 2000, he won the Western Hemisphere Zonal qualification tournament in Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
, making the team in his final attempt to qualify for the Olympics.
At the 2000 Sydney Games, Bloom lost in the 2nd round of individual épée to Arnd Scmitt, the top-ranked épée fencer in the world. Bloom finished 29th.
Pan American Games
Bloom won silver medals in the individual and team foil events at the 1995 Pan American GamesPan American Games
The Pan-American or Pan American Games are a major event in the Americas featuring summer and formerly winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Pan American Games are the second largest multi-sport event after the Summer Olympics...
.
US Championships
Shortly after the 1996 Olympics, he began his studies at Mount Sinai School of MedicineMount Sinai School of Medicine
Mount Sinai School of Medicine is an American medical school in the borough of Manhattan in New York City, currently ranked among the top 20 medical schools in the United States. It was chartered by Mount Sinai Hospital in 1963....
in his hometown of New York City. While a full-time student, he continued fencing, winning the individual épée U.S. national championship in both 1998 and 1999.
World Championships
Bloom has competed at 4 World Championships, with his best individual result being a 31st place finish in 1994; he also was a member of the U.S. team épée which placed 17th.Bloom finished 20th in the team épée event at the 1997 World Championships,
He was unable to compete at the 1999 World Championships in Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
because of a torn anterior cruciate ligament
Anterior cruciate ligament
The anterior cruciate ligament is a cruciate ligament which is one of the four major ligaments of the human knee. In the quadruped stifle , based on its anatomical position, it is referred to as the cranial cruciate ligament.The ACL originates from deep within the notch of the distal femur...
in his right knee which he suffered playing basketball in October 1999. Bloom made the trip to Seoul with the intention of competing and helping the US team secure a berth to the Olympics, but days before the event he was barred from competing by the chief of the US Fencing delegation. Since there was not enough time for an alternate to fly over and take his spot, the team's coach, 4-time Olympian Michael Marx
Michael Marx
Michael Marx is an American foil and epee fencer and fencing master. He is the brother of Robert Marx, who has also represented the U.S. in multiple Olympic fencing events...
, took Bloom's spot; the American trio finished 15th, failing to earn the U.S. a berth in the team épée competition at the 2000 Olympics. Bloom missed a significant number of competitions while injured, but he accumulated enough World Cup points to qualify and ultimately win the 2000 Olympic Zonal Qualifier in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Bloom went on to become the only American men's epee fencer to qualify for the Sydney Olympic Games.
Hall of Fame
Bloom, who is Jewish, was inducted into the National Jewish Sports Hall of FameHall of Fame
A hall of fame, wall of fame, walk of fame, walk of stars or avenue of stars is a type of attraction established for any field of endeavor to honor individuals of noteworthy achievement in that field...
in 2001.
Miscellaneous
- Bloom and his family have dual U.S./Israeli citizenship.
- Bloom's first cousin, Gil Ofer, competed in the judoJudois a modern martial art and combat sport created in Japan in 1882 by Jigoro Kano. Its most prominent feature is its competitive element, where the object is to either throw or takedown one's opponent to the ground, immobilize or otherwise subdue one's opponent with a grappling maneuver, or force an...
competition for Israel at the Sydney Olympics. They had not seen each other in 10 years, but competed in the same building within 2 days of each other.
- Attended Millburn High SchoolMillburn High SchoolMillburn High School is a four-year public high school in Millburn, in Essex County, New Jersey, operating as part of the Millburn Township Public Schools. The school enrolls students from the town of Millburn, including its neighborhood of Short Hills...
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- Is left-handedLeft-handedLeft-handedness is the preference for the left hand over the right for everyday activities such as writing. In ancient times it was seen as a sign of the devil, and was abhorred in many cultures...
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- Bloom's father is artist Murray Bloom.