Andi Murez Carries Flag at Paris Olympics

For Andrea “Andi” Murez—a newly-minted Tel Aviv University (TAU) international medical school alumna and recipient of a TAU Sylvan Adams Olympic scholarship—being able to compete and carry Israel’s flag at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris has been one of the biggest honors of her life.

“I think what made it really obvious that this is such an honor was actually when we recently competed in the European championships and won the relay … to be on such a large stage like that at an international competition and be able to hear the Hatikvah and raise the Israeli flag … from that I have a lot of motivation”—Andi Murez.

“Just the messages I received at the time made it clear what an impact it can have, and how special it is in such a difficult time.”

Three-Time Olympian Finds Meaning in Family Legacy

Murez made aliyah from California in 2014 and is now representing Israel for a third time at the Olympics, participating in the mixed 4x100 meter medley relay. She was the first woman in Israel to qualify for the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics and also competed in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. 

This is the third time Murez is competing in the Olympic Games. Photo: Simone Castrovillari.

However, it is being able to compete at the Olympics in the country of her step-grandfather that is most meaningful: he is the only survivor in his family of Nazi-occupied France, and he later became a swimmer on the French national team. “My aunt messaged me the other day and reminded me that my step-grandfather is from France,” says Murez. “That adds a particularly special component to competing in Paris.” 

Credits TAU Sports Scholarship for Helping Career 

While Murez comes from a family of competitive swimmers, which also includes her other grandfather and her brother, she additionally credits the sports scholarships she received at Stanford University and then at TAU with helping to keep her afloat both in the water and financially.

“In medical school especially, it’s hard to be a student and have enough time … I was able to train instead of squeezing in a part-time job and having to think about how I would manage financially,” says Murez.

“Having a scholarship for athletics while at TAU was amazing, and I’m so happy that there’s an opportunity out there like this.” 

Since graduating in 2023, Murez has most recently been dedicating her time to swimming. In the fall, however, she will begin a medical residency in psychiatry at the Mayo Clinic in the United States. She plans to specialize in sports psychiatry and bring back everything she learns to Israel. “I want to bring it back and help bring more awareness here to mental health in sports,” she says. 

Murez is competing in the 4x100 meter medley relay and swimming the last leg. Photo: Simone Castrovillari.

As Murez begins to transition into this next phase of life, she looks back fondly on how swimming has help to shape who she has become:

“Looking back at the career I’ve had so far … moving to Israel, making aliyah, learning a new language, becoming a part of a new culture and then competing and meeting swimmers and athletes while traveling around the world … it has just been an amazing opportunity and I’m so thankful.”

Interested in how TAU can support you as an athlete and student? Learn more about our international sports scholarship.