It’s no secret that collegiate athletes come from all different walks of life. Many student-athlete’s paths are filled with twists and turns before they finally end up competing for their school. For Arizona State triathlete Gal Rubanenko, her path to Tempe started halfway across the world.
The Israeli native is in the midst of her second year as a Sun Devil. While she is still new to Arizona, she is no stranger to racing in triathlons. Back in her hometown of Tel Aviv, Rubanenko began racing when she was nine years old.
After she watched her uncle compete in Ironman races, Rubanenko’s mom encouraged her to join the youth triathlon team in her city.