In The Nest: From Israel To Ohio With Inbar Mark
Medical Mutual
2/13/2023
A senior from Meitar, Israel, Inbar Mark has been a strong piece for BGSU's swimming and diving program and has logged a personal best each year at the MAC Championships.
Q: As a team, you all went to Miami, Florida for a training trip over Winter Break. How was that? What was your favorite part of the trip?
Mark: It was an incredible experience, and it had such a good impact on the team. We were able to improve in our sport, but also have a good time to focus on the technical side and to focus on our big competitions coming up. It was also good for the culture of the team because we were able to spend time together in a new environment. My favorite part of the trip was being together as a team for the new year. We had a team activity and started the year together sitting around the pool and then the next morning went and saw the sunrise on the beach.
Q: Each season you have been able to set personal bests at MAC Championships, what has allowed you to do that?
Mark: During the season I work hard to build my fitness and put myself in a position to do my best at the end of the season in our biggest competitions. Of course, as an athlete you always want to succeed and improve every competition, but it is important to have the ability to really “turn it on” and perform when it matters the most.
Q: When did you start swimming and how did you know you wanted to compete at an elite level?
Mark: I started swimming when I was young, maybe four years old. My mom was a swimmer too, but I had started because I really enjoyed being in the water and the pool felt like a safe place for me. In the beginning, swim was just swim and eventually I felt that I wanted to compete and had the opportunities to do so in Israel. One reason I started to compete was to be able to challenge and push myself.
Q: Who inspired or encouraged you the most athletically growing up?
Mark: My parents. They were always my biggest supporters and they pushed me to achieve my goals and were always on my side and loved me no matter what happened. During my career I had some really good coaches who inspired, challenged, and supported me in addition to my family and friends who were always there.
Q: You are from Meitar, Israel. How did you end up in Ohio?
Mark: I was looking for a school to continue my studies and swimming and BG seemed like a really good option. Nobody told me it was going to be this cold and windy though!
Q: What made you decide to attend BGSU?
Mark: I wanted to continue to swim in college and was looking for a way to study and swim together. I looked around the country for the best place for me to further my studies and swimming and I had a conversation with Coach Perkins and some of the girls on the team and knew that BG was the school I wanted to come to. I am really happy I made the decision to follow my gut and come to BGSU.
Q: What was your biggest change coming to the US from Israel?
Mark: The biggest change for me was the crazy changes in the weather. Back home the weather does not change much, but here in BG I feel like there are days where we have all four seasons in less than one hour.
Q: You won gold, silver and bronze medals at the Israel Championships in 2016. What did that mean for you?
Mark: At the time I felt like all the work I had put it came together and I accomplished one of the goals I had set as a young swimmer. I was ready to take on new goals in my career after this and it is one of the best memories of swimming I have.
Q: What is your go-to meal?
Mark: One of my favorite things to eat (when I am back home) is shawarma. When I am at BG my favorite thing to eat is Campus Pollyeyes.
Q: Where is your favorite spot on campus and why?
Mark: My favorite spot on campus is the pool. I feel like it is a really good facility and I enjoy being there.
Q: What is your major and how did you come to decide on it?
Mark: My major is health science. I chose my major because I wanted to work in health care and to work with kids. I felt like this is the perfect field to combine working with others and healthcare made it possible for me to have many options for my career in the future.
Q: What are some of your future career goals after graduation?
Mark: I want to continue to study and am looking toward a degree in Physical Therapy. I would really like to work with kids.
Q: Describe Coach Perkins in one word…
Mark: Caring.
Q: What is your favorite thing about being a part of the BGSU Swim and Dive program?
Mark: The opportunity to have been a college athlete and to create friendships and memories with my teammates. We all have the same goals to do the best we can and it is great to be surrounded by others who can push us to do better.
Q: Through your four years at Bowling Green, what has been your favorite moment as a Falcon?
Mark: If I had to choose just one moment it would be competing in MAC at our home pool and having my friends supporting me and the rest of the team in the stands
