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Atlanta, GA | Posted: May 5, 2017
lance.wallace@comm.gatech.edu
Summary Sentence:
Swimming, academics draw Solal from Israel to Georgia Tech
Full Summary:
Solal earned his degree in biology and swam for the Yellow Jackets, combining two passions and making it worth the trip from Israel.
Georgia Tech 2017 Graduate: Dan Cohen Solal
Dan Cohen Solal The journeys students take to get to Georgia Tech are as unique and varied as the students themselves. Dan Cohen Solal’s journey began in Israel, and when he arrived on campus, he was able to pursue his dual dreams of intercollegiate swimming and a degree in biology.
The son of doctors, Solal wanted the unique combination Georgia Tech could offer him: swim competitively and earn an undergraduate degree that would serve him well in pursuit of a career in medicine. He chose Georgia Tech not only for its swimming team but also for its academic reputation.
“Since I was a kid, my dream was to come to America to study and swim,” Solal said.
But first, he had to complete three years of mandatory service in the Israeli military. The life lessons and maturity he learned in Israel’s navy have served him well in competing against the best in the NCAA and tackling a rigorous curriculum.
“School is very tough here. You’ve got to keep fighting to finish your projects, take your tests,” he said. “Believe in yourself and you can achieve whatever you want.”
A free-style swimmer, Solal leaves Tech with the fourth best time in school history in the 400- and 800-meter relay.
