The giant pair – both are over 2m tall (six feet six) – are now striving to become the first Israeli duo to compete in the beach volleyball competition at the Olympics in Los Angeles in 2028.
The pair in action on the sand (FIVB)[Missing Credit]
“I wake up every single day knowing that my goal is to be part of the first-ever Israeli duo to represent Israel in beach volleyball at the Games,” said Elazar.
“I am pouring my entire heart and soul into this, and I’m ready to do whatever it takes to make it happen.”
For Cuzmiciov, getting to LA would fulfil a dream he has nurtured since he was a young boy.
“I have paid quite a heavy price in terms of my social life,” he told the JC.
“At 13, I moved to a sports boarding school (the Wingate Institute in Netanya), trained twice a day and also moved to a different city.
"Whenever I came back home, I was usually spending time with my family or recovering from training, so the connection with friends from home didn’t stay as strong.
“I think that from a very young age, especially after moving to Wingate, I understood that I wasn’t doing this just to waste time. I always wanted to aim high and dream big.”
He also feels the weight of expectation placed upon him by his family members and loved ones to succeed.
Cuzmiciov explained: “I think that because of how much pressure I put on my parents during games, they probably sit close to a defibrillator just in case of a heart attack!
"But jokes aside, they are incredibly supportive and proud of what they see. They always wake up to watch me play, even if it’s in the middle of the night, and it means a lot to know I have such a supportive family behind me.”
He also draws strength from his relationship with his playing partner, saying: “Kevin and I are an excellent match. We complement each other perfectly, both technically on the court and mentally.
"We spend a massive amount of time together, and while that’s not always easy, we truly manage to enjoy the journey.
"I am incredibly happy with this partnership, and I know that we will work harder than anyone else to achieve our goals.”
Kevin Cuzmicov (left) and Eylon Elazar are pumped up[Missing Credit]
Both players are also feel great pride in flying the flag for Israel.
“I grew up in Kibbutz Gazit – a beautiful, small place that’s quite far from the centre of Israel”, said Elazar.
“For the past eight years, I’ve been representing Israel around the world, so you could say I’ve gotten used to it.
"It’s not always easy; spending hours on flights with uncomfortable seats when you’re two metres tall is a challenge.
"But at a certain point, it just becomes part of your routine and part of the job.
"One thing is for sure: there is no better feeling than coming back home.”
Cuzmiciov says he actually enjoys the travelling involved with the job. “Honestly, I don’t really see my life as ‘missing out’. I actually think my life is pretty amazing,” he said.
"Not many kids my age get the chance to travel around the world and play in such beautiful places. That’s how I’ve always looked at it.”
He also wants more Israeli youngsters to follow his and his partner’s footsteps.
“I think the goal is for more kids to understand what a great sport this is, and for the sport to keep growing, with more players and more teams competing on the world tour,” he said.
Israel has plenty beautiful beaches but until now has yet to produce beach volleyball champions.
But in Kevin Cuzmiciov and Eylon Elazar – it finally has them.
