Shawn Lipman
Date of birth | 25 September 1964 | ||
---|---|---|---|
Place of birth | Johannesburg | ||
Rugby union career | |||
Playing career | |||
Position | Flanker | ||
National team(s) | |||
Years | Club / team | Caps | (points) |
1988–91 | United States | 9 |
Medal record | ||
---|---|---|
Representing USA | ||
Rugby union | ||
Maccabiah Games | ||
1985 Maccabiah | Rugby union | |
1989 Maccabiah | Rugby union | |
1993 Maccabiah | Rugby union | |
1997 Maccabiah | Rugby union | |
2009 Maccabiah | Rugby union | |
2013 Maccabiah | Rugby union | |
2013 Maccabiah | Rugby union |
Shawn Lipman (born 25 September 1964) is an American/South African rugby union player.
He was inducted into the Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 2004,[1][2] with others such as Sandy Koufax, Mark Spitz, and Sean Green.
United States
Born on 25 September 1964, Johannesburg, Lipman was capped nine times for the United States in tests, including three 1991 Rugby World Cup games. Including non-test games, though, he has played over 20 International matches.
Lipman joined Wits University Rugby Club at Under 20 level in 1983, from Sandringham High School, where he was a first team player, having received full colours in Rugby. He represented Transvaal Under 20s whilst playing at Wits and also South Africa in the Maccabiah Games in 1985. Shawn represented the United States in the 1991 Rugby World Cup. He also represented the US national team in over 20 international matches, including 9 test matches. Lipman played against some of the best national teams and players in the world, including the New Zealand All Blacks, England and France.
Lipman had a very successful run in the Maccabiah Games, having captained the US team in 1993 and 1997, and represented the US in 1989 and South Africa in 1985. He was selected as MVP of the Maccabiah Games Rugby Event in 1989, 1993, and 1997. In the Maccabiah competition, he won gold in 1985; bronze in 1989; silver in 1993 and gold in 1997.[3] Shawn was elected as the Flag Bearer for the United States delegation in 1997.
Lipman toured South Africa in 1988 with the Pacific Coast Grizzlies, playing against the top provincial teams in South Africa, including Western Province, South African Defence, Eastern Transvaal, and with notable victories against Natal, Orange Free State and Boland.
Lipman was inducted into the USA's Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 2004[1][2] along with some of the best professional athletes in the United States, including Mark Spitz. He earned the MVP of the Year award at the Santa Monica Rugby Club eight times and in 2006 was also inducted into that club's Hall of Fame.
In 2009 Lipman came out of retirement at the age of 44 to represent the United States at the Maccabiah Games, winning a bronze medal. This culminated a 24-year career of playing at the Maccabiah Games, winning 2 Gold Medals, 1 SIlver, and 2 Bronze Medals.
In June 2011 he was inducted into his third Sports Hall of Fame. Along with Taylor Mays of the San Francisco 49ers and Doug Gottlieb of ESPN, he was inducted into the Southern California Jewish Sports Hall of Fame.
Maccabiah Games
- Captained the US Maccabiah Team at the 1997 and 1993 Maccabiah World Games, winning Gold 1997, Silver 1993.
- Represented the US Maccabiah Team at the 1989 Maccabiah World Games, winning Bronze and South Africa in 1985, winning Gold
- Selected Most Valuable Player of the Games in 1989, 1993 and 1997
- Flag Bearer for the United States delegation at the 1997 Maccabiah World Games
- Represented US Maccabiah Team at the 2009 Maccabiah World Games, winning Bronze
- Selected as Head Coach of the US Maccabiah Rugby Team for the 2013 World Games
- Coached the US team to a Gold Medal in Rugby Sevens
- Coached the US team to Bronze Medal in Rugby Fifteens
- Most medals won by an open athlete in team sports ever at the World Maccabiah Games
Honors and biography
- Named as one of Best 50 US internationals by a national sports publication
- Inducted into the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 2004, with others such as Sandy Koufax, Mark Spitz, and Shawn Green.
- Represented Transvaal Under 20 provincial representative side in South Africa
- Selected as MVP of the Santa Monica Rugby Club in seven seasons
- Represented US representative side at the Melrose Sevens, one of the premier tournaments in the world
- Represented the US all over the world against international sides, including ** Russia
On 26 June 2011, he was inducted into the Southern California Jewish Sports Hall of Fame.[4]
- Full Colors – Sandringham High School (1982)
- Rugby Scholarship – University of Witwatersrand (1983 to 1985)
- Most Improved Player – University of Witwatersrand (1983)
- University Half Blues – University of Witwatersrand (1984)
- Gold Medal – World Maccabiah Games (1985)
- Most Valuable Forward – Santa Monica Rugby Club (1988)
- Craig Sweeney Award (MVP) – Santa Monica Rugby Club (1989)
- Most Valuable Player – World Maccabiah Games (1989)
- Bronze Medal – World Maccabiah Games (1989)
- Most Valuable Forward – Tucson International Tournament (1990)
- Most Valuable Forward – Santa Monica Rugby Club (1991)
- Craig Sweeney Award (MVP) – Santa Monica Rugby Club (1991)
- Craig Sweeney Award (MVP) – Santa Monica Rugby Club (1992)
- Craig Sweeney Award (MVP) – Santa Monica Rugby Club (1993)
- Most Valuable Player – World Maccabiah Games (1993)
- Silver Medal – World Maccabiah Games (1993)
- Most Valuable Forward – Santa Monica Rugby Club (1995)
- Most Valuable Player – World Maccabiah Games (1997)
- Gold Medal – World Maccabiah Games (1997)
- Hall of Fame Inductee – National Jewish Sports (2004)
- Hall of Fame Inductee – Santa Monica Rugby Club (2006)
- Bronze Medal – World Maccabiah Games (2009)
- Hall of Fame Inductee- Southern Calif. Jewish Sports (2011)
Professional Career
Shawn is also an accomplished entrepreneur who has started and sold a diverse set of companies in the healthcare, real estate, entertainment, and eCommerce space. He currently serves as CEO of Feedonomics, a product feed platform. [5]
See also
References
- 1 2 Fine, Jeremy (8 September 2010). "Interview with Jewish Hall of Famer Shawn Lipman | The Great Rabbino". Jewish Journal. Retrieved 14 March 2011.
- 1 2 "Jewish Sports Hall of Fame". Jewishsports.org. 28 March 2004. Retrieved 14 March 2011.
- ↑ "A Family Reunion". Pqasb.com. Retrieved 14 March 2011.
- ↑ "Sports Shorts". Jewish Sports Review. July–August 2011.
- ↑ Lipman, Shawn. "Feedonomics Executive Team". Feedonomics. Retrieved 13 April 2016.