Israeli Bobsled Team Finds Victory in Olympic Spirit Despite Last-Place Finish
CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy – The Israeli bobsled team, competing in its first Olympic Games, embraced the spirit of the competition at the 2026 Milan Cortina Games, declaring themselves “victors” despite finishing in last place in the two-man event. The team of AJ Edelman and Menachem Chen completed their heats with a time nearly five seconds behind the leaders, but celebrated their participation as a historic achievement for Israeli winter sports.
A Historic First for Israel
Edelman, a Boston native who previously competed in skeleton at the 2018 PyeongChang Games, spearheaded the effort to form Israel’s first bobsled team. He gathered athletes from rugby and track and field backgrounds, overcoming significant challenges including a lack of full-time coaching and limited funding. The team even faced a robbery at their training base in Italy prior to the competition. NBC News reported on the team’s perseverance.
Embracing the Olympic Ideal
“We are victors,” Edelman stated after the race. “Not victims.” He emphasized that simply representing Israel on the Olympic stage was a significant accomplishment. “Just being here representing the country is something to be congratulated on,” he said. Edelman expressed hope that their participation would inspire others in Israel to pursue winter sports.
Controversy Surrounds Israeli Athlete
The team’s participation too occurred amidst heightened scrutiny due to the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Swiss sports commentator Stefan Reina sparked controversy during the live broadcast, referring to Edelman as “a Zionist to the core” and criticizing his social media posts supporting Israel’s military actions. Al Jazeera reported that Reina cited Edelman’s statements calling the military intervention “the most just and moral war in history.” Yahoo Sports noted that the broadcaster, RTS, removed the recording of the event from its website but defended its employee, stating the commentary was intended to question the IOC’s policies.
Looking Ahead
Edelman and the Israeli team are scheduled to compete in the four-man bobsled event on February 21st and 22nd. Edelman expressed his desire to pave the way for future Israeli bobsled teams, stating, “I want to be the first, but I don’t want to be the last.” The Star highlighted Edelman’s ambition to inspire future generations of Israeli athletes.
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