Amid the Gaza War, Israeli Athletes Face Discrimination, but Triumph Overseas

Israeli fans (AP Photo/Matt Dunham) AP Photo/Matt Dunham

Despite all that is going on in the world, our athletes put their emotions to the side and compete at the highest level. We couldn’t be prouder of them.

By David Wiseman, The Algemeiner

Since October 7, sports have been put on the back burner in Israel. But as Israel fights to defeat Hamas in Gaza, some of the country’s athletes are returning to competition, especially as qualification tournaments get underway for the Paris Olympics. In 2021, Israel had its best-ever Olympic Games, winning a record four medals — two of which were gold — in Tokyo.

In recent days, the 2024 Israeli team has grown, with IQFoilers (windsurfers) Sharon Kantor and Tom Reuveney securing their Olympics spots at the recent World Championships; Kantor won the women’s event, and Reuveney finished eighth. This is a very special event in Israel’s sporting history, as three of its 13 Olympic medals (including its first-ever gold) came in this event.

Elsewhere, the Israeli swimming team is currently in Qatar at the World Championships. The highlight, thus far, was Anastasia Gorbenko’s fourth place in the 200m Individual Medley. At this stage, Israel has qualified swimmers in nine different events at Paris, as well as the team-based artistic swimming duet.

In 2024, Israel will send its first soccer team to the Olympics since 1976. Time will tell if Israeli athletes will qualify in sports such as archery, skateboarding, climbing, surfing, and fencing.

Israel hasn’t sent a fencer to the Olympics since 2008, but that could change after Yuval Freilich won gold at the Epee Grand Prix event in Qatar. What a surreal thrill to hear Hatikvah played in Qatar during these times.

The current situation in Israel has caused turmoil for many of our athletes overseas. There was quite a ruckus about our women’s basketball team playing against Ireland, where the Irish team refused to shake hands with their Jewish competitors.

Israel’s U20 ice hockey team was told they wouldn’t be able to take their place in the Division III Group A World Championships in Bulgaria due to security concerns. After a backlash, this was reversed, and the Israeli team went undefeated to win promotion to Division II Group B.

In tennis, Mika Buchnik made it to the second round of the girl’s singles at the Australian Open, while Guy Sasson lost in the final of both the quad singles and doubles. The Davis Cup team lost a tricky tie to the Czech Republic, and in September, the Israeli team hosts Ukraine in a bid to stay in World Group I.

Our combat athletes in Judo, Taekwondo, and MMA continue to shine, with Olympic spots on the line for those in judo and taekwondo.

And while the Summer Olympics get all the attention, Israel is also making great strides in winter sports. Figure skater Sophia Shifrin did a fantastic job at the Winter Youth Olympics in South Korea, finishing 12th in the Women’s singles.

At the start of the year, Israel-Premier Tech cyclist Stephen Williams won the Tour Down Under, while the team was in second place, just four seconds behind the top spot.

Despite all that is going on in the world, our athletes put their emotions to the side and compete at the highest level. We couldn’t be prouder of them.