Israel Gold Medalist Cites IDF Soldiers as His Inspiration

Tom Reuveny, Israeli Olympic gold medalist in Men's Windsurfing (YouTube screenshot) YouTube screenshot

Olympic Committee President said the Israel team’s performance exceeded expectations in a ‘very difficult year.’

By Shula Rosen

Returning to Israel after winning the gold medal in Men’s Windsurfing at the 2024 Paris Olympics, Tom Reuveny credited IDF soldiers with his victory.

Reuveny, 24, said at a press conference at Ben Gurion airport, “I really remember myself, just before the deciding final race, I thought about the whole State of Israel, I knew that the gold would not just be for me.”

He added, “There are so many soldiers who have been called together to protect us, and thanks to them I am here right now.”

Reuveny continued, “I want to offer a warm embrace to the families of the fallen [soldiers], that also thanks to them I’m even standing here and thanks to them we were even able to go to this Olympics.”

He acknowledged entering the competition as an underdog and said he didn’t expect to emerge from the Olympics with a medal.

“I know I surprised all of you that I’m standing here, nobody really expected this — and to be honest I didn’t really expect to be here either,” he said.

He honored the rest of Israel’s Olympic team, who made tremendous sacrifices to compete in Paris.

“There are 88 athletes, who didn’t all get medals but they all worked so, so, so hard to get to the Olympics and to give everything in this huge and important competition,” he said.

“Maybe they don’t all get the attention that I am getting,” said Reuveny, asking the public to “give them a warm embrace — they worked so hard and they deserve so much.”

Israel won a record-breaking seven medals in the Paris 2024 Olympics surpassing the previous record of four medals in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.

Yael Arad, the president of the Olympic Committee of Israel, said the Israel team’s performance exceeded expectations in a “very difficult year.”

For months, Israel’s determination to compete was greeted with controversy, with some nations disapproving of Israel over the ongoing war in Gaza and others arguing that allowing Israel to participate would constitute a security threat.

“As you saw over the past 2.5 weeks, this delegation surpassed our wildest imagination,” said Arad. “The athletes proved that the Israeli spirit is something that cannot be stopped.”