Olympic athletes inspire pride in Israel with historic achievement: 1 gold and 2 silver medals in single day

Israel secured one gold and two silver medals in windsurfing and gymnastics at the Paris 2024 Olympics on Saturday. This marks the first time in history that Israel has achieved three Olympic medals in a single day.

Israel's Tom Reuveny stunned pundits by winning the gold medal in the men’s iOFoil windsurfing final that took place in the port city of Marseille in southern France. Reuveny triumphed despite fierce competition from the Australian windsurfer Grae Morris and Dutch competitor Luuc van Opzeeland.

Reuveny dedicated his victory to Israeli soldiers who have been defending the nation for the past 10 months against Iranian-backed terror proxies, Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah forces in Lebanon.

“I did it for our brave soldiers,” Reuveny said in an interview with Israel's Channel 12 news.

Reuveny's victory is considered remarkable, especially since he was not initially anticipated to even make it to the final. His gold medal arrives 20 years after his coach, former windsurfer Gal Friedman, clinched Israel’s first gold medal at the Summer Olympics in Athens in 2004.

Friedman praised Reuveny’s achievement. 

"I believed in him all the way. I had a good feeling even before the competition," he told Israeli media. "All week, I told him that he has it and he just needs to take it, not that anyone here gives gifts. We saw how the competitors lose it under pressure. In terms of pressure, we are in the right place. We handled it well," Friedman assessed. 

Reuveny also received praise from his family, saying his win "brought pride to the State of Israel."

"We are insanely proud of him. From the age of 10, he gave so much to reach this moment. We saw him from the sidelines, working and training endlessly. We will just say that we are happy that he brought pride to the State of Israel."

Israeli female windsurfer Sharon Kantor also won a silver medal in the women’s sailing final on Saturday. 

"I am so happy. I can't believe it. I felt good. I am thrilled and so happy for the country. What a joy," Kantor said after her silver medal win. "It requires a lot. I am glad that the association supports me. The Olympic Committee is always there. I have an amazing team training with me 24/7. All of this is thanks to them. I'm crazy happy."

Israeli female judoka Raz Hershko won a silver medal in the women’s over-78kg weight class early on Saturday.

On Saturday, Israeli gymnast Artem Dolgopyat secured a silver medal in the floor exercise final on Saturday, rebounding from a subpar performance in the semifinal that nearly cost him a spot in the final.

In 2021, Dolgopyat made history by winning a gold medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, marking only the second time Israel had ever won a gold medal at the Olympics.

In December 2023, Dolgopyat sold his gold medal at an auction and donated the money for the Israeli communities devastated by the Hamas Oct. 7 terror attack. 

"What is a world champion worth if my country is hurting? For me, the State of Israel comes first," Dolgopyat said. 

"Today I know that Israeli society is important beyond anything else. I won’t lie, it’s not easy for me, but I feel that through the auctioning of the medal, I can truly give back to the country that has given me so much," the Ukrainian-born Israeli athlete added. 

Congratulations to Sharon, Inbar, Raz, Tom, Artem, and Peter, our medalists at the @Paris2024 Olympics, for your historic achievement & Thank you for your determination and fighting spirit.

You have brought honor, pride, and joy to the entire State of Israel in these difficult… pic.twitter.com/K1tuWbB5BL

— ישראל כ”ץ Israel Katz (@Israel_katz) August 3, 2024

Israel currently holds the 20th rank at the Paris 2024 Olympics with one gold, four silver and one bronze medal, achieving the country's best-ever performance in the Games.