Story perspectives

Israel's Mixed Olympic Debut: Historic Firsts and Disqualifications

2/14/2026

Center

Israel's Olympic Participation

Israel participated in the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina with limited athletic success.
Jared Firestone finished 22nd in skeleton, marking his final Olympic appearance.
Attila Mihaly Kertesz became Israel's first Olympic cross-country skier and placed 110th in the 10km race.
Vladyslav Heraskevych was disqualified for wearing a helmet honoring war victims, and AJ Edelman leads the bobsled team as Israel's first Orthodox Jewish athlete to compete in two sports.

Right

IOC Faces Backlash

The International Olympic Committee faces backlash for selling a T-shirt with artwork from 1936 Berlin Olympics tied to Nazi propaganda.
Critics, including Liora Rez and Yoav Potash (filmmaker), call the sale disgraceful and harmful to historical awareness.
The IOC defends the shirt as part of its Heritage Collection, emphasizing athletic achievements while noting historical context.

History

Historical Context

The 1936 Berlin Olympics, held under Nazi Germany, were marred by controversy as Adolf Hitler sought to promote Aryan supremacy. Despite calls for a boycott from various nations, 49 teams participated, with Jesse Owens winning four gold medals, challenging Nazi racial ideologies. This event's legacy continues to spark discussions about the intersection of sports and historical representation, as seen in today's athletes navigating complex identities.

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Israel's Olympic Participation

Israel participated in the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina with limited athletic success.
Jared Firestone finished 22nd in skeleton, marking his final Olympic appearance.
Attila Mihaly Kertesz became Israel's first Olympic cross-country skier and placed 110th in the 10km race.
Vladyslav Heraskevych was disqualified for wearing a helmet honoring war victims, and AJ Edelman leads the bobsled team as Israel's first Orthodox Jewish athlete to compete in two sports.

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