FIDF CEO Steven Weil is joined by Israeli Olympic Gold Medalist Tommy Reuveny to discuss his experience being an Israeli olympian during the war, traveling the world as an Israeli Jewish athlete, and what it meant to him to be the only Israeli gold medalist in the 2024 olympics. Tommy explains that October 7th occurred shortly after the olympic trials. Tommy’s brother is a IDF soldier for an elite unit. He arrived on the scene in the morning of October 7th. After three days of anxiously waiting, Tommy got word that his brother was okay. While training was difficult for Tommy after the attack, the olympic committee urged him and the other Israeli olympians to go out and win a medal. The fear of a repeat of the Munich Olympics, coupled with whatsapp death threats and the desire to win a medal for his country in desperate need of victory, the pressure was immense. Tommy was even urged not to wear clothing that would identify him was a Jew or Israeli in public, or speak Hebrew in public. But the threats and the will to win for his country propelled Tommy’s competitive spirit, ultimately resulting in a runaway finish for the gold.

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