Israel's Bobsleigh Team Qualifies for Olympics After Last-Minute Twist
In a stunning turn of events, Israel's bobsleigh team has qualified for the Winter Olympics for the first time, thanks to a last-minute opening up of slots by Great Britain. The four-man team, led by captain Adam "AJ" Edelman, finished narrowly outside the qualification cut-off but ultimately secured their place at the Milan Olympics.
The qualification process is based on international races organized by the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation (IBSF), with teams competing to climb the combined ranking lists to secure a quota. The Israeli team has been working towards this goal for years, facing unique challenges as a warm country where snow occurs only briefly in small, high-altitude areas.
Edelman took to Instagram to celebrate the historic achievement, writing: "Dreams do come true. For this dream, that day is today. The Israeli Bobsled Team is now 'The Israeli Olympic Bobsled Team.' We are headed to Milan." He also thanked his followers and urged them to join him in making more history.
The Olympic Committee of Israel hailed the qualification as a "historic achievement," while Edelman and his teammates will look forward to their maiden Olympics appearance. Alongside captain Edelman, brakeman/push athletes Menachem Chen, Ward Fawarseh, and Omer Katz will form the team, with Uri Zisman serving as an alternate.
The news has drawn humorous comparisons to the 1993 comedy "Cool Runnings," which tells the story of a Jamaican bobsleigh team's journey to qualify for the Winter Olympics. While Israel's qualification may not have been as dramatic as their Caribbean counterparts', it marks an exciting new chapter in the country's winter sports history.
In a stunning turn of events, Israel's bobsleigh team has qualified for the Winter Olympics for the first time, thanks to a last-minute opening up of slots by Great Britain. The four-man team, led by captain Adam "AJ" Edelman, finished narrowly outside the qualification cut-off but ultimately secured their place at the Milan Olympics.
The qualification process is based on international races organized by the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation (IBSF), with teams competing to climb the combined ranking lists to secure a quota. The Israeli team has been working towards this goal for years, facing unique challenges as a warm country where snow occurs only briefly in small, high-altitude areas.
Edelman took to Instagram to celebrate the historic achievement, writing: "Dreams do come true. For this dream, that day is today. The Israeli Bobsled Team is now 'The Israeli Olympic Bobsled Team.' We are headed to Milan." He also thanked his followers and urged them to join him in making more history.
The Olympic Committee of Israel hailed the qualification as a "historic achievement," while Edelman and his teammates will look forward to their maiden Olympics appearance. Alongside captain Edelman, brakeman/push athletes Menachem Chen, Ward Fawarseh, and Omer Katz will form the team, with Uri Zisman serving as an alternate.
The news has drawn humorous comparisons to the 1993 comedy "Cool Runnings," which tells the story of a Jamaican bobsleigh team's journey to qualify for the Winter Olympics. While Israel's qualification may not have been as dramatic as their Caribbean counterparts', it marks an exciting new chapter in the country's winter sports history.