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Israel’s athletes returned to competition Monday at the 2026 Winter Olympics, delivering determined efforts across alpine skiing and bobsleigh despite facing some of the sport’s toughest fields.
Representing a nation better known for its warm climate than winter sports, the small Israeli delegation continued to focus on experience, consistency and incremental gains on the world’s biggest stage.
Skier Barnabas Szollos took to the slopes for the men’s slalom, switching disciplines after previously competing in the giant slalom earlier in the Games. The technical event demanded sharp reflexes and precise turns down a tightly set course.
Szollos delivered two composed runs, avoiding major mistakes while maintaining steady speed through the gates. His clean skiing helped him finish 27th out of 46 competitors who completed the demanding layout.
While not challenging the podium, the result marked another solid performance for the Israeli skier, who has steadily built a reputation for resilience and reliability against deeper and more experienced European and North American teams.
Each run required navigating quick direction changes and icy patches that caught out several racers. Multiple competitors failed to finish, underlining the difficulty of the course and amplifying the significance of Szollos’s completion.
After crossing the finish line, Szollos appeared satisfied, acknowledging that consistency remains his primary goal. For athletes from smaller winter programs, finishing clean runs is often as critical as chasing seconds on the clock.
Meanwhile, attention shifted from the mountains to the ice track, where Israel’s two-man bobsleigh team opened its campaign with the first two heats of competition.
The duo of AJ Edelman and Menachem Chen clocked a combined time of 1:54.60 across their initial runs. Their placement left them 26th overall, last among the 26 competing sleds.
Despite the ranking, the pair remained within striking distance of several teams ahead of them, where tenths of a second often separate multiple positions. Bobsleigh results can shift dramatically with small improvements in push starts or cornering precision.
The opening heats tested both speed and stability as sleds raced down the twisting, high-banked track at near-freezing temperatures. Smooth transitions and aerodynamic positioning proved decisive for the leaders.
Edelman and Chen focused on maintaining control and clean lines, prioritizing safety while adapting to the track’s rhythm. With limited competitive opportunities compared to traditional bobsleigh powers, each run doubles as valuable experience.
The Israelis will return for the final two heats on Tuesday, when cumulative times determine the final standings. Even modest gains could lift them several places up the leaderboard.
For Israel, participation itself represents a broader achievement. Winter sports infrastructure remains limited at home, forcing many athletes to train abroad and rely on international support systems to prepare for competition.
Yet the team’s presence in Milan reflects years of gradual development and commitment. Athletes like Szollos, Edelman and Chen have become ambassadors for a growing winter sports culture, inspiring younger competitors to consider disciplines once seen as out of reach.
As the Games continue, Israel’s athletes are unlikely to contend for medals, but their perseverance tells another story — one of determination, representation and steady progress against the odds.
With more races and heats ahead, the focus remains on clean performances, personal bests and building momentum for future winters on the Olympic stage.
This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members