Israel’s historic Olympic bobsled team suffered a brazen theft of passports, equipment, and thousands of dollars’ worth of gear during final training preparations, yet the athletes refused to let criminals derail their groundbreaking Olympic debut.
Story Snapshot
- Thieves robbed Israel’s bobsled team apartment on February 7, 2026, stealing passports, suitcases, equipment, and items worth thousands of dollars
- The team represents Israel’s first-ever Olympic bobsled entry, featuring the first Orthodox Jewish and Druze Winter Olympians
- Athletes immediately returned to training despite the violation, exemplifying resilience amid heightened anti-Israel hostility at the Milan Cortina Games
- The robbery follows boos directed at Israel’s delegation during the opening ceremony, reflecting ongoing geopolitical tensions
Theft Strikes Team During Critical Preparations
Israel’s national bobsled team faced a devastating setback on Saturday, February 7, 2026, when thieves burglarized their training apartment during final preparations for the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics. The criminals made off with passports, suitcases, shoes, equipment, and items valued at thousands of dollars. Team pilot AJ Edelman, a former 2018 skeleton Olympian and the first Orthodox Jewish Winter Olympian, publicly disclosed the incident via social media. Local police launched an investigation, though no arrests or recovery updates have been reported. The robbery occurred at an undisclosed European location where the team conducted pre-competition training before moving to official Olympic venues.
Historic Team Refuses to Surrender Olympic Dreams
Despite the violation, team members immediately resumed training, demonstrating the determination that earned them their historic Olympic spot. Edelman characterized the incident as a “gross violation” while praising his teammates for heading “right back to training today.” The team qualified for bobsled competition after Great Britain declined one of its two allocated spots, positioning Israel next in line. This marks Israel’s first bobsled participation at any Winter Olympics and includes Ward Fawarseh, likely the first Druze Winter Olympian. The squad nicknamed itself “Shul Runnings,” blending Jewish cultural references with bobsled’s “Cool Runnings” legacy. Team members include Menachem Chen as two-man pusher and Omer Katz for four-man events.
Security Concerns Amplify Amid Olympic Hostility
The robbery compounds security challenges facing Israel’s nine-member Olympic delegation at Milan Cortina 2026, where the nation has never won a Winter Olympics medal. Just one day before the theft, Israeli athletes endured boos from spectators at the February 6 opening ceremony in Milan’s San Siro stadium. This hostility stems from international backlash over the Gaza conflict, which erupted after Hamas’s October 7, 2023, terrorist attack killed 1,200 Israelis and seized 251 hostages. The incident raises serious questions about security protocols for smaller Olympic nations during training phases. Stolen passports create immediate logistical nightmares requiring emergency replacements, while lost equipment threatens competition readiness. Official bobsled training at Cortina d’Ampezzo began Thursday, February 12, leaving minimal time for the team to recover from these losses.
Resilience Defines Israel’s Underdog Spirit
The theft underscores vulnerabilities facing Israeli athletes competing on international stages amid geopolitical tensions. Replacement costs for specialized bobsled equipment represent significant financial burdens for a debut team from a non-traditional winter sports nation. Yet the athletes’ immediate return to training sends a powerful message about refusing to be intimidated by either criminal acts or political hostility. The Olympic Committee of Israel offered no immediate public comment on the robbery, focusing resources on supporting the team’s competition preparations. This incident spotlights how Olympic competition has become entangled with political conflicts, creating security and safety challenges that extend beyond the playing field. The team’s perseverance embodies the spirit Americans admire: refusing to surrender dreams despite overwhelming obstacles and hostile environments.
Sources:
Israeli bobsled team apartment robbed ahead of Winter Olympics, competitor says – Fox News
