Israeli racer raises awareness for hostages – instead of trophy
After taking third place in New Orleans Formula 4 race, Ariel Elkin, 16, lifts his helmet above his head in a show of support for captives
Israeli race car driver Ariel Elkin refused the traditional helmet drop to lift his third-place trophy as he took the podium in a US championship race this week — and instead held up the helmet, which was covered in photos of hostages held by terror groups in Gaza since October 7.
In a video circulated on social media on Tuesday, Elkin could be seen placing the trophy on the ground next to him and solemnly lifting the helmet above his head as he stood next to the first and second place winners in the USF Juniors Formula 4 competition.
“Super happy with the performance, but super mad at the fact that our hostages are held in Gaza for over half a year!!!!! BRING THEM HOME NOW,” the 16-year-old driver wrote on his Instagram page after winning his first podium of the season.
His post, along with previous posts featuring the helmet, garnered thousands of likes and dozens of supportive comments.
“Fighting so hard to get here and in the end amid all the glory not forgetting who you are and where you came from is not easy at all… You’re simply a badass in every way,” a follower called Noam posted on Instagram.
The hostages were kidnapped on October 7, when thousands of Hamas terrorists burst across the Gaza border into Israel, killing some 1,200 people and seizing 253 hostages amid acts of brutality and sexual assault.
1/2: This week, Israeli racing driver, Ariel Elkin, won 3rd place in the USF Formula 4 Championship in USA.
When he got to the podium the commentator told him to put down his helmet but he refused & instead he lifted his helmet covered with the photos of the hostages. pic.twitter.com/fil652BXnu
— Documenting Israel (@DocumentIsrael) April 8, 2024
Elkin joins a handful of Israeli athletes who have over the past six months used their podiums to raise awareness for the plight of the hostages, over 100 of whom remain in captivity.
Among them, two Israeli soccer players were fired from Turkish teams and deported back home in January after mentioning the hostages — one in a social media post and another in a message written on his wristband.
