Minutes after winning a bronze medal in judo at the 2024 Paris Olympics, an emotional Peter Paltchik tells Israel’s Sport5 broadcaster, “I can’t explain in words what I’m going through.”
“The period we’re going through in the country, the war, the wounds, the people who we won’t see again — I just wanted to make everyone happy,” says Paltchik, sending thanks to his family, “which sacrifices so much,” mentioning his wife, their twin sons and his daughter who is on the way.
“I fought for everyone, for our flag, we worked so hard for this moment,” says Paltchik, referencing also his coach, Oren Smadga, who decided to take part in the Olympics just a few weeks after his son, Sgt. First Class (res.) Omer Smadga was killed fighting in Gaza.
“Oren, after what he went through — I couldn’t give up for even one moment,” says Paltchik.
Smadga says Paltchik is “a lion, what a huge heart.”
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From the Liveblog of
Thursday, August 1, 2024
