From the Liveblog of
Monday, August 12, 2024
Israeli windsurfer Tom Reuveny says his gold medal is thanks to soldiers fighting to protect country
Amy Spiro is a reporter and writer with The Times of Israel
Israeli Olympic windsurfer Tom Reuveny says that the gold medal around his neck is thanks to the brave soldiers fighting to protect the State of Israel.
Speaking at a press conference after arriving at Ben Gurion Airport, Reuveny, 24, says that the ongoing war in his home country was on his mind at that critical moment in Paris a little more than a week ago.
“I really remember myself, just before the deciding final race, I thought about the whole State of Israel, I knew that the gold would not just be for me,” he says. “There are so many soldiers who have been called together to protect us, and thanks to them I am here right now.”
“I want to give a warm embrace to the families of the fallen [soldiers], that also thanks to them I’m even standing here, and thanks to them we were even able to go to this Olympics,” Reuveny adds.
