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Kevin Cuzmiciov, left, and Eylon Elazar compete at the Nayarit Challenge in Mexico, March 2026. (Courtesy)
August 24, 2026, 2:57 pm
Tenacity and grit fuel Israeli beach volleyball duo’s spike in rankings – and Olympic hopes
Quickly rising through international ranks, Eylon Elazar and Kevin Cuzmiciov face fierce competition for chance to represent Israel in the sport for first time at 2028 LA Games
By David Wiseman
Israeli climber Ayala Kerem in competition in this undated photo. (Jan Virt/IFSC)
May 5, 2026, 10:55 am
High ambition: Rising star eyes Olympic ascent for Israeli climbing
24-year-old Ayala Kerem believes she can represent the Jewish state at the 2028 LA Games — and that an Olympic push could help raise interest in the emerging field
By David Wiseman
Israel designated hitter Spencer Horwitz, right, is congratulated by Noah Mendlinger (3) after hitting a home run against the Dominican Republic during the fourth inning of a World Baseball Classic game, March 9, 2026, in Miami. (AP/Rebecca Blackwell)
March 10, 2026, 7:57 am
Israel eliminated from World Baseball Classic after 10-1 loss to Dominican Republic
Team will play one final match against the Netherlands on Tuesday after losing to star-studded team from the Caribbean
By Zev Stub
Dwight Howard during an NBA basketball game against the Phoenix Suns, on January 13, 2022, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
January 8, 2025, 9:42 pm
Ex-NBA star Dwight Howard says he was made to delete ‘Free Palestine’ tweet in 2014
Commissioner of the National Basketball Association called within 10 minutes, ordering the athlete to remove the post, Howard tells podcaster, adding, ‘I went against the grain’
By ToI Staff
Nikki Bick, Rachel Dallet and Ryan Turell each made aliyah in 2024 to play professional sports in Israel. (Courtesy; Turell via Amit Smikt; Design by Grace Yagel/ JTA)
December 14, 2024, 4:41 am
Despite war, these US Jewish athletes are choosing to pursue their careers in Israel
Three players who recently made aliyah say the experience has been life-changing — even with ongoing multi-front conflicts and a steep athletic and linguistic learning curve
By jacob gurvis
Sarah Levy of the US national women's rugby team carries the ball at the Paris Olympics, August 2024. (Evan Denworth)
August 17, 2024, 1:01 am
US rugby player Sarah Levy kvells over Paris bronze, seeks gold at home in LA in 2028
The 28-year-old physical therapy PhD candidate and professional athlete says she’s glad to put her sport on the map for Americans – and connect with fellow Jews while she’s at it
By Ed Klajman
2024 US Olympic fencer bronze medalist Nick Itkin attends the Los Angeles premiere of Amazon MGM Studios' 'Jackpot!' at TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, California, on August 13, 2024. (Valerie Macon / AFP)
August 16, 2024, 1:02 am
Jewish US Olympic fencer Nick Itkin says piercing family history led to his bronze win
Both his parents are athletic coaches who came to America from Ukraine, so it’s no surprise the medalist is already eyeing the gold when the Games come to his hometown LA in 2028
By Ed Klajman
Tai Baribo plays for the Philadelphia Union soccer club in this undated photo. (Courtesy of Union)
August 5, 2024, 3:38 pm
After a slow start in Philadelphia, Israeli soccer player Tai Baribo is on a roll
The striker, who has also played for Israel’s national team, had a breakout month in July with a stunning hat trick but hasn’t forgotten his homeland as war rages on
By Jon Marks
Israel's forward #11 Liel Abada fights for the ball with Mali's defender #02 Fode Doucoure during the men's group D football match between Mali and Israel during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Parc des Princes in Paris on July 24, 2024. (Franck Fife / AFP)
July 25, 2024, 2:51 pm
Team Israel’s star soccer forward Liel Abada says Olympic match a dream come true
Despite pre-game fears of widespread violence, match against the Muslim-majority African nation of Mali ends in a 1-1 draw with largely civil fans
By Ed Klajman
Levi Sterling played for the USA Baseball 18U National Team in 2023. (Courtesy of USA Baseball via JTA)
July 22, 2024, 2:06 am
Meet the 6 Jewish baseball players selected in the 2024 MLB Draft
Up one draftee from last year’s 5, this crop of ballplayers still represents less than 1% of the new MLB class – but they are making an outsized impression
By jacob gurvis
Los Angeles Sparks head coach Joe Bryant smiles at a referee during the second half of a WNBA basketball game against the Chicago Sky in Los Angeles, September 10, 2011. (AP Photo/Lori Shepler)
July 19, 2024, 2:45 am
Kobe Bryant’s late father Joe once coached a Jewish day school’s girls basketball team
Philadelphia legend ‘Jellybean’ Bryant, who died Monday at 69, is famous for his sporting achievements and fathering an NBA great, but Akiba students knew him as a beloved coach
By Rob Charry
Sam Salz of the Texas A&M Aggies. (Courtesy Texas A&M Athletics)
May 23, 2024, 3:06 am
How Texas A&M Aggies’s Sam Salz became college football’s first known Orthodox player
Despite never having played on a team and not even owning a pair of cleats, the plucky athlete practiced alongside the squad and is now a walk-on member setting a Jewish example
By Cathryn J. Prince
Mostafa Rajaei (R) shakes hands with Israeli weightlifter Maksim Svirsky at a World Masters championship in Wieliczka, Poland on August 26, 2023 (Screencapture/X: used in accordance with Clause 27a of the Copyright Law)
August 30, 2023, 5:04 pm
Iranian weightlifter given lifetime ban for shaking hands with Israeli competitor
Mostafa Rajaei banished from sport after gesture on podium with Israeli Maksim Svirsky at a championship in Poland Saturday, which ‘crossed the red lines of the Islamic Republic’
By AFP and ToI Staff
Ryan Turell playing for the Motor City Cruise. (Courtesy Motor City Cruise via JTA)
August 14, 2023, 5:09 am
Former YU phenom Ryan Turell features in new Amazon documentary on the G League
Segments of ‘Destination NBA: A G League Odyssey’ focus on the Jewish identity of the Orthodox player who was the top scorer in college ball before joining the minors last year
By Stephen Silver
Mamu Noam of Israel, Jakub Dudycha of the Czech Republic and Davide De Rosa of Italy celebrate after the men's 800 meter event during the 2022 European Athletics U18 Championships at Givat-Ram Stadium in Jerusalem, July 7, 2022. (Jurij Kodrun/Getty Images for European Athletics via JTA)
August 9, 2023, 9:19 am
Israel flexes as an up-and-coming U20 sport host with Euro tourney in Jerusalem
Israeli Athletics Association hosts almost 2,000 athletes and officials from 48 countries from August 7-10, improving the Jewish state’s track record as a center for competitions
By jacob gurvis
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