Jewish Athletes

Liliia Akhaimova, of the Russian Olympic Committee, performs on the vault during the artistic gymnastics women's final at the 2020 Summer Olympics, on Tuesday, July 27, 2021, in Tokyo. (AP/Ashley Landis)

July 27, 2021, 10:28 pm

Jewish vaulter Lilia Akhaimova helps Russia to gymnastics gold medal in Tokyo

Meanwhile, Australian Jessica Fox wins bronze in canoe slalom; was heavily favored for gold

By JTA and TOI staff

From left, the brothers Hughes: Jack, Luke and Quinn. (@_quinnhughes on Instagram; background via Getty Images, JTA)

July 27, 2021, 3:57 am

These 3 hockey-playing Jewish brothers just made NHL history

The Hughes brothers of Orlando, Florida are the first American family to have three siblings drafted in the first round

By EVELYN FRICK

Sue Bird drives the ball during the women's gold medal game between the United States and Spain at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games at Carioca Arena 1 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, August 20, 2016. (Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

July 21, 2021, 8:39 pm

Jewish women’s basketball star to be US flag bearer at Olympics opening ceremony

Sue Bird, who is representing Team USA and also holds Israeli citizenship, has won gold at the last four games; says ‘mind-blowing’ to be chosen for Friday’s honor

By Emily Burack

Jacob Steinmetz is the first Orthodox player drafted by a Major League Baseball team. (Courtesy of the Steinmetz family via JTA)

July 18, 2021, 2:45 am

Kosher food, Shabbat pitching: Challenges of 1st Orthodox player drafted to MLB

Jacob Steinmetz confident he can maintain his religious lifestyle and thrive in Major League Baseball after being drafted by Arizona Diamondbacks

By Rob Charry

July 14, 2021, 4:33 am

Second Orthodox baseball player drafted into MLB in 2 days

Elie Kligman, picked by the Washington Nationals, recently switched to playing catcher, reportedly in a bid to secure a deal where he won’t have to play on Shabbat

By Gabe Friedman

Jacob Steinmetz is drafted for the MLB (MLB.com via JTA)

July 13, 2021, 2:27 am

Jacob Steinmetz becomes first known Orthodox Jewish player drafted into the MLB

Steinmetz, from Long Island, known for his blazing fastball, picked 77th overall by Arizona Diamondbacks in Major League Baseball draft

By DENNIS WASZAK Jr.

This will be the first Israeli baseball team to play in the Olympics. (Courtesy of Israel Baseball/ via JTA)

July 11, 2021, 3:03 am

Olympics-bound Team Israel drives home Jewish identity for its American players

The baseball squad has four native-born Israelis and a diverse group of Jews from around the US with varying backgrounds, but a shared history makes this team closer than most

By Gabe Friedman

Leah Goldstein pushes hard in the last 500 miles of Race Across America 2021, June 24, 2021. (Tara Roberts/RAAM Media)

July 10, 2021, 8:36 am

Jewish Canadian cyclist is first woman to win toughest ultra-endurance race

Crossing finish line in 11 days, 3 hours and 3 minutes, Leah Goldstein traverses 3,000 miles to take first place in overall solo in grueling Race Across America

By Renee Ghert-Zand

Jewish and Israeli athletes set to compete in the upcoming Tokyo Olympics, from left: Sue Bird, Diego Schwartzman, Linoy Ashram, Maru Teferi, Jessica Fox. (Courtesy: AP/Jessica Hill; AP/Thibault Camus, AP/Efrem Lukatsky; Denis Barthel, CC BY-SA 4.0; AP/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

July 4, 2021, 5:04 am

Tokyo Olympics: All the Jewish athletes to watch

Israel’s first Olympic surfer, one of the all-time greatest canoe paddlers, and a teen track star para-athlete are just some of the athletes to root for

By Emily Burack

Adam Fox skates in a game against the Boston Bruins at the TD Garden in Boston, May 8, 2021. (Steve Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images via JTA)

July 1, 2021, 12:17 pm

NY Rangers’ Adam Fox named hockey’s top defenseman

23-year-old, a former star at Harvard, becomes first Jewish player to win major NHL award

By Marc Brodsky

Team Israel pitcher Jeremy Bleich in a 2018 interview. (YouTube)

June 24, 2021, 3:46 am

Pirates analyst and southpaw pitcher heads to Tokyo Olympics with Team Israel

As the Jewish state qualifies for its 1st Olympic baseball competition since 1976, Jeremy Bleich, a grandson of Holocaust survivors, gets Israeli citizenship to join the squad

By Sarah Abrams

Argentina's Diego Schwartzman celebrates after defeating Germany's Jan-Lennard Struff during their fourth round match on day 9, of the French Open tennis tournament at Roland Garros in Paris, France, June 7, 2021. (AP/Thibault Camus)

June 7, 2021, 7:00 pm

Tennis star Schwartzman reaches French Open quarterfinals, faces Nadal next

Jewish Argentinian 10th seed beats Germany’s Struff in straight sets; last year he was beaten by Spain’s 13-time champion in semis

By AFP and TOI staff

Elie Kligman has emerged as one of the top college recruits in the West. (Courtesy of Kligman/ via JTA)

May 3, 2021, 4:05 am

Shabbat-observant baseball phenom eyes Major League career, but can it be done?

Elie Kligman has emerged as one of the top college recruits in the West, and he’s sure that the sport’s schedule for players won’t pose a religious problem

By Rob Charry

Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Max Fried (54) works against the Tampa Bay Rays in a spring training baseball game, March 21, 2021, in Port Charlotte, Florida. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

April 1, 2021, 4:58 pm

Baseball is back: The 8 Jewish players to watch this season

What Alex Bregman, Max Fried and Ryan Braun have in store for MLB fans this season, which opens Thursday night

By Rob Charry

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady during NFL football practice, February 3, 2021 in Tampa, Florida (Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers via AP)

February 8, 2021, 12:55 am

The insider’s guide to Super Bowl LV’s Jewish stories and subplots

Pioneering women, massive linemen, and Tom Brady’s surprise visit to an IDF firing range

By Lazar Berman