Amy Spiro

Amy Spiro is a reporter and writer with The Times of Israel.

Israeli runner Selamawit Teferi runs in the finals of the women's 5000m meter race at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics on August 2, 2021. (Amit Shisel/Israel Olympic Committee)

August 2, 2021, 5:10 pm

Israeli runner finishes women’s 5000m final in 10th place

Synchronized swimming duo Eden Blecher and Shelly Bobritsky finish 16th in the free routine, and will dive in again on Tuesday for the technical qualifier

By Amy Spiro

Israel's Artem Dolgopyat (C) celebrates with his team after winning the floor event of the artistic gymnastics men's floor exercise final during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Ariake Gymnastics Centre in Tokyo on August 1, 2021. (Loic VENANCE / AFP)

August 2, 2021, 12:08 pm

Israel’s Olympic gold medalist Dolgopyat: I’m already planning for Paris 2024

Gymnast declines to discuss law that prevents him from getting married in Israel due to his religious status: ‘These are things in my heart and my own personal issues’

By Amy Spiro

Rachel Gershon, 83, receives a third Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine from a Magen David Adom national emergency service volunteer, at a private nursing home, in Netanya on August 1, 2021. (AP Photo/ Oded Balilty)

August 1, 2021, 10:51 pm

Israelis over 60 flock to receive COVID vaccine booster dose

As Israel becomes 1st country to widely administer 3rd shot, PM says goal is to vaccinate everyone eligible by month’s end; tells health care providers to work ‘five times’ as fast

By Amy Spiro

Artem Dolgopyat of Israel poses after winning the gold medal on the floor exercise during the artistic gymnastics men's apparatus final at the 2020 Summer Olympics, August 1, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

August 1, 2021, 6:05 pm

From Ukraine to Israel to Tokyo: Journey of an Olympic gold medalist

Artem Dolgopyat moved to Israel at age 12 from Ukraine, and struggled to learn Hebrew and fit in — except at the gym

By Amy Spiro

Israel's Hanna Knyazyeva-Minenko competes in the women's triple jump final during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in Tokyo on August 1, 2021. (Andrej Isakovic/AFP)

August 1, 2021, 4:42 pm

Israel’s Hanna Knyazyeva-Minenko finishes sixth in Olympic triple jump

Venezuela’s Yulimar Rojas takes home the gold and smashes her way to a new world record

By Amy Spiro

Shirly Pinto, the first deaf Knesset member, is sworn in to the Knesset on June 16, 2021. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

July 30, 2021, 2:48 pm

Israel’s first deaf MK aims to be a full-time warrior for disability rights

Yamina lawmaker Shirly Pinto says she is devoting herself to ensuring that her hearing-impaired son will grow up in a different world than she did

By Amy Spiro

A man receives his second Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine from a Magen David Adom national emergency service volunteer, at a private nursing home in Ramat Gan, on January 13, 2021. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty)

July 29, 2021, 9:47 pm

Bennett calls on Israelis over 60 to get third COVID vaccine dose

TV polls indicate that more than 70 percent of those eligible intend to receive the booster shot

By Amy Spiro

Israel's Mitchell Glasser (22) collides with teammate Blake Gailen as he catches a fly out hit by South Korea's Jaeil Oh during a baseball game at the 2020 Summer Olympics, July 29, 2021, in Yokohama, Japan. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

July 29, 2021, 5:22 pm

Israel’s Olympic baseball team loses first match 6-5 to South Korea

After coming up short in a nail-biter of a game with extra innings, Israel will face the US team on Friday

By Amy Spiro

Israeli swimmers (from left) Andi Murez, Anastasia Gorbenko, Gal Cohen Groumi and Itay Goldfaden at the mixed 4x100 medley relay at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics on July 29, 2021. (Simona Castrovillari/Israel Olympic Committee)

July 29, 2021, 4:08 pm

Israel’s mixed swimming team makes finals of medley relay race

Aviv Barzelay advances to the semifinals of the women’s 200m backstroke, as Tomer Frankel falls short in the men’s 100m butterfly

By Amy Spiro

Trucks are parked at the Ben & Jerry's ice-cream factory in the Be'er Tuvia Industrial area, July 20, 2021. (AP Photo/Tsafrir Abayov)

July 28, 2021, 8:44 pm

6 MKs walk back support for letter urging Unilever to undo Ben & Jerry’s boycott

Lawmakers indicate they did not see final wording; Labor MK says she was led to believe letter was aimed at saving the jobs of those employed at the ice cream factory in Israel

By Amy Spiro

Workers at the Ben and Jerry's factory near Kiryat Malachi, on July 21, 2021. (Flash90)

July 28, 2021, 5:45 pm

90 members of Knesset urge Unilever to reverse ‘shameful’ Ben & Jerry’s decision

Dana Olmert, daughter of former PM, signs letter in support of ice cream company’s refusal to sell over the Green Line, and calls Israeli rule of West Bank ‘apartheid’

By Amy Spiro

Israeli swimmer Andi Murez competes at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics on July 28, 2021. (Simona Castrovillari/Israel Olympic Committee)

July 28, 2021, 4:24 pm

Despite record efforts, Israeli Olympic swimmers come up short in latest races

Andi Murez sets a new Israeli mark in women’s 100m freestyle, while Gal Cohen Groumi and Ron Polonsky both swim personal best times — but all miss qualifying for semifinals

By Amy Spiro

Saeid Mollaei of Mongolia celebrates with his silver medal during the award ceremony for the men -81kg judo match at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan, Tuesday, July 27, 2021. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)

July 27, 2021, 4:26 pm

Winning judo silver in Tokyo, Iranian defector Mollaei dedicates medal to Israel

Judoka says ‘todah’ to Israelis for support; Israeli Sagi Muki, who had disappointing finish, congratulates his unlikely friend: ‘I’m so happy… He deserves it’

By Amy Spiro and Agencies

Israeli swimmer Anastasia Gorbenko competes during the 100-meter backstroke final at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games on July 27, 2021. (Amit Shisel/Israel Olympic Committee)

July 27, 2021, 2:50 pm

Record-breaking Israeli Olympian swimmer: I’m not done yet

With more competitions to come, 17-year-old Anastasia Gorbenko says her goal ‘is always to advance as far as possible, and to break my own personal records’

By Amy Spiro

Israel's Tohar Butbul gets ready to compete in the judo men's -73kg elimination round bout during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Nippon Budokan in Tokyo on July 26, 2021. (Jack GUEZ / AFP)

July 27, 2021, 1:27 pm

International Olympic Committee ‘concerned’ by forfeits to avoid Israeli judoka

IOC director of solidarity James Macleod says committee ‘will adopt a strict position’ on violations of the Olympic charter

By Amy Spiro