Donald Sanford. Photo: YouTube/Screenshot.

25 year old American Israeli athlete Donald Sanford secured his spot in the Israeli delegation for the upcoming Summer Olympic Games, set to kick off in three weeks time in London. Sanford finished 4th in the men’s 400-meters at the European Championship in Helsinki last week, and was recommended to the Israeli Olympic Commitee by the competitive sports administration.

Donald Sanford, born and raised in Inglewood CA, ran track for Arizona State University, where he met his now Israeli wife, which prompted him to immigrate to Israel and seek citizenship. During the recent European Championship he twice bested the “B Criteria” for the Olympics clocking 45.77 seconds, which prompted the national heads of the committee to present him with a ticket to London.

Sanford is now officially the 37th member of the Israeli delegation, which is set to commence its preparation retreat on Sunday. He is the overall third track & field representative, following earlier qualifiers, fellow American Israeli Jillian Schwartz, who will be competing at the pole vaulting event, and marathon runner Zohar Zimro.

You can watch a video of Sanford competing in a previous competition below.