Israeli Gold Medal Judoka Dedicates Abu Dhabi Win to Pittsburgh Massacre Victims
by Algemeiner Staff
The Israeli judoka who won a gold medal at the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam judo tournament has dedicated his victory to the 11 Jews were slain this past Shabbat at a synagogue in Pittsburgh.
“I send my condolences to the families of the murdered and wish a speedy recovery to the injured,” 26-year-old Peter Paltchik — who competed in the under-100 kilogram category — wrote in an Israel Hayom op-ed on Tuesday.
The judoka also called the playing of “Hatikva” — Israel’s national anthem — after the win was “most certainly a moment I will never forget.”
Watch the playing of “Hatikva” (at the 1:40:40 mark) below:
Paltchik was the second Israeli in 24 hours to win a gold medal at the tournament in the United Arab Emirates — the other being Sagi Muki, in the under-81 kilogram category.