Players from Israel’s national soccer team embracing during the country’s match against
Colombia in the 2023 Under-20 World Cup in Argentina. Photo: Eva Cabrera/Ulan/Pool / Latin America News Agency.

When it comes to sports, Israel has recently celebrated some historic firsts.

The Jewish State qualified for the U-20 Soccer World Cup for the first time ever, which was a remarkable achievement by itself. Hopes were high that Israel would advance out of a difficult group containing Senegal, Japan, and Colombia. Israel not only did that, but also defeated Uzbekistan in the Round of 16, which brought a quarterfinal match-up against Brazil. Although the odds were stacked against the Jewish State, the Israeli team surprised everyone and won. They lost the semifinal 1-0 to eventual champion Uruguay, but rebounded for a 3-1 win over South Korea in the bronze medal game.

This is a tough act to follow, but the U-20 Israel national team is on the threshold of doing so. It’s currently playing in the U-21 European Football Championships, which also serve as the Olympic qualifiers for the men’s soccer tournament at the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics. Once again, Israel was placed in a tough group featuring England, Germany, and the Czech Republic. There are three Olympic spots up for grabs. Israel advanced into the quarterfinals, where it plays Georgia on Saturday night; if Israel wins and either France or England makes the semifinals, Israel will have one of those three spots. It would be the third time Israel competes in soccer at the Olympics, and the first time since 1976.

And it’s not just soccer; Israel is thriving in other sports as well.

The third European Games are currently taking place in Poland. Israel sent 141 athletes, representing a range of sports, and has already won four medals.

Israel won gold in artistic swimming (formerly known as synchronized swimming), in the team free routine; Shachar Sagiv won silver in the men’s triathlon, and bronze came in the artistic swimming team free and in fencing for the Women’s Foil.

The fencing medal was won by 14-year old Gili Kuritzky! She began fencing at the age of six. Israel last sent fencers to the Olympics in 2008, a competition that happened just a month before Gili was born.

Sports such as fencing, archery, and climbing are growing in Israel. Then there is judo. Israel sent a women’s team to the recent Grand Slam event in Mongolia, and they did incredibly well, winning two gold, one silver, and three bronze medals.

The strides Israeli athletes have been making in recent years are starting to bear real fruit. It is extremely exciting to see our athletes excel across a variety of sports. With just over a year to go until the next Olympic Games in Paris, all eyes will turn there to see how our athletes do on the biggest stage of all.

David Wiseman is the co-founder of Follow Team Israel, a page devoted to sharing the stories of Israeli and Jewish sport to the world.