Israeli swimmer Ami Dadaon, who won two golds and one silver medal at the 2020 Summer Paralympics in Tokyo this past August and early September, adorned the olive khakis of the IDF for the first time on Tuesday to begin his military service.
"It's very exciting to be a soldier, I'm happy to have reached this day," he told Israel Hayom.
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Some 140 new volunteers enlisted to the IDF in recent days, which now places the number of special needs volunteers in the IDF at more than 2,000 – the most ever.
Dadaon was one of the stars of the Israeli delegation at the Paralympics. The 20-year-old, who was born with cerebral palsy and is handicapped in all four limbs, set a world record in the 200-meter men's freestyle race.
"The moment I received the gold medal and heard [Israel's national anthem] 'Hatikvah' in Tokyo was the most thrilling of my life," Dadaon said.
Dadaon will do his mandatory service at an Israeli Air Force technical base in Haifa in northern Israel. He is designated as an outstanding athlete and as such is eligible to combine his army service with intensive athletic training.
"To put on the uniform is a dream of mine from a young age. I received an exemption from the army due to my situation, and I needed to go through a long process to serve in the IDF. I wanted to be part of Israeli society and the IDF – which protects our country," Dadaon added.
Asked whether he views himself as a role model, he said he would like to be.
"I don't know if I'm a role model. I hope I'm influencing people to step outside their comfort zones and do things for themselves and for the country. From my perspective, in sports and in the army I am shedding my handicap, the stigma. I'm not handicapped; rather a good athlete and soldier, and I hope this affects people – with and without handicaps," he said.
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