Israeli Paralympian Ami Omer Dadaon secured his third swimming gold medal on Friday, finishing first in the men's 100m freestyle at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris, France. This victory marks Israel's second gold medal at the current games and brings the nation's total Paralympic medal count to 385, as reported by i24NEWS.

Dadaon broke the Paralympic record, finishing in 1:20.25 minutes and winning the final of the 100-meter freestyle in the S4 category. Reflecting on his mindset during the race, Dadaon shared, "When I'm in the water, I don't think about anything, only the race."

Dadaon, a world champion swimmer, acknowledged the challenges he faced during the competition. "It wasn't an easy race for me," he said in a post-race interview. Despite the difficulty, Dadaon expressed his pride in representing Israel internationally.

עמי דדאון, שזכה במדליית זהב בשחייה ל-100 מטר חופשי, שר בגאווה את המנון ״התקווה״.

עמי, אתה גאווה למדינת ישראל!

וידאו: @sport5il pic.twitter.com/G8p51UmEgK

— Benjamin Netanyahu - בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) August 31, 2024

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wrote on X, "Ami, you make the State of Israel proud!"

The athlete's performance not only showcased his personal achievement but also held a deeper significance for his home country. "I was able to represent the people of Israel. I have no words to describe this feeling," Dadaon said, highlighting the emotional weight of his victory. The gifted athlete kissed the Israeli flag emblem on his uniform after his victory. Despite the challenges posed by his cerebral palsy, Dadaon moved spectators by singing the Israeli national anthem during the medal ceremony. "I will sing Hatikvah. That's all I wanted – to represent the people of Israel in this period and to give them hope."

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The shallow depth of the temporary swimming pool at La Défense Arena in Paris, measuring only 2.15 meters compared to the recommended 3 meters, may be creating a 'wavy' effect that hinders record-setting performances. Swimmers and coaches have expressed concerns that the pool's shallowness could be causing it to be "slow" and hindering fast times.

Despite the use of advanced training techniques like "digital twins" using computer models to optimize performance, swimmers in Paris have not met expectations, with only one world record broken by August 1. The shallow pool depth of 2.15 meters is cited as a potential factor contributing to athletes falling short in performance.

Studies have shown that temporary pools can have disruptive currents compared to permanent pools, affecting swimmers' performances, and the depth of the pool may be hindering fast times.

Determining if the pool in Nanterre is 'slow' involves complex mathematical problems like the Navier-Stokes equations governing fluid flow, which are considered one of the seven Millennium Prize Problems in mathematics, with a reward of $1 million for solving them.

Previous swimming events like the 2013 FINA World Swimming Championships in Barcelona and the 2016 Rio Olympics have also seen debates about pool currents affecting swimmers' performances. Scientific analysis and statistical studies have shown evidence of lane-dependent differences in swimmers' performances due to current-related factors in pools.

Sources: Scientific American, NPR, The Guardian, ABC, Sportstar, The Hindu, The Conversation, Fox News, Economic Times, Foreign Affairs, Mirage News, Ottawa Citizen, Sporting News, Fox Sports, Fresno Bee, Sports Illustrated, Sports Business Journal, The Standard, Courier Mail, SwimSwam, The Times

This article was written in collaboration with Generative AI news company Alchemiq.

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As the Israeli delegation is on its way home from the World Swimming Championships held in the United Arab Emirates, the Wingate Institute in Netanya hosted the Arena Israeli short course championships on Tuesday in which swimmer Orian Gablan broke a long-standing Israeli record by finishing a 1,500-meter freestyle swim in 16:50.44 minutes.

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Gablan, 19, from Hapoel Hod Hasharon, broke a previous record set by former Olympic swimmer and now head of the Israel Swimming Association Adi Bichman in 1999 when she completed the distance in 17:10.29.

Open-water champion Eva Fabian – from Hapoel Beit Shemesh – finished second with 16:54.87, and Omer Schwartz – from Macabbi Kiryat Biyalik – came in third with 16:59.75, a new record for ages 15-16.

As for the men, Ido Gal – from Macabbi Kiryat Ono – finished first in 15:05.15, ahead of Yonatan Ahdut – from Hapoel Jerusalem Swim club – who completed the distance in 15:14.17. Yoav Romano came in third with 15:22.87.

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After winning the gold medal in the women's 50-meter breaststroke at the World Swimming Championships in Abu Dhabi on Friday, teen swimmer Anastasia Gorbenko scored another gold on Sunday when she won the 100-meter medley final.

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Gorbenko completed her swim in 57.80, a new personal best.

"This is my best time, what more could I ask? I came to have fun with my friends and do the best I can," Gorbenko said.

Culture and Sports Minister Chili Tropper said, "Anastasia Gorbenko does it again, proving herself a great athlete! Another gold medal in Abu Dhabi, and an unprecedented achievement. Congratulations on the second win, which is the result of hard work, leading to an enormous victory. We're proud of you, Anastasia."

On Friday, Gorbenko became the first Israeli to win a gold medal at the Short Course Championships.

"It's special to me and my country being here in Abu Dhabi after we have peace with them [the UAE]. Representing my county is such an honor," the swimmer said after her victory Friday.

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Just until two years ago, now-professional cyclist Goldie Gelhar had not done any sports in her life at all. Born and raised in the ultra-Orthodox city of Bnei Brak, she only attended one swimming lesson as a child, but dropped out after the teacher said she had "weak legs."

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"In the Haredi world, sports is not talked about that much, not for men and not for women, so most people live their lives without any physical exercise at all, until one day, they realize that without it, they cannot exactly live a long, happy life," Gelhar told Israel Hayom.

She herself came to such a realization and took up running, and later cycling.

"I got into it during the coronavirus, because I didn't have a job and had a lot of free time on my hands, and, frankly, felt like my body was rotting. This, of course, happened in other sectors as well, but especially by Haredim, because children did not study via Zoom and just sat at home doing nothing. I myself decided to go for a run and see how I feel."

Little did Gelhar know that she would come to love sports so much that less than two years later she would be training for the Ironman 70.3 triathlons in Tiberias – also known as the Half Ironman – which is taking place in Israel this year for the first time.

The competition, which is scheduled to be held on Nov. 12, consists of 1.9 kilometers of swimming, 90 kilometers of cycling, and 21.1 kilometers of running. It is considered an exceptionally challenging competition. In comparison, the Olympic triathlon is 1.5 kilometers of swimming, 40 kilometers of cycling, and 10 kilometers of running.

"I want to win and get on the podium, but I know that even if I don't, what I already do for myself and the ultra-Orthodox society is already my success," Gelhar said.

"When Haredi women ask me how I find the time for sports, I tell them that there's always a way. Not everyone has to participate in such competitions and train 17 hours a week like I do. Taking a Pilates class would already do wonders for ultra-Orthodox women. As for Haredi children, running alone would change their lives.

"I tell them that even spiritually speaking, the feeling you get when you run is unlike anything else. Ultra-Orthodox women have busy lifestyles, but even they get time off, the majority of which they do not devote to sports."

With an entire sector behind her, Gelhar dreams big.

"I don't think the state is doing enough to bring ultra-Orthodox women into the world of sports. I want to create a mixed running group for ultra-Orthodox and secular women that I think will contribute to Israeli society in terms of sport and many other ways," she said.

The first 40 participants to finish the Half Ironman will qualify for the 2022 Ironman 70.3 World Championship in New Zealand in December.

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Israeli Paralympic swimmer Iyad Shalabi won the gold medal for the 100-meter backstroke final in the S1 category at the Tokyo Paralympics on Wednesday, securing the first gold for Israel in this Paralympics and also becoming the first Arab Israeli to medal for Israel.

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Shalabi was born deaf and mute and was left a paraplegic after an accident he suffered when he was 13.

On Wednesday, he swam the 100 meters in 2:28.04.

Culture and Sports Minister Chili Tropper congratulated the swimmer for his "enormous success" in a Facebook post.

"Congratulations to our Israeli swimmer Iyad Shalabit, who won Israel's first gold medal at the Paralympic Games. Iyad is an inspiring person, whose life is full of victories. And today was another shining one… We're proud of you, Iyad!" Tropper wrote.

Shalabi could be awarded with a cash prize of 500,000 shekels ($155,000), like Israel's other Olympic medalists.

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Beating his own expectations, Israeli athlete Matan Roditi came in fourth in the 10-kilometer swimming competition at the Tokyo Olympics Thursday.

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Out of the 26 competitors, the 22-year-old athlete expected to finish in the top eight. Surprising his Olympic team, Roditi finished the competition in 1:49:01.1, coming in fourth.

"It's an incredible accomplishment," he said in an interview after the competition. "My goal was to finish in the top eight. Throughout the race, I tried to save my energy and [being in front of the field] gave me the boost I needed at the finish."

To put Roditi's achievement into perspective, he beat two medalists from the 2016 Rio Olympics: Ferry Weertman from the Netherlands who won a gold medal in Rio and came in seventh this time, and France's Marc-Antoine Olivier, who won a bronze medal in 2016 and came in sixth in Tokyo.

Raditi crossed the finish line just 23.8 seconds shy of Italy's Gregorio Paltrinieri who won the bronze. Germany's Florian Wellbrock won the gold (1:48:33.7) and Hungary's Kristof Rasovszky the silver (1:48:59.0).

The young swimmer, who became the first Israeli to participate in the 10-kilometer open water marathon, admitted that he would still have to work hard to get a medal but said he was "optimistic for the next Olympics."

i24NEWS contributed to this report. 

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Israel's 2021 beach season has been a deadly one so far, noting an alarming rise in drowning incidents on Israel's beaches, pools, waterways, and reservoirs.

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The weekend proved particularly deadly, with seven people losing their lives at the beach in the span of 24 hours.

According to data published by Magen David Adom emergency services, since swimming season began this March, 22 Israelis have lost their lives by drowning and 133 people required medical attention as a result of nearly drowning,

Twelve of the victims so far have been children

Sunday marked the UN-designated International Drowning Prevention Day. The World Health Organization pegs drowning as one of the top 10 causes of death for people aged 1-24 years.

Magen David Adom data shows that 61 of the incidents recorded over the past four months took place along Israel's Mediterranean shoreline, 13 in private pools, seven in guest houses, 21 in public pools, six in the Sea of Galilee, three in the Red Sea, 18 in the Dead Sea, and 12 in rivers and other bodies of water.

"Swimming in unauthorized beaches is forbidden and dangerous," a MDA paramedic warned. "Access to such areas is complex and makes it hard for medical emergency teams to reach the site in time to provide crucial, life-saving care.

"We call on the public to only go swimming in authorized beaches and solely during times when lifeguard towers are operating."

On Saturday alone, MDA paramedics reported the death of seven Israelis. Three of them drowned when swimming in unauthorized beaches, another three around boats, including a father and his 10-year old son, one incident occurred in a public pool in Jerusalem and another in a private pool in northern Israel.

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Israeli swimmer Anastasia Gorbenko, 17, has won a historic gold medal at the European Championships in Budapest this weekend, setting a new Israeli record for the 200-meter individual medley: 2:09:99.

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The young swimmer was the fastest qualifier in the semifinal, which she completed in 2:10:35, a new Israeli record before she proceeded to smash it in the final event.

In 2018, Gorbenko won the gold for the same event at the European Youth Olympic Games, and in 2019 won two silver medals at the European Youth Olympic Games.

Video: Israel Swimming Association

Gorbenko is only the second Israeli swimmer to become a European champion. She joins Jonathan Kopelev, who won the gold medal for the 50-meter backstroke in December 2012.

Gorbenko beat Abbie Wood of Britain by 4/100ths of a second.

After her golden performance, Gorbenko said, "It's hard to take in, but I'm really happy. I'm very surprised, realizing it slowly. I'm really proud of myself for proving that we're a very strong country. It was important to me, not for myself but for the country and what is happening there, because I can't be with my friends and family at this difficult time. Being the European champion with the Israeli flag makes me proud."

Culture and Sport Minister Chili Tropper congratulated Gorbenko for her "amazing achievement."

"Anastasia, who this summer has become European champion at only 17, and brings us pride after difficult days for Israel, signifies a rosy future for Israeli swimming," Tropper said.

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In an attempt to minimize such accidents this season, a number of haredi rabbis have published letters containing a rabbinical ruling about water safety, as well as other instructions about safe behavior while on vacation. The instructions in the ruling are based on the instructions issued by the Beterem organization, which advocates for children's safety in Israel.

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"As the school holidays approach, we are once again issuing warnings against the common dangers, both spiritual and physical," one of the three letters published by the rabbis states.

"Every person is commanded to pay attention, wherever he or his children or other family members visit, that their view of [the children] is not obscured," the rabbis wrote.

The rabbis also urged the haredi public not to set out on hikes unless they were properly prepared, to avoid swimming pools and reservoirs that were not fenced off, and to avoid beaches where lifeguards were not on duty, "and of course, beaches that have not been approved by rabbis."

Another letter signed by none other than Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef provides more detailed safety instructions, warning haredi families staying at vacation lodgings to "make sure that the pool is properly fenced off to a height of at least 1.10 meters, without a gate that can be opened by infants or young children."

Other signatories to the letters include Rabbi Shimon Baadani, Rabbi Chaim Yitzchak Isaac Landau and Rabbi Shevach Tzvi Rosenblatt.

Orly Silvinger, director-general of Beterem, said her organization welcomed the rabbinical initiative.

"We are happy the rabbis have enlisted to prevent drownings. Unfortunately, in recent years we are seeing an increase in the number of children who drown, especially at private pools. This affects every sector of Israeli society. We urge parents: Don't say, 'It won't happen to me' – take steps to prevent it. When at the beach, don't take your eyes off your children," Silvinger said.

Meanwhile, haredi society is also concerned about the moral dangers of beachgoing. Recently, large notices known as "pashkavalim" have been posted around the mostly-haredi Bnei Brak, urging women and girls to avoid visiting the beach entirely, even the "separate" beaches that have different, designated days for men and women.

The notices warn the women of the community that even the separate beaches are staffed by men who "come to enjoy themselves," a reference to lifeguards, members of the beach patrol, and cleaning staff.

The notices also express concern that "although the woman covers herself with a robe [over her bathing suit], it does not solve the problem and … the wet swimsuit sticks to the body and no god-fearing woman would go out in public like that."

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