Israeli Olympic Bobsled Team Faces Setback as Training Apartment is Robbed
Milan Cortina, Italy – February 7, 2026 – The Israeli Olympic bobsled team experienced a notable disruption to their preparations for the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics after their training apartment was robbed on Saturday, with passports and valuable belongings stolen [[1]]. Despite the setback, the team demonstrated resilience, continuing their training regimen even as police launched an investigation.
This marks a historic moment for Israel, as it is the first time the nation will be represented in bobsleigh at the Olympic Games [[2]]. The delegation comprises nine athletes competing across five diffrent disciplines, with the bobsled team at the forefront of this groundbreaking participation.
AJ Edelman, the team’s driver and a former Olympic skeleton athlete, shared details of the incident on social media, emphasizing the team’s determination to overcome the adversity. “Such a gross violation – suitcases, shoes, equipment, passports stolen, and the boys headed right back to training today,” Edelman posted. “I really believe this team exemplifies the israeli Spirit.”
While some team members have yet to arrive in Italy, those present, including coach Itamar Shprinz, where affected by the robbery. Edelman, who was not at the apartment during the incident, highlighted the team’s commitment to pushing forward despite the challenging circumstances.
Israel secured its Olympic berth after Great Britain relinquished one of its two allocated spots for the Milan Cortina Games. The team plans to compete in both the two-man and four-man events, with Edelman at the helm of both sleds. Menachem Chen will join Edelman in the two-man race, while Ward Fawarseh and Omer Katz are slated to complete the four-man team [[3]].
Official bobsled training is scheduled to commence on Thursday in Cortina d’Ampezzo. Edelman is poised to become the first Orthodox Jew to compete in a Winter Games, and Fawarseh is anticipated to be the first Druze Olympian.
The team’s participation arrives amidst a complex geopolitical landscape, with Israel’s presence in international sports facing scrutiny and calls for boycotts related to the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Despite these external pressures, the Israeli bobsled team remains focused on representing their nation and making history on the Olympic stage.
Keywords: Israeli Olympic Team,bobsled,milan Cortina Winter Olympics,AJ Edelman,Olympic Robbery,Winter Olympics,Israel Olympics,International Sports,Olympic History,Winter Sports.