Israeli Paralympian Ami Omer Dadaon. (Twitter Screenshot)
‘I was able to represent the people of Israel. I have no words to describe this feeling,’ said Dadaon.
By Miri Weissman, JNS
Israeli Paralympian Ami Omer Dadaon on Friday finished first in the men’s 100m freestyle at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris, France.
The 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 finished with a time of 1:20.25, winning the final of the 100-meter freestyle in the S4 category.
In an earlier heat, he broke a Paralympic record with a time of 1:19.33.
Reflecting on his mindset during the race, Dadaon shared, “When I’m in the water, I don’t think about anything, only the race.”
Responding to the win, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu tweeted, “Ami, you are the pride of the State of Israel!”
The athlete’s performance not only showcased his personal achievement but also held a deeper significance.
“I was able to represent the people of Israel. I have no words to describe this feeling,” said Dadaon.
The 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,” he said.
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