Tokyo 2020

Ahead of the final, Fox was the top qualifier with the fastest time in the semifinals. Yet as she paddled in her final race, “it didn’t go to plan,” Fox said. “I had to fight all the way down.”

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett spoke to the 25-year-old athlete after his elimination and called him "a great pride" for Israel.

A triathlon consists of three parts, swimming, cycling, and running, and competitors are ranked based on their overall time. It has been featured in the Olympic Games since the year 2000.

President Herzog congratulated Semberg for "making history" and "being an inspiration to many children in Israel," while PM Bennett described her achievement as a "prime example of determination"

At the last Games in Rio de Janeiro Israel captured three bronze medals with two of those athletes returning to action in the 2020 version of the Games.

After shockingly qualifying for the Olympics, blue-and-white is one of just six teams who will compete in Tokyo, making a miraculous medal well within reach.

While, due to COVID-19 restrictions, only Games-related foreigners were initially allowed to enter Japan, organizers have now given the opportunity to athletes to have their children in Japan.

Judoka Fethi Nourine and his coach Amar Benikhlef annouced their withdrawal from the Olympic competition to avoid meeting an Israeli athlete during the event.

Bird — whose paternal grandparents immigrated to the US from what is now Ukraine in the early 1900s and changed their surname from “Boorda” to “Bird” — also holds Israeli citizenship.

The Jewish state has won nine medals in its entire Olympics history. But AP predicts that the Israel delegation will win seven medals this year.