Israel’s historic first Olympic bobsled team was robbed of passports, equipment, and thousands of dollars in personal items just days before competition—yet another attack targeting Israeli athletes on the world stage.
Story Snapshot
- Thieves stole passports, suitcases, shoes, and bobsled equipment worth thousands from Israel’s Olympic team apartment during final training in Europe on February 7, 2026
- The robbery occurred one day after Israeli athletes were booed at the Milan Winter Games opening ceremony, highlighting ongoing hostility toward Jewish competitors
- Team pilot AJ Edelman praised his teammates for immediately returning to training, calling their response a demonstration of the “Israeli Spirit”
- The stolen passports threaten to delay team members’ travel as official training begins February 12 in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy
Robbery Targets Historic Team Days Before Competition
Thieves broke into an apartment housing Israel’s inaugural Olympic bobsled team on Saturday, February 7, 2026, stealing passports, suitcases, shoes, equipment, and items valued at thousands of dollars. The robbery occurred at an undisclosed European training location as the team prepared for its historic debut at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. Local police launched an investigation immediately, though no arrests or recoveries have been reported. Team pilot AJ Edelman confirmed the incident on social media, stating the athletes returned to training the same day despite the violation.
Timing Raises Serious Security Concerns
The theft came just one day after Israeli athletes faced boos upon entering the opening ceremony at Milan’s San Siro stadium, reflecting broader hostility toward Jewish competitors linked to geopolitical tensions. The timing appears calculated to disrupt the team’s final preparations before official bobsled training sessions begin Thursday, February 12, in Cortina d’Ampezzo. The stolen passports create logistical nightmares for team members still scheduled to depart for Italy this week, potentially requiring emergency travel documents. This incident underscores the vulnerability of Israeli athletes abroad and raises questions about adequate security provisions for teams facing targeted harassment.
Team Demonstrates Resilience Amid Adversity
AJ Edelman, who pilots both the two-man and four-man sleds, described the robbery as “such a gross violation” but praised his teammates’ immediate return to training. The former skeleton Olympian and first Orthodox Jewish Winter Olympian wrote on social media that the team “exemplifies the Israeli Spirit” through their determination. The squad, nicknamed “Shul Runnings” in a blend of Jewish cultural references and bobsled tradition, qualified for Milan-Cortina when Great Britain declined one of its allocated spots. Israel fields only nine Olympians and one Paralympian for these Games, with the bobsled team competing in both two-man and four-man events despite never having medaled in Winter Olympic history.
The robbery carries significant economic and operational costs beyond the immediate theft. Bobsled equipment is expensive and specialized, requiring potential emergency replacements before competition begins. The stolen passports force diplomatic scrambles for emergency documentation during critical final training days. Team members Menachem Chen, Ward Fawarseh, and Omer Katz face disrupted preparations alongside coach Itamar Shprinz, who was present near the robbery site. The Israel Olympic Committee has not issued public statements beyond confirming the investigation, leaving Edelman as the primary voice detailing the team’s response to this setback.
Pattern of Hostility Toward Israeli Athletes
This robbery fits within a troubling pattern of hostility facing Israeli athletes at international competitions. The booing at the opening ceremony demonstrates how global sports venues have become platforms for anti-Israel sentiment, often crossing into antisemitism under the guise of political protest. Israeli competitors routinely face boycotts, protests, and now apparently theft targeting their ability to compete. The targeting of temporary housing during pre-Games training reveals security gaps that leave athletes vulnerable. For conservative Americans who value merit-based competition and reject the politicization of sports, this incident illustrates how leftist globalist agendas enable discrimination against Jewish athletes on the world stage.
from @HumanEvents #israel #olympicshttps://t.co/rxMpWY1slK
— Follow Me On GETTR Instead. I’m @AmericasMansMan (@PeterVadala) February 9, 2026
Despite these obstacles, the Israeli bobsled team’s determination to continue training immediately after the violation demonstrates the kind of resilience that transcends politics. Their refusal to be intimidated mirrors the perseverance conservatives admire—pushing forward despite adversity rather than claiming victimhood. As official competition approaches, this small team carries not just national pride but the burden of competing while targeted for their identity. The investigation continues with no reported progress toward recovering the stolen items or identifying suspects, leaving the team to focus on their historic Olympic debut under extraordinarily difficult circumstances.
Sources:
Israeli bobsled team’s apartment robbed ahead of Milan Winter Games, says athlete – Times of Israel
Israeli bobsled team apartment robbed ahead of Winter Olympics, competitor says – Fox News
