The Israeli bobsled team made a bold Winter Games debut in Milan Cortina, only to face a late setback when their apartment was ransacked and “thousands of dollars” in gear plus passports were stolen; despite the theft, team leaders and athletes pushed straight back into training and insisted their focus remains on competing in the two-man and four-man events later in February.
A diverse group of athletes—former pole-vaulters, sprinters, shot-putters, rugby players, and a skeleton veteran—assembled Israel’s first Olympic bobsled squad and brought energy and cheeky nicknames to the village, calling themselves “Shul Runnings” in a nod to the film Cool Runnings and their unique cultural identity.
TEL AVIV (AP) — Feel the rhythm, feel the rhyme. Get on up, Israel, it’s bobsled time!
A handful of diverse athletes — a pole-vaulter, sprinter, shot-putter, rugby player, and former Olympian in skeleton — will compete as Israel’s first bobsled team during this year’s Milan Cortina Winter Games.[…]
Most of these guys had never touched a sled before this season. Their leader, AJ Edelman, is believed to be the first Orthodox Jew to ever compete in a Winter Games. Another founding member of the team, Ward Farwaseh, will likely to be the first Druze Olympian.
The group’s arrival in Italy was timed to allow extra practice before their competition dates, and early sessions were intended to build familiarity with sleds and the track. That preparation was interrupted when, according to posts from team members, their apartment was broken into and personal and team items were taken.
AJ Edelman wrote on X that the team’s apartment was ransacked and that “thousands of dollars of stuff and passports were stolen.” He expressed frustration with the situation and a weary “What a season…” while also updating supporters about the immediate aftermath.
As for how Edelman describes his long journey to Italy?
He puts his own spin on the 1993 movie “Cool Runnings,” based somewhat on the Jamaican bobsled team’s Olympic team from 1988. Using the Yiddish word for synagogue, he says he is thinking of this one as “Shul Runnings.”
Despite the loss and inconvenience of missing gear and travel documents, the team’s response was practical and forward-looking: they returned to training rather than pausing to regroup. Edelman highlighted that instant resilience as a defining trait, saying the team keeps moving even when things go wrong.
I have to say, the @israelbobsled Team is just such a fine example of how we push forward in difficult circumstances. Such a gross violation–suitcases, shoes, equipment, passports stolen, and the boys headed right back to training today. I really believe this team exemplifies the Israeli Spirit.
It was reportedly unclear whether anyone on the team directly witnessed the break-in, though team coach Itamar Shprinz was present at the time, according to reporting that relayed Edelman’s comments. The lack of a first-hand account complicates the immediate narrative but does not change the practical problem the athletes now face.
There is also the wider context to consider: some observers noted that rising antisemitism in parts of Europe makes it natural to ask whether the theft was targeted, but no conclusive link has been established. For the athletes on the ground, the priority remains gear, documentation, and a clear path to competing.
The Israeli crew is scheduled to compete in the two-man bobsled on Feb. 16–17 and then aim for the four-man event on Feb. 21–22. Those dates will be when all the training, improvisation, and grit are put to the test on the ice, and the team will be hoping to translate determination into a clean run.
The story has attracted attention not just because of the theft, but because of the broader narrative: a small, unconventional team breaking into a new sport, representing minority identities within the Israeli delegation, and trying to establish a presence on a global stage. That underdog energy has been a recurring theme in coverage and in the team’s own messaging.
Loss of equipment and passports is a serious logistical blow for any Olympic group, given tight schedules and the importance of specialized gear for performance and safety. Organizers and the team have had to scramble to replace items or find workarounds while keeping training blocks intact ahead of competition days.
Supporters and neutral observers alike have taken note of how quickly the athletes pivoted from an upsetting incident back to the work at hand, framing the reaction as a form of moral victory and a signal of team cohesion. The squad’s playful self-branding and determination have amplified interest in their Olympic debut.
Fans curious about sled aesthetics and the team’s setup have been sharing images and commentary about equipment and designs, and the athletes themselves have been posting updates from the Olympic village. Those visuals help bring the unusual story of Israel’s first bobsled team to a wider audience.
The theft is a setback, but the team’s focus remains competitive performance and staying safe while on the road. Extra precautions and replacements for stolen items will be part of the final race preparations as the athletes aim to honor their debut and compete cleanly in Milan Cortina.
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