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An apartment used by a member of an Israeli bobsled team and other Olympians while they finished training for the Winter Olympics in Italy was robbed on Saturday, Israel’s bobsled pilot said.
AJ Edelman, a former Olympic skeleton athlete who is now a driver for Israel’s bobsled team, said in a social media post that passports and “thousands of dollars” worth of other items were among what was taken from the apartment.
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Adam Edelman and Regnars Kirejevs, Israel, compete in their second race during the two-man bobsled at the World Bobsled Championships, Saturday, March 8, 2025, in Lake Placid, New York. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson, File)
“What a season,” he added in the post.
Edelman said the team continued to practice even after an investigation was launched. He said how the team handled the day “is just such a fine example of how we push forward under difficult circumstances.”
“Such a gross violation – suitcases, shoes, equipment, passports stolen and the boys went straight back to training today. I really believe this team exemplifies the Israeli spirit.”
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Members of Israel’s bobsled team, from left, Uri Zisman, Omer Katz, AJ Edelman, Ward Farwaseh, Itamar Shprinz, pose at the Israel Olympic Committee headquarters on Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026, in Tel Aviv, Israel, before their departure for the 2026 Winter Olympics. (AP Photo/Julia Frankel)
He clarified to the Associated Press that he was in Italy but was not at the scene of the robbery. He said team coach Itamar Shprinz was there, but it was not clear if he witnessed the robbery or was around when it happened.
The Israeli Olympic Committee did not immediately comment on the issue. Israel is competing in bobsleigh at the Olympics for the first time ever. The team qualified after Great Britain decided not to take one of its two allocated places for the Milan Cortina Games.
The team has dubbed the team “Shul Runnings” as they get ready for their Olympic participation.
“Some call them Shul Runnings,” Israel’s official X account wrote on Thursday. “Others call them the little sled that could. We call them the team that made it happen. The first ever Olympic bobsled team for Israel.”
Israel’s flag bearer Mariia Seniuk arrives during the Olympic opening ceremony at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, Friday, Feb. 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
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Official bobsleigh training in Cortina d’Ampezzo begins next Thursday.
