Israeli bobsled pilot says team apartment was robbed ahead of Milan Cortina Winter Games

Israeli Olympic Bobsled Team Robbed in Italy Ahead of Winter Games

Israeli bobsled pilot AJ Edelman reported Saturday that the apartment used by members of the Israeli Olympic team was robbed while they finished training for the upcoming Milan Cortina Winter Games. According to Edelman, the thieves took passports and “thousands of dollars” worth of items.

The robbery comes at a critical moment for the team, which is preparing to make history as Israel’s first-ever Olympic bobsled entry. Some team members have not yet arrived in Italy and are expected to travel from their undisclosed training location to the Olympic venue this week.

Despite the setback, Edelman emphasized the team’s resilience in a series of social media posts. “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,” he wrote on X. The team continued their training schedule even as police launched an investigation into the theft.

Edelman himself was elsewhere in Italy when the robbery occurred. Team coach Itamar Shprinz, an Israeli cross-fit athlete, was reportedly at the location, though it remains unclear whether he witnessed the robbery firsthand or was simply nearby when it happened.

The Israeli Olympic Committee has yet to issue an official statement regarding the incident.

Israel’s path to Olympic bobsled competition came through an unexpected opportunity when Britain declined one of its two allocated spots for the Milan Cortina Games. As the next team in line according to Olympic qualification rankings, Israel accepted the invitation to compete.

The team plans to participate in both two-man and four-man bobsled events, with Edelman driving in both competitions. Menachem Chen is expected to serve as his push athlete in the two-man race, while Ward Fawarseh and Omer Katz will join the crew for the four-man competition. Official bobsled training in Cortina d’Ampezzo begins Thursday.

The Israeli team represents several milestones for Olympic diversity. Edelman, who previously competed in skeleton at the 2018 Pyeongchang Games, is believed to be the first Orthodox Jew to ever participate in a Winter Olympics. Meanwhile, Farwaseh is likely to become the first Druze athlete to compete at the Olympic level.

This Olympic appearance comes during a particularly challenging time for Israeli athletes on the international stage. Israel’s participation in global sporting events has faced boycotts, bans, and backlash related to the ongoing conflict in Gaza. According to the Gaza health ministry, the war has resulted in more than 71,800 Palestinian deaths and caused widespread destruction throughout the territory.

The theft highlights the additional challenges faced by the pioneering Israeli team as they prepare for their historic Olympic debut. Despite losing essential personal items and equipment just days before official training begins, the team’s determination to continue their Olympic journey demonstrates remarkable perseverance.

The Milan Cortina Winter Olympics are set to begin on February 6, 2026, with bobsled competitions typically scheduled during the latter half of the Games. This marks a significant moment for Israel’s winter sports program, which has historically had limited representation at the Winter Olympics due to the country’s warm climate and lack of natural snow resources.

Cortina d’Ampezzo, a picturesque mountain resort in northern Italy’s Dolomites, will host the sliding events, including bobsled, luge, and skeleton competitions. The venue previously hosted the 1956 Winter Olympics and is known for its challenging track.