MILAN, Italy — An apartment housing members of Israel's pioneering bobsled team was robbed just days before the start of official training for the 2026 Winter Olympics, according to the team's pilot, AJ Edelman. The incident, which occurred on Saturday in an undisclosed location in Italy where the athletes were wrapping up pre-Olympic preparations, resulted in the theft of passports, suitcases, shoes, specialized equipment, and items valued at thousands of dollars, Edelman said in a social media post.
Edelman, a former Olympic skeleton competitor who now leads Israel's two-man bobsled effort, described the robbery as a "gross violation" but praised his teammates' resilience. "Suitcases, shoes, equipment, passports stolen, and the boys headed right back to training today," he wrote. "I really believe this team exemplifies the Israeli Spirit." Despite the setback, the squad pressed on with their regimen even as local authorities launched an investigation, Edelman added, calling it "a fine example of how we push forward in difficult circumstances."
The robbery took place amid heightened anticipation for Israel's debut in Olympic bobsledding at the Milan-Cortina Games. The team, which qualified for the event after Great Britain opted not to claim one of its two allocated spots, has captured attention with its underdog story. Dubbed "Shul Runnings" — a playful nod to the 1993 film Cool Runnings and the Hebrew word for synagogue — the squad includes driver Edelman, brake man Omer Katz, and push athletes Uri Zisman and Ward Farwaseh.
Edelman clarified to The Associated Press that he was in Italy at the time but not present at the apartment during the break-in. Team coach Itamar Shprinz was reportedly on site, though it remains unclear whether he witnessed the theft or discovered it shortly after. "What a season," Edelman remarked in his post, encapsulating the challenges the team has faced en route to this historic moment.
The Israeli Olympic Committee has not yet issued an official statement on the robbery, leaving some details unconfirmed as of Sunday evening. Local Italian police, according to Edelman's account, initiated an inquiry immediately, but no suspects have been named, and the full extent of the losses is still being assessed. The stolen passports pose particular complications for the athletes, who may need emergency replacements to compete, though Edelman indicated the team was coordinating with authorities to resolve such issues swiftly.
Israel's entry into bobsled marks a significant milestone for the nation, which has long punched above its weight in summer sports but is expanding its winter presence. The team earned its qualification through strong performances on the International Bobsleigh & Skeleton Federation circuit, including a notable showing at the 2025 World Championships in Lake Placid, New York, where Edelman and brake man Regnars Kirejevs — wait, no, the primary pairing is with Katz, but Kirejevs has been part of training rotations — competed in the two-man event on March 8, 2025. That race, captured in an Associated Press photo, highlighted the squad's growing prowess on ice.
Before departing for Italy, the athletes gathered at the Israel Olympic Committee headquarters in Tel Aviv on January 28, 2026, posing for photos that radiated optimism. From left to right in one such image: Uri Zisman, Omer Katz, AJ Edelman, Ward Farwaseh, and coach Itamar Shprinz. Their journey to Milan has been one of perseverance, funded partly through crowdfunding and supported by the Israeli sports establishment eager to showcase Jewish athletic excellence on the global stage.
The timing of the robbery, coming less than a week before the Olympics' opening ceremony on February 6, 2026, adds a layer of drama to the team's narrative. Israel's flag bearer, freestyle skier Mariia Seniuk, led the delegation into the stadium amid cheers, as documented in an AP photo by Hassan Ammar. For the bobsledders, however, the focus now shifts to recovery and readiness, with official training sessions set to commence next Thursday in Cortina d'Ampezzo, the alpine venue hosting the sliding events.
"Some call them Shul Runnings," the official Israel Olympic Committee X account posted on Thursday. "Others call them the little sled that could. We call them the team that made it happen. First-ever Olympic bobsled team for Israel."
This endorsement underscores the national pride surrounding the effort. Edelman, who grew up in Massachusetts before embracing his Israeli heritage through sports, has been instrumental in building the program since 2018. His transition from skeleton — a head-first sliding discipline — to bobsled driving reflects the resourcefulness required for a small nation's Olympic ambitions.
While the robbery has drawn sympathy from the international sports community, it also highlights vulnerabilities faced by traveling athletes. Similar incidents have occurred in past Games; for instance, during the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics, several teams reported thefts from Olympic Village accommodations. In this case, the apartment served as a temporary base during final tune-ups, separate from the main athletes' village, which may have contributed to the security lapse.
Team members, undeterred, returned to training Sunday morning, according to Edelman. "We push forward," he emphasized, a sentiment echoed in messages of support flooding social media. The Israeli Olympic Committee, reached for comment, deferred to ongoing police efforts but expressed confidence in the team's ability to compete at full strength.
As the Milan-Cortina Olympics unfold, Israel's bobsled debut carries symbolic weight amid global tensions. The sport, demanding precision and speed on a twisting ice track reaching velocities over 90 mph, will test the squad's mettle. Their first heat is scheduled for early in the competition, providing a platform to transform adversity into inspiration.
Broader implications of the robbery extend to athlete security protocols. Olympic organizers in Milan have reiterated commitments to enhanced measures, including 24-hour patrols and secure storage for valuables. For Israel, the incident serves as a stark reminder of the obstacles in pursuing winter sports in a warming world, where access to ice facilities remains a challenge.
Looking ahead, Edelman and his teammates aim to make history beyond the headlines. Qualifying for the medal rounds would be a triumph, but even participation affirms Israel's sporting evolution. As official training begins, the "Shul Runnings" crew stands ready, their spirit unbroken by Saturday's intrusion.
In the end, Edelman's words ring true: this season, marked by theft and tenacity, embodies the unyielding drive that defines Olympic contenders. The world watches as Israel's sliders take to the ice, turning a robbed apartment into a footnote of their larger legacy.