Munich aside, could the Paris Olympics be the most terrifying Games in history for an Israeli athlete to take to the world stage?

Israeli cycling competitor Itamar Einhorn, whose life partner lost members of her family in the 2001 Sbarro terror attack in Jerusalem, does not go that far, but his apprehension is clear.

“I hope those against us will see we’re only trying to live a normal life and we’re not the monsters they make us out to be,” Einhorn, 26, told the JC.

The hostility began well before the opening ceremony.

Last week Israeli Olympians were targeted with death threats and, last Saturday, a hard-left French politician said Israeli athletes were not welcome.

This followed reports that Israel was sending armed Shin Bet agents to Paris to prepare for the largest-ever security operation for Israeli athletes at an Olympics.

“Security-wise, Israelis need to be safe; we need to protect ourselves and we will do it without a problem,” Einhorn said, adding, “we need to be aware of it.”

But, almost in the same breath, he displays typical Israeli resilience by saying: “Honestly, if it’s just some protest on the side of the road, I won’t give it much attention and will continue riding.”

Einhorn

The toughness developed among Israelis after October 7 could even provide its athletes with a special power, suggested Yael Arad, the president of the Olympic Committee of Israel, during a press conference at Ben Gurion Airport ahead of the team’s flight to Paris.

“In our internal, secret drawer, every one of us is taking all the strength of the Israeli people.

“We’re bringing with us the hostages, the fallen, the families, everything surrounding October 7 will be with us in our hearts,” she said.

It is a tragedy that this narrative of the beleaguered Jewish state is set to snatch the headlines from what is a true success story: Israel is taking almost 90 athletes to the Games, a huge number for such a tiny country.

Einhorn’s participation, along with four other Israeli cyclists, marks the first time the Jewish state has been represented in this sport at the Olympics for 64 years.

He was selected after winning four stages at the Tour de Rwanda and the Tour de Taiwan.

Having trained in Livigno, Italy, with his professional cycling team, Israel-Premier Tech, Einhorn will participate in the 276-km (171.5 miles) Men’s individual road race on August 3.

“Itamar is truly deserving of this selection, as he is the only Israeli to win international road races at this level. He has already won four races this year, and we are expecting even more success,” Sylvan Adams, co-owner of Israel-Premier Tech told the JC.

Itamar Einhorn

In January, Einhorn, who began his cycling career in 2017 at Israel-Premier Tech Academy, recorded a video calling on riders all over the world to join a solidarity ride organised by Israel-Premier Tech to raise awareness of the plight of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza.

Rotem Gafinovitz, 32, will be representing Israel at the women’s individual road cycling race on August 4.

Itamar Einhorn wins a stage at the Tour du Rwanda in 2024 (Image: Israel-Premier Tech)

She said: “I’ve been a cyclist for nearly 17 years. It’s my first Olympics. This was my dream. I ranked second in the last two pre-Olympic campaigns. I am really proud to have been selected this time.”

What message does she draw from her arrival at the Olympics? “Keep on following your dreams. I am proof that if you try hard enough, eventually, you’ll achieve your objectives and reach your dreams.”

Arad put it another way: “We feel like emissaries of the State of Israel – our athletes, every one of them, are here to achieve their dreams.

“But there is another layer, of a national mission… our first victory is that we’re here, that we didn’t give up.”