Ami Dadaon Wins Second Paralympic Gold for Israel, Sets New Record in 100m Freestyle

Israeli swimmer Ami Dadaon has secured Israel's second gold medal at the Paris Paralympics, claiming victory in the men’s 100-meter freestyle S4 event. The 23-year-old Haifa native finished the race in 1:20.25, nearly a second and a half ahead of his closest competitor from Japan, earning his third career Paralympic gold medal.

Dadaon's achievement is even more remarkable considering that he set a new Paralympic record earlier in the heats with a time of 1:19.33. He also holds the world record in this event for his disability classification, with an impressive 1:18.94 recorded at the 2023 World Para Swimming Championships.

Born with cerebral palsy, Dadaon began swimming at the age of six. His journey from a young swimmer to a Paralympic champion has been nothing short of inspirational. Speaking after his win, Dadaon shared his deep sense of pride and the significance of representing Israel on the global stage. "I was able to represent the people of Israel, I have no words to describe [the feeling]," he told Haaretz. "When I’m in the water, I don’t think about anything, only the race. But now I know that I will sing Hatikvah during this time, that’s all I wanted — to represent the people of Israel in this period and to give them hope."

This gold medal adds to Dadaon's impressive list of achievements. At the Tokyo Paralympics, he won three medals: gold in the 200-meter freestyle S4, gold in the 50-meter freestyle S4, and silver in the 150-meter individual medley. Over the years, he has accumulated seven gold medals at World Championships and nine at European Championships.

Dadaon’s victory follows closely on the heels of another Israeli triumph at the Paris Paralympics, where taekwondo athlete Asaf Yasur also won gold. As Dadaon stood on the podium, he not only celebrated his victory but also carried the hopes and pride of his nation, demonstrating once again the resilience and talent of Israel's athletes on the world stage.

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