New York – May 28, 2025
AJ Edelman, an American-born Israeli Olympian and captain of Israel’s bobsled team, is battling financial hardship to keep his dream of leading Team Israel to the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan alive. The 34-year-old Modern Orthodox Jew, who made history as Israel’s first sliding sport Olympian at the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics, is pouring his personal savings, loans, and fundraising efforts into building a competitive bobsled program for a nation with no winter sports infrastructure.
Edelman’s journey began in 2014 when, fresh out of MIT with a degree in mechanical engineering, he took up skeleton—a high-speed sliding sport—with little experience, driven by a passion to represent Israel. After competing in the 2018 Olympics, he shifted his focus to bobsled, aiming to pilot Israel’s first-ever bobsled team to the Olympics. Despite a near-miss for the 2022 Beijing Games, where his team fell just 0.2 seconds short of qualification, Edelman’s resolve remains unshaken. “The mission is bigger than me,” he said in a recent interview. “It’s about showing the world what Israel can achieve and inspiring the next generation.”
Bobsled is a resource-intensive sport, with sleds costing up to $100,000, blades $10,000, and each practice run $65. Israel, lacking a bobsled track or significant government funding, relies entirely on private donations, which have been scarce. Edelman has personally funded much of the team’s efforts, taking out six-figure loans and even auctioning his 2018 Olympic ring to cover costs. “I’ve spent every penny I have,” he admitted, noting that the team would have been the least-funded at the 2022 Olympics had they qualified.
In 2020, Edelman launched “Operation Medal ’26,” a privately funded initiative to develop Israel’s bobsled program into a world-class contender. The team, known as BobTeam Israel, is a diverse group, including Jewish, Druze, and LGBTQ+ athletes, reflecting Israel’s societal mosaic. Edelman recruited teammates like Moran Nijem and cousins Amir and Ward Fawarsy, Israeli Arabs from the national rugby team, emphasizing meritocracy and unity. “Nobody gets in my sled unless Israel is their only motivation,” he said.
Despite setbacks, including the 2023 Gaza War drafting five teammates into the Israel Defense Forces, Edelman achieved historic milestones. In 2023, he led Israel to its first sanctioned bobsled podium, and in March 2024, secured an overall podium in the North American Cup—the first for an Israeli. These successes have fueled his determination, but funding remains a critical hurdle.
Edelman’s personal sacrifices extend beyond finances. A survivor of depression since childhood, he has faced mental health challenges exacerbated by the physical toll of sliding sports, which carry risks of brain trauma. Yet, his commitment to advocacy—promoting mental health, anti-bullying, and LGBTQ+ inclusion in sports—keeps him grounded. He credits his Shiba Inu, LuLu, for helping him through tough times and uses his platform to inspire others.
The road to 2026 is steep. Edelman, now training with new recruits due to ongoing conflicts limiting team availability, is innovating to cut costs, redesigning specialized bobsled shoes to improve performance and affordability. His GoFundMe campaign, aiming for $150,000, offers donors chances to win Olympic memorabilia, but the team still faces a funding gap.
“I’m not just chasing a medal,” Edelman said. “I’m fighting for Israel’s place on the winter sports stage and for every kid who dreams big.” Supporters can contribute at bobteamisrael.com or follow Edelman’s journey on social media (@ajedelman). As he prepares for the 2026 season, Edelman’s story remains a testament to resilience, unity, and the power of an underdog’s dream.