Injured Elite Commando Returns to Elite Cycling Competition
Translated & summarized from N12 by baba
A former Israeli Enduro champion and elite commando, known as D, has returned to competitive cycling after being severely wounded in the face during combat on October 7th. Shot in Be'eri, he suffered a shattered jaw and underwent extensive surgeries and rehabilitation. Despite ongoing pain and nerve damage, he has resumed military service and is now competing in the Winner Epic Israel race, adapting his riding to protect his jaw.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Elite commando D, a former Israeli Enduro champion, is returning to competitive cycling after a severe facial injury.
- D was shot in the face and suffered a shattered jaw during combat in Kibbutz Be'eri on October 7th.
- He underwent extensive surgeries and a year-long rehabilitation, including bone grafts and gum transplants.
- Despite ongoing pain and nerve damage, D has returned to military reserve duty.
- He is now competing in the Winner Epic Israel race, adapting his riding style to protect his jaw.
- D and his girlfriend, who also serves in his unit, have become engaged.
A former Israeli Enduro champion and elite commando, identified only as D, is returning to competitive cycling after sustaining a severe facial injury during combat on October 7th. D, a member of the naval commando unit Shayetet 13, was shot in the face while fighting Hamas terrorists in Kibbutz Be'eri. The bullet shattered his jaw, leading to extensive rehabilitation.
Before the war, D was a national champion in Enduro mountain biking, a discipline requiring high technical skill and fitness. On October 7th, he was called up for reserve duty and deployed to the Gaza border. During an engagement in Be'eri, his unit came under heavy fire, and he was hit while trying to align with his comrades. He described the immediate aftermath, feeling as though his face had fallen off and spitting out a tooth.
D underwent a seven-hour surgery and faced a long recovery, during which his mouth was completely wired shut for three months, allowing only liquid intake. He has since undergone multiple reconstructive surgeries, including bone grafts to his jaw and gum transplants. He recently regained the ability to wear a helmet and has been gradually returning to cycling.
Despite ongoing pain and nerve damage, including missing teeth and difficulty sleeping on his side, D has returned to military reserve duty and is now competing again. He is participating in the Winner Epic Israel race, a four-day, 300-kilometer marathon event. While he has adapted his riding style to avoid high-risk maneuvers that could endanger his jaw, he expressed excitement about returning to the competitive atmosphere.
D's girlfriend, who also serves in the same unit, was at a command center and received updates on casualties, experiencing significant distress. The couple has since become engaged and plans to marry soon.
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