Israel Wins First Ever Deaf Swimming European Championship Medal
Translated & summarized from Mako by baba
Natan Gutfeld, 21, won Israel's first-ever medal in deaf swimming at the European Championships in Germany, securing a silver in the 50m breaststroke. Gutfeld's historic achievement was celebrated by the Israel Sports Association for the Deaf, with its chairman calling it unprecedented pride for the nation. Gutfeld expressed his dream come true and promised further success, aiming for future competitions.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Natan Gutfeld won Israel's first-ever silver medal in deaf swimming at the European Championships.
- The 21-year-old swimmer competed in the 50-meter breaststroke event in Freiburg, Germany.
- Gutfeld's time was 29.17 seconds, placing him behind Russia's Alexander Diatlov.
- He previously finished fifth at the Deaflympics in Tokyo 2025.
- The achievement was hailed as historic and unprecedented pride for Israel's deaf sports community.
Natan Gutfeld, a 21-year-old swimmer for the Israeli national deaf team, made history by winning a silver medal at the European Deaf Swimming Championships in Freiburg, Germany. This marks Israel's first-ever medal in the history of the European Championships for deaf swimmers. Gutfeld secured the silver in the 50-meter breaststroke event with a time of 29.17 seconds. The gold medal went to Russia's Alexander Diatlov (29.08 seconds), and Croatia's Nikola Zdrilić took bronze (29.85 seconds).
Gutfeld, who previously competed in the Deaflympics in Tokyo 2025, finishing fifth in the same event, demonstrated strong composure, determination, and mental fortitude during the competition. Reflecting on his achievement, Gutfeld stated, "I am still processing this moment. Standing on the podium in Europe, and knowing I made history for the country and for the deaf community in Israel is a dream come true. The path to Tokyo and the hard work over the past year prepared me for this moment, but there is no feeling in the world like bringing honor to my family, coaches, the association, and all the people of Israel. This medal is for everyone, and I promise this is just the beginning."
Jimmy Hazbani, Chairman of the Israel Sports Association for the Deaf (ISAD), congratulated Gutfeld, calling the achievement "enormous and unprecedented pride for deaf sports and for the entire State of Israel." Hazbani emphasized that the medal is the result of years of perseverance, dedication, and hard work, adding, "We saw true champion's character in Freiburg. All of us in the association and the people of Israel stand behind him, are excited with him, and are confident he will continue to lead us to new heights."
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