Israeli Athletics Welcomes Rising High Jump Star Joshua 'JJ' Harel
Joshua "JJ" Harel, a promising young athlete with triple citizenship (Israeli, American, Australian), has officially chosen to represent Israel in international athletics. Born in Sydney and raised partly in Israel and the United States, Harel has a strong personal and emotional connection to Israel, frequently visiting family in Herzliya and Rehovot. On the eve of the World U20 Athletics Championships, he decided to compete under the Israeli flag, aiming to bring success to a country with few representatives in his sport.
Harel, 18 years old next month, is a high jumper with exceptional talent, boasting a personal best of 2.20 meters and a record jump of 1.96 meters at age 13, which remains a U14 competition record in the US. At the recent World U20 Championships in Eugene, Oregon, he placed eighth with 2.17 meters but felt he could have medaled if not for an injury. His coach and talent scout, Grigory Gershkovich of Maccabi Tel Aviv Athletics, praises Harel’s coordination, lightness, and all-around athleticism, even dreaming of him surpassing 2.40 meters in the future.
Harel trains under the legendary American high jumper Dwight Stones, a two-time Olympic bronze medalist and former world record holder, who converted to Judaism in 1995. Stones, who lives in California, highlights Harel’s injury challenges but believes that if he stays healthy, he could soon clear 2.26 meters and potentially 2.30 meters, placing him among the world’s elite. Their connection was facilitated by a local synagogue cantor who introduced Harel’s family to Stones.
Beyond athletics, Harel is noted for his academic dedication, having accelerated his math studies with help from his grandfather, a physics and math PhD. He proudly embraces his Jewish and Israeli identity, often wearing a large Star of David and laying tefillin, despite the current tense political climate. He describes Israel as "the most fun country in the world," unaffected by regional conflicts during his visits.
Harel has committed to the University of Southern California, where he will study business administration and compete in collegiate athletics starting next season. His goals include reaching the NCAA finals and winning medals, as well as breaking the Israeli U20 high jump record of 2.30 meters and succeeding at the 2027 European Junior Championships in Poland. His emergence alongside Israeli champion Yonatan Kapitolnik signals a bright future for Israeli high jumping.
