Israel’s Olympic team shattered expectations at this year’s Paris Games by clinching a record-breaking number of medals for their country.

Facing death threats and a raucous crowd of antisemites, Israel’s athletes refused to be intimidated. Instead, they responded with a strong performance that saw them secure one gold, five silver, and one bronze medal. The Israeli contingent’s performance was nothing short of miraculous, especially when compared to the poor showing of India, a nation with over a billion people that limped away with a mere six medals.

The medals were won across several fields, with standout performances in sailing, judo, and gymnastics. Tom Reuveny clinched gold in windsurfing, following in the footsteps of his coach Gal Fridman, who won the same event in Athens 2004. Sharon Kantor made history as Israel’s first female sailing medalist with her silver in windsurfing.

In judo, Inbar Lanir and Raz Hershko both secured silver medals after reaching the finals, while Peter Paltchik fought his way to a bronze. Artem Dolgopyat added to his Tokyo gold with a silver in the gymnastics floor routine, cementing his status as Israel’s most successful Olympian. Lastly, Israel’s rhythmic gymnastics group rounded out the medal count with a silver in their competition.

With the Los Angeles Olympics games on the horizon, one can only imagine the heights Israel’s athletes will reach, free from the antisemitic display that plagued their time in France