Shtonda Finishes Hawaii Ironman Triathlon
The Israeli reservist completed the 226-kilometer course on October 10, three years after losing his right leg in Gaza.
By Natalia Medina ·
Boris Baruch Shtonda completed the Ironman World Championship in Hawaii on October 10, a grueling 226-kilometer endurance test. The Israeli Army veteran finished the race on a prosthetic leg, marking the culmination of a recovery that began after he lost his right leg in the Gaza war.
Shtonda competed in the division for athletes with disabilities. The course requires a 3.8-kilometer swim, a 180-kilometer bike ride, and a full marathon run. He used a custom-fitted running prosthetic designed specifically for the event's demands.
The injury occurred about a month after Shtonda deployed as a reservist in the IDF's Duvdevan unit following the October 7 massacre. An explosive device in Beit Hanoun, northern Gaza, caused severe wounds. Doctors amputated his right leg above the knee after several surgeries.
Athletic challenges became a core part of his rehabilitation. Before Hawaii, Shtonda climbed Mount Kilimanjaro twice, swam across the Sea of Galilee, and finished a half Ironman in Spain. He then dedicated the next year and a half to preparing for the full championship in Hawaii.
Friends of the Israel Defense Forces, or FIDF, backed his training. Mike Hochstein, an FIDF supporter from Dallas who met Shtonda during a bike ride through Israel last year, cited the veteran's drive. "His dedication, perseverance, and commitment to pushing his limits are truly inspiring," Hochstein said.
Shtonda dedicated his finish to wounded soldiers and those undergoing rehabilitation. "You are your own compass," he said. "Sometimes, we have to be our own heroes and pull ourselves out of the predicaments we find ourselves in. Keep the faith, and always, always, believe in yourselves."
Maj. Gen. (Res.) Nadav Padan, CEO of FIDF, stated that the result reflects the determination of wounded soldiers during long rehabilitation. "Recovery does not end when medical treatment is over," Padan said. He noted that FIDF uses sports and adventure activities to help veterans regain independence and set new goals beyond initial medical care.
Source: The Jerusalem Post
