Adam Edelman

{{Short description|Israeli athlete (born 1991)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2023}} {{Infobox sportsperson | name = Adam Edelman | image = | native_name = אדם אדלמן | native_name_lang = he | full_name = Adam Jeremy Edelman | nickname = A. J.<br>The Hebrew Hammer | nationality = | national_team = {{hlist|Israel Olympic Skeleton Team|Israel Bobsled Team}} | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1991|3|14|mf=y}} | birth_place = Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. | education = Massachusetts Institute of Technology (BS)<br> Yale University (MBA) | years_active = 2014–2018 (skeleton)<br>2019–present (bobsled) | height = 1.78 m | weight = 83 kg | website = {{URL|https://israelbobsled.team/|israelbobsled.team}} | country = Israel | sport = {{hlist|Skeleton|bobsled}} | medaltemplates = {{Medal|Sport | Men's skeleton }} {{Medal|Country | {{ISR}} }} {{MedalCount | total = yes | National Championship | 4 | – | – }} {{Medal|Sport | Men's Bobsled }} {{Medal|Country | {{ISR}} }} {{MedalCount | total = yes | National Championship | 6 | – | – }} {{MedalCount | total = yes | IBSF North American Cup | - | 1 | 1 | North American Cup Circuit Overall | - | – | 1 }} }}

'''Adam Jeremy "A. J." Edelman {{post-nominals|OLY}}''' ({{langx|he|אדם ג'רמי אדלמן}}; born March 14, 1991) is an American-born Israeli sliding sports athlete. He is the first Israeli to qualify for the Olympics in two different sports, and the first Orthodox Jew to compete in the Winter Olympics.<ref name=":9" /> Edelman competed for Israel in the skeleton competition at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, and competed at the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympics in the bobsleigh.<ref name=":9">{{Cite news |last=Spiro |first=Amy |date=January 22, 2026 |title=Miracle on ice: Israel’s bobsleigh team clinches spot at 2026 Winter Olympics |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/miracle-on-ice-israels-bobsleigh-team-clinches-spot-at-2026-winter-olympics/ |access-date=January 23, 2026 |work=The Times of Israel |language=en-US |issn=0040-7909}}</ref><ref name=blue>{{Cite news |url=https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Sports/Blue-and-white-delegation-Pyeongchang-reaches-10-athletes-538183 |title=Blue-and-white delegation Pyeongchang reaches 10 athletes |author=Allon Sinai |work=The Jerusalem Post |access-date=January 21, 2018}}</ref><ref name=":12">{{Cite news |last=Spiro |first=Amy |date=February 17, 2026 |title=Jubilant Israeli team celebrates last-place finish in Olympic 2-man bobsleigh event |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/jubilant-israeli-team-celebrates-last-place-finish-in-olympic-2-man-bobsleigh-event/ |access-date=February 19, 2026 |work=The Times of Israel |language=en-US |issn=0040-7909}}</ref>

== Biography== Edelman was born in Boston, Massachusetts, and grew up in Brookline, Massachusetts.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.israelskeleton.com/bio/ |title=AJ Edelman, Israel National Skeleton Athlete |language=en-US |access-date=September 2, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190403104736/http://www.israelskeleton.com/bio/ |archive-date=April 3, 2019}}</ref> He was raised in a Modern Orthodox Jewish home by parents Cheryl (a lawyer) and Elazer Edelman (an engineer, scientist, and cardiologist).<ref name=":4">{{Cite news |url=https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/sports/trained-on-youtube-israeli-to-compete-in-most-dangerous-olympic-sport-1.5781825 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180201061348/https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/sports/trained-on-youtube-israeli-to-compete-in-most-dangerous-olympic-sport-1.5781825 |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 1, 2018 |title=Trained on YouTube, a Bostonian Will Be Israel's First Olympian to Compete in the Games' Most Dangerous Sport |date=January 31, 2018 |work=Haaretz |access-date=August 21, 2019 |language=en}}</ref> He is the middle of three boys. His older brother is comedian Alex Edelman who helped found Off the Wall Comedy in Jerusalem.<ref>{{cite web |title=AJ Edelman, the First Orthodox Jewish Male Olympian, is Ready for Gold |author=Levine, Sara |date=January 17, 2018 |website=Jew in the City |url=https://jewinthecity.com/2018/01/aj-edelman-the-first-orthodox-jewish-olympian-is-ready-for-gold/ |quote=Edelman attended Maimonides Day School, where he and his older brother Alex, now a comedian in LA...}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite news |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/2018/02/14/skeleton-racer-edelman-living-dream-olympics/4X2wrTbBT5k8AHRtSYSXRP/story.html |title=Skeleton racer AJ Edelman living the dream at Olympics |last=Sullivan |first=Tara |date=February 14, 2018 |work=Boston Globe |access-date=August 21, 2019}}</ref> He is a dual American-Israeli citizen.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":4" />

Edelman graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2014 with a degree in mechanical engineering.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |url=https://thetech.com/2018/02/01/adam-edelman-2018-winter-olympics |title=AJ Edelman '14 to represent Israel at the 2018 Winter Olympics |last=Rungta |first=Ahaan |website=The Tech |language=en |access-date=August 21, 2019}}</ref> He was a member of the MIT Men's hockey team and a staff editorial columnist for the MIT newspaper, ''The Tech''.<ref name=":2"/> MIT President Rafael Reif's 2018 commencement address used Edelman's Olympic journey as a basis of his message to the graduating class.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.eecs.mit.edu/news-events/announcements/mit-president-l-rafael-reifs-charge-class-2018 |title=MIT President L. Rafael Reif's charge to the Class of 2018 {{!}} MIT EECS|website=www.eecs.mit.edu|access-date=October 14, 2019|archive-date=October 14, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191014235448/https://www.eecs.mit.edu/news-events/announcements/mit-president-l-rafael-reifs-charge-class-2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Edelman immigrated to Israel in 2016 and trained at Wingate Institute.<ref>[https://www.israel21c.org/israels-bobsled-athletes-aim-to-go-where-no-israeli-has-gone-before/ Israel's bobsled athletes aim to go where no Israeli has gone before], Haaretz</ref> He is an MBA candidate at the Yale School of Management.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |title=The First Orthodox Jewish Male Olympian Meets SCHA Students {{!}} Jewish Federation of Greater New Haven|url=https://www.jewishnewhaven.org/press-releases/the-first-orthodox-jewish-male-olympian-meets-scha-students|access-date=October 14, 2019|website=www.jewishnewhaven.org|language=en-US}}</ref>

Edelman is nicknamed the "Hebrew Hammer."<ref name=":2" />

Edelman has said he is a supporter of anti-bullying and mental health initiatives, and that his motivation for continuing in sport is largely a desire "to use my Olympic journey as a platform to promote further Jewish and Israeli involvement in sport."<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VOwhjYSlS24 |title=AJ Edelman accepts the Jew in the City All Star Award |last=Josephs |first=Allison |date=February 12, 2019 |website=YouTube |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200423035642/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VOwhjYSlS24&gl=US&hl=en |archive-date=April 23, 2020 |access-date=}}</ref><ref name=":3" />

== Sports career ==

=== Hockey === Edelman's first sport was ice hockey, which he began playing at age three, as a goaltender.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |url=https://www.olympic.org/pyeongchang-2018/skeleton |title=PyeongChang Skeleton – Results & Videos |date=April 10, 2019 |website=International Olympic Committee |language=en |access-date=August 21, 2019}}</ref><ref name=":4" /> He continued to play hockey through high school for the Brookline Warriors hockey team and at MIT, where he was the program's first ever sabbath observant player.<ref name=":2"/> Edelman helped the MIT Engineers win two divisional championships<ref name=":8" /> in the Northeast Collegiate Hockey Association (NECHA) Division II league.

=== Bodybuilding === Edelman competed as an NGA accredited bodybuilder,<ref name=":10">{{Cite web |url=https://www.wfla.com/news/the-hebrew-hammer-set-to-make-israeli-olympic-history/ |title='The Hebrew Hammer' set to make Israeli Olympic history |date=February 8, 2018 |website=WFLA |language=en-US |access-date=October 14, 2019 |archive-date=October 14, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191014193209/https://www.wfla.com/news/the-hebrew-hammer-set-to-make-israeli-olympic-history/ |url-status=dead}}</ref> placing in a top-3 medal finish at the 2014 NGA Annapolis Bodybuilding Championships.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://ep.yimg.com/ty/cdn/essentialfitness/2014AnnapolisTop5.htm |title=2014 N.G.A Drug-Free Annapolis Bodybuilding, Figure, Physique & Bikini Top 5 Results |website=ep.yimg.com |access-date=October 14, 2019 |archive-date=August 19, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160819205229/http://ep.yimg.com/ty/cdn/essentialfitness/2014AnnapolisTop5.htm |url-status=dead}}</ref>

=== Olympic sliding sports ===

==== Skeleton ==== Edelman tried skeleton for the first time at the Olympic facilities in Lake Placid, NY in March 2014<ref name=":3">{{Citation |title=Olympian AJ Edelman: "Israel Skeleton – What Defines a Champion" |publisher=Talks at Google |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ONkMN9uB8A |access-date=January 7, 2019 |via=YouTube}}</ref> where he was given an assessment that he would never be competitive.<ref name=":6" /><ref>{{Citation |title="I failed. I quit. I made the Olympics." -AJ Edelman {{!}} AJ(Adam) Edelman {{!}} TEDxWPI|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9wTUXeRbN1k|language=en|access-date=October 14, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Gonzalez |first=Susan |date=January 14, 2020 |title=Yalies make their mark as 'human bullets' |url=https://news.yale.edu/2020/01/14/yalies-make-their-mark-human-bullets |access-date=December 3, 2020 |website=YaleNews |language=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200212190140/https://news.yale.edu/2020/01/14/yalies-make-their-mark-human-bullets |archive-date=February 12, 2020}}</ref> The Israeli team was similarly told that Edelman would "get down the track but that’ll be the most of it."<ref name=":7">{{Cite news |last=Hudes |first=Sammy |date=February 26, 2018 |title=First Israeli skeleton Olympian's track slid through Calgary |newspaper=Calgary Herald |url=https://calgaryherald.com/news/local-news/first-israeli-skeleton-olympians-track-slid-through-calgary |access-date=September 2, 2020 |language=en}}</ref> Nevertheless, Edelman set out a goal of qualifying for the 2022 Olympics.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.tabletmag.com/scroll/254220/a-j-edelman-goes-for-gold |title=A.J. Edelman Goes For Gold |date=January 29, 2018 |website=Tablet Magazine |language=en |access-date=October 14, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180129195930/https://www.tabletmag.com/scroll/254220/a-j-edelman-goes-for-gold |archive-date=January 29, 2018}}</ref><ref name=":1" /> Lacking funds, Edelman could not afford a coach and was self-taught.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.thinkwithgoogle.com/intl/en-gb/youtube/8-ways-youtube-changing-sports-fandom-better/ |title=8 ways YouTube is changing sports fandom (for the better) |website=Think with Google |language=en-gb |access-date=October 14, 2019 |archive-date=October 14, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191014193159/https://www.thinkwithgoogle.com/intl/en-gb/youtube/8-ways-youtube-changing-sports-fandom-better/ |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.mic.com/articles/187742/2018-winter-olympics-aj-edelman-an-orthodox-jew-is-israels-first-skeleton-athlete |title=2018 Winter Olympics: AJ Edelman, an Orthodox Jew, is Israel's first skeleton athlete |website=Mic |language=en |access-date=October 14, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.jewishindependent.ca/olympians-north-shore-ties/ |title=Olympian's North Shore ties |work=Jewish Independent |language=en-CA |access-date=October 14, 2019}}</ref> He reinforced his learning of the sport by watching nearly 12 hours of YouTube video daily.<ref name=":13">{{Cite web |url=http://news.mit.edu/2018/mit-alumnus-compete-winter-olympics-AJ-Edelman-0214 |title=MIT alumnus to compete in Winter Olympics |website=MIT News |access-date=October 14, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180216195345/http://news.mit.edu/2018/mit-alumnus-compete-winter-olympics-AJ-Edelman-0214 |archive-date=February 16, 2018}}</ref><ref name=":6" /><ref name=":4"/><ref name=":10" /><ref name="nypost1">{{Cite web |last=Karpen |first=Elizabeth |date=February 21, 2024 |title=How Israel’s bobsled team is pushing for Olympic glory with Gaza war raging |url=https://nypost.com/2024/02/21/sports/israels-bobsled-team-pushing-for-olympic-glory-amid-gaza-war/ |access-date=March 6, 2026 |language=en-US |website=NY Post}}</ref>

In his first race at the 2014 North American Cup, Edelman finished 18.64 seconds behind the race winner,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.ibsf.org/en/component/events/event/164484 |title=IBSF – International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation |website=www.ibsf.org |language=en-gb |access-date=October 14, 2019}}</ref> and after hearing another athlete indicate that given his poor performance Edelman would quit within 2 years, decided to focus on making the 2018 Olympics, rather than 2022.<ref name=":8">{{Cite web |url=https://www.aish.com/jw/s/The-Hebrew-Hammers-Amazing-Path-to-the-Winter-Olympics.html |title=The Hebrew Hammer's Amazing Path to the Winter Olympics |last=Simmons |first=Rabbi Shraga |website=aishcom |date=February 14, 2018 |language=en |access-date=October 14, 2019}}</ref> In the 2018 Olympic qualification season, Edelman had cut this deficit to 1.19 seconds, placing ninth.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.ibsf.org/en/component/events/event/169694 |title=IBSF – International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation |website=www.ibsf.org |language=en-gb |access-date=March 2, 2020}}</ref>

In 2016, he decided to quit the sport and return to work, but changed his mind at the last minute and decided to train full-time, resigning from his job as a product manager at Oracle.<ref name=":7"/>

Edelman entered the final days of 2018 Olympic qualification outside of qualification position, needing two medal performances in the Lake Placid North American Cup races to jump up the ranking table. He secured Israel's first sliding sport Olympic berth by earning a fifth place medal in both races.<ref name=":13" />

Edelman competed for Israel at the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea, finishing in 28th place.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Israel's Edelman eliminated in Olympic skeleton |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/israels-edelman-eliminated-in-olympic-skeleton/ |access-date=August 21, 2019 |website=Times of Israel |language=en-US}}</ref>

Edelman competed in two World Championships for Israel,<ref name=":5" /> and retired from skeleton as Israel's most decorated slider, winning four Israeli national titles and two medals in IBSF-sanctioned international competition, the most of any Israeli sliding sport athlete.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.ibsf.org/en/athletes/athlete/263103/EDELMAN |title=Adam Edelman |website=www.ibsf.org |language=en-gb |access-date=March 6, 2026 }}</ref><ref name=":2" /><ref name=":14">{{Cite web |last=Webster |first=Riley |date=November 16, 2020 |title=This Yale MBA Student Is Close To Making Olympic History — Again |url=https://poetsandquants.com/2020/11/16/this-yale-mba-student-is-close-to-making-olympic-history/ |access-date=December 3, 2020 |website=Poets&Quants |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":13" />

==== Bobsleigh ==== Post-skeleton, Edelman unsuccessfully attempted to qualify an Israeli bobsled team for the 2022 Beijing Olympics.<ref name=":9"/>

In 2023, five of Edelman's teammates were drafted to serve in the Israel Defense Forces in the Gaza War. Edelman strung together a season by bringing in new athletes in each race for the IBSF North American Circuit, ultimately winning Israel's first ever sanctioned bobsleigh podium.<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 1, 2023 |title=היסטוריה: מדליה ישראלית במזחלות שלג {{!}} ישראל היום |url=https://www.israelhayom.co.il/sport/other-sports/article/14893619?amp=1 |access-date=2024-02-22 |website=www.israelhayom.co.il|trans-title=History: Israeli medal in snow sledding}}</ref><ref name="nypost1"/>

Edelman successfully qualified a team for the 2026 Winter Olympics, after the UK decided to send only one team, not two.<ref name=":9" />

Edelman and the team reported on February 7, 2026, that their apartment in Cortina d'Ampezzo at the 2026 Winter Olympics had been burglarized. He said that "suitcases, shoes, equipment, passports" were stolen. Italian police have begun to investigate.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Frankel |first=Julia |last2=Reynolds |first2=Tim |date=February 7, 2026 |title=Israeli bobsled pilot says team apartment was robbed ahead of Milan Cortina Winter Games |url=https://apnews.com/article/israel-bobsled-apartment-robbed-2fa991170eae9d482581586668d6562b |access-date=February 9, 2026 |website=AP News |language=en}}</ref>

In the two-man bobsleigh competition, Edelman's team placed last out of 26 teams.<ref name=":12" /> During the Israeli team's run in the bobsleigh event, commentator Stefan Renna of Radio Télévision Suisse criticized Edelman for statements Renna characterized as supporting the genocide in Gaza, and questioned why Edelman was allowed to compete, while Vladyslav Heraskevych was disqualified for wearing a helmet memorializing Ukrainian soldiers.<ref name="KanterDeadline">{{cite news |last=Kanter |first=Jake |url=https://deadline.com/2026/02/winter-olympics-swiss-tv-israel-bobsled-aj-edelman-removed-1236726755/ |title=Winter Olympics: Swiss TV Network Removes Viral Commentary Calling Out Israeli Bobsled Athlete For His "Support Of Genocide In Gaza" |work=Deadline}}</ref> RTS later said of Renna's commentary, "Although this is factual information, it is inappropriate in the context of a sports commentary because it is too detailed",<ref>{{cite web |access-date=2026-02-28 |date=February 17, 2026 |language=de |title=RTS reagiert auf Kritik an Kommentator, der Nahostkonflikt thematisierte |url=https://www.tagesanzeiger.ch/rts-kommentator-kritisiert-israelischen-bobfahrer-live-667554464526 |website=tagesanzeiger.ch}}</ref> and removed the segment from public availability.<ref name=KanterDeadline />

In the four-man bobsleigh competition, Edelman's team ranked 24th of 27 after two heats. Before the third heat, a team member admitted to Olympic Committee of Israel (OCI) that he had lied about an injury in an attempt to allow a substitute, Druze athlete Ward Fawarseh, to take his place for the third heat, a substitution which would not be allowed absent an injury. As a result of this admission, the team was withdrawn from the competition, and it did not start the third heat.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Algemeiner |first=The |title=Israel’s Bobsled Team Clarifies It Withdrew From Last Day of Winter Olympics After Wanting Lineup Switch |url=https://www.algemeiner.com/2026/02/23/israels-bobsled-team-clarifies-withdrew-last-day-winter-olympics-wanting-lineup-switch/ |access-date=March 5, 2026 |website=Algemeiner.com |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":15">{{Cite news |last=Slater |first=Matt |date=February 22, 2026 |title=Israel withdraws Olympic bobsled team for lying to medical officials about illness |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7064168/2026/02/22/olympics-israel-withdraws-bobsled-team/ |access-date=February 25, 2026 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Koren |first1=Yotam |title=נבחרת המזחלות סולקה מהאולימפיאדה לאחר שאחד מחבריה שיקר בתצהיר רפואי |url=https://www.haaretz.co.il/sport/other/2026-02-22/ty-article/0000019c-8244-d0cc-a9be-bbcd9ba70000 |access-date=March 5, 2026 |work=Haaretz |date=February 22, 2026 |language=HE |trans-title=The bobsligh team was expelled from the Olympics after one of its members lied in a medical affidavit}}</ref>

==Awards== Edelman is a recipient of Jew in the City's Orthodox Jewish All Star award.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Levine |first=Sara |date=July 19, 2019 |title=Save The Date For The 6th Orthodox Jewish All Stars Event! |url=http://jewinthecity.com/2019/07/save-the-date-for-the-6th-orthodox-jewish-all-stars-event/ |access-date=October 14, 2019 |website=Jew in the City |language=en-US |archive-date=October 19, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191019235436/https://jewinthecity.com/2019/07/save-the-date-for-the-6th-orthodox-jewish-all-stars-event/ |url-status=dead}}</ref> He was named a 2021 European Forbes 30 Under 30 in the Sports and Games category for his efforts of using his platform to campaign against bullying and increase LGBTQ participation in sport.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe 2021: Sports & Games |url=https://www.forbes.com/30-under-30/2021/europe/sports-games/?profile=adam-edelman |access-date=April 8, 2021 |website=www.forbes.com}}</ref>

== References == {{Reflist}}

==External links== * {{IBSF|name=Adam Edelman}} * [https://www.olympics.com/en/milano-cortina-2026/results/athlete-details/21167 Adam Edelman] at Milano Cortina 2026 * {{Olympics.com|name=Adam Edelman}} * {{Olympedia|name=A. J. Edelman}} * {{Instagram|name=AJ Edelman}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Edelman, Adam}} Category:1991 births Category:American male bodybuilders Category:American emigrants to Israel Category:Israeli male bobsledders Category:Israeli male skeleton racers Category:Israeli people of American-Jewish descent Category:Jewish American sportspeople Category:Jewish Israeli sportspeople Category:Living people Category:MIT Engineers men's ice hockey players Category:Olympic skeleton racers for Israel Category:Olympic bobsledders for Israel Category:Sportspeople from Jerusalem District Category:Sportspeople from Brookline, Massachusetts Category:Skeleton racers at the 2018 Winter Olympics Category:Bobsledders at the 2026 Winter Olympics Category:Sportspeople from Boston Category:21st-century American Jews Category:21st-century American sportsmen Category:21st-century Israeli sportsmen

Adam Edelman

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