Israel picked up its seventh medal at the Paralympic Games in Paris and the third medal in these Games for Ami Dadoan. The Israeli swimmer finished in first place Tuesday night in the final of the 200 meter freestyle in the S4 disability class. Dadoan recorded a great result of 2:49.26 minutes and will stand on the podium for the third time in Paris, after winning gold in the 100 meter free and silver in the 150 individual medley.
The 23-year-old Dadoan has six Paralympic medals in his career, after three years ago in Tokyo earning two gold and one silver. In the current games in Paris, he managed to double the amount with three more medals.
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Ami Dadoan celebrates his gold meal at the Paralympic Games
(Photo: Andrew Couldridge/Reuters)
"I swam the way I wanted, I am very happy in this moment," Dadoan said. "I came to this class very relaxed after I managed to already win something in this pool. I am satisfied with the result, with the moment. I like this stage, know how to control it well, swim well."
Dadoan is still not finished swimming in the Olympic-size pool at the Paris Paralympic Games: On Friday he will try to win another medal in the 50 meter freestyle. "I hope I will make the people happy again," Dadoan added. "Winning the 200 gives me confidence for the 50 meter free. Today, even after I was third after 50 meters, I didn't panic and continued with my plan. I knew what I was worth."
Orit Eylon Fridman, CEO of ILAN - Israel Association for Children with Disabilities, who is currently accompanying the team to the games in Paris, added: "Beyond being a talented athlete at all levels, Ami is the salt of the earth and his love for the State of Israel is evident in every inch of his body. Ami once again proved to the world, to the State of Israel and especially to himself that he is a champion and is an example of determination. This is Ami's third medal in the Paralympic Games in Paris and it is very gratifying in the days when all of us in the State of Israel are in such need of good and positive news during the current hardship. We are proud of all the athletes of the delegation and love them very much and thank Jacob Binanson, the swimming team's coach, for a considerable investment in his life's work - our swimmers."
The rehabilitation activity that made him a super athlete
Dadoan, who trains at ILAN Haifa under Jacob Binanson, was born prematurely with cerebral palsy and disabilities in his four limbs. He started playing sports at the age of six, first as a rehabilitation activity and less as a competitive sport. Binanson even told a young Dadoan that he did not see him as a professional swimmer. But Dadoan did not give up, and as soon as he started working harder in training, the coach's mind changed and he joined the team.
This is one of the best swimmers in the world in his class. At the World Championships two years ago he won three gold medals and a year later he added four more. In addition, he holds three world records in S4 disability class in the freestyle: 50, 100 and 200 meters.
Last summer, after the many medals from that world championship, Dadoan in an interview with Yediot Ahronoth and Ynet revealed that the reality was very different for him after those competitions.
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It's Ami Dadoan's 3rd medal of hte 2024 Paralympic Games
(Photo: Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
"As soon as I'm in the water, I'm an elite athlete with four gold medals. When I return to Israel, I end up being a disabled person, who is sometimes treated differently, sometimes pitied," he said candidly. Dadoan would like people to treat him differently - and today's medal will be an excellent opening for him toward the change toward him.
The last year was very challenging for Dadoan. After that World Championship, he shared that he needed a rest after two very successful years for him, to arrive in Paris hungry and ready. One of his goals was to find more things than just swimming and training. At the European Championships that took place this year, he won a silver medal in the 150 medley.