Joel Solomon earns trio of medals at Maccabiah
After Aussie Barry Lipp won gold and silver to start his fifth Maccabiah Games, teammate Joel Solomon won a silver and two bronzes on debut.
Sydney native Joel Solomon carried the positive energy and buzz of the 2026 Maccabiah Games opening ceremony into his three men’s athletics events, earning a medal in each.
On July 5, the 21-year-old – who for the last couple of years has trained, competed and studied in New York – came third out of four runners in the 1500m, clocking 4:26.41, behind Israelis Yuval Binder (second) and Amit Cohen (first).
The next night, he came second in a “super fun and tactical” 5km race that began steadily and peaked in a sprint finish, won by Cohen.
Just 10 minutes later, in a combined team with an American, German, and Israeli, he earned another bronze in the 4x400m relay.
“Connecting with Jewish athletes from all over the globe through sport is something so special,” he said.
“I’m super happy to be a part of it. Now more than ever, moments like this are so special and important.
“To be representing Team Australia, and all Jewish Australians, is something I take great pride in – especially after what happened in Australia on December 14.
“I’m running not for myself, but for all Jewish Australians. This is more than just a competition for me, it’s a chance to represent, and run with, my people.”
In other early results for Australia at the Games – which continue to July 14 – U17 girls’ swimmers Mia Goodridge and Zoe Gant impressed, winning several relay bronze medals as part of a ‘Maccabiah Mix’ team.
Gant also won bronze in the 400m freestyle and came fifth in the 200 individual medley, while Goodridge placed seventh in the 50 and 100 backstroke, and masters swimmer Alida Lipton was due to start her campaign.
The half marathon in Jerusalem was scheduled for last night.
In an earlier 5km run, men’s 50-54 Aussie athletes Tim Goodman placed fourth out of 10, and Daniel Goldman fifth.
In masters table tennis, Sam Parasol qualified for the semis in singles.
In tennis, Oscar Naar placed 10th of 16 in the U17 boys’ singles, Darion Pohl and Lior Rauchberger came third in their 50+ pools, and 45+ player Akiva Kremnizer had one win and two losses.
And Aussies Geoff Sirmai and Terry Sperber are in a Latin America Confederation 55+ men’s football team that had one win, one loss, and one draw. Sperber scored a brace in a 4-0 win over France.