It is not easy being an Israeli athlete like Shachar Sagiv, training to compete in the upcoming Tokyo Olympics while his country is engulfed in violence.
“I see what’s going on in my country right now and it’s really, really hard for me,” Shachar said. “At the same time, it gives me the power and the strength to race harder, and to show the Israeli flag on my suit with full pride.”
The 27-year-old is one of just two Israeli triathletes who will compete in the Tokyo Olympics this summer. The other is his younger brother, Ron.
For Shachar, who is ranked 12th among male triathletes worldwide, competing at this elite level is a family affair. Not just because of his 24-year-old brother. Their father, Shemi Sagiv, represented Israel as a marathoner in the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles. Today, their father works as a chiropractor, but has set aside cracking backs in favor of coaching his sons toward their Olympic goals.