Gili Haimovitz claimed Israel’s first gold medal at the inaugural Youth Olympics in Singapore on Sunday, but it was a sad day for the Olympic movement after his Iranian opponent in the final of the taekwondo under-48 kilogram competition, Mohammad Soleimani, was forced to withdraw for political reasons.
International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge stressed the educational importance of the Youth Olympics at his opening ceremony speech on Saturday, but the Iranians continue to get away with their disdain for fair play, sending the exact opposite message to young athletes with their pathetic behavior.
The Iranian delegation told the Games’ news service that Soleimani withdrew because of injury, claiming that he was taken to a hospital – an excuse which will once more save it from sanctions.
“I really don’t know what the Iranian’s excuse was, but I did what I had to do,” said the 17-year-old Haimovitz, who is also the European youth champion.
Daniel Oren, head of the Israeli delegation, said he was thrilled with the gold medal but expressed frustration that the victory was not earned on the mat.
“When Gili won the semifinal, we knew the Iranian was making the final. Already, we knew that the Iranians would not come,” Oren said. “This is their system. On the one hand, we got the gold medal.
It’s very exciting for us. On the other hand, we would prefer to win by competing.”
Iran has a long history of avoiding competing with Israelis, including in the last two Olympic Games.
In 2008, Mohammad Alirezaei refused to race alongside Israeli swimmer Tom Be’eri in the 100-meter breaststroke heats in Beijing.
Four years earlier, judo world champion Arash Miresmaeli disqualified himself to avoid a meeting with Israel’s Ehud Vaks in the under-66 kg competition and was later awarded the same $125,000 prize money Iran handed its gold medal winners.
“It is a shame politics has once more overcome the sporting spirit and Gili wasn’t given a chance to beat the Iranian opponent,” Israel Taekwondo President Michel Madar said. “Nevertheless, that should not take anything away from Gili’s achievement.”
Haimovitz began the day with an 8-7 victory over Kirk Barbosa of the Philippines before beating Lucas Guzman of Argentina 5-4 after extra time to advance to the final and essentially guarantee himself the gold medal.
