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Tom Reuveny
Tom Reuveny (Hebrew: תום ראובני; born 12 June 2000) is an Israeli Olympic champion windsurfer, who specializes in the RS:X and iQFoil classes. He won gold medals at the 2017 RS:X Youth World Championships, the 2019 RS:X World Championships Men's U21, and the 2020 RS:X World Championships Men's U21. Representing Israel at the 2024 Paris Olympics, Reuveny won the gold medal in the Men's iQFoil. Early lifeReuveny was born in Ramat Gan, Israel, lived in Kibbutz Sdot Yam, and lives in Rosh HaAyin, Israel, and is Jewish.[2][1][3][4] He is the son of Dr. Ronen Reuveny, an exercise physiologist, and Kate Reuveny (née Brown), a technical writer.[4] His father was born in Israel, while his mother is originally British and a Jewish convert. He has an older sister, Eden, and two younger brothers, including one who has been serving as a combat soldier in the Israel Defense Forces since the 7 October Hamas-led attack on Israel.[3] Reuveny's parents encouraged him to take up sports from a young age, and as a child he trained in several different sports, including cycling, swimming, tennis, and surfing.[4] Windsurfing careerReuveny's coach is Gal Fridman, who won the gold medal in windsurfing at the 2004 Olympic Games.[3] Early yearsReuveny starting surfing at eight years of age.[3] At ten years of age, he began windsurfing.[3] He won a bronze medal at the 2016 RS:X Youth World Championships in Circolo Surf Torbole, Italy.[5] He won the gold medal at the 2017 RS:X Youth World Championships.[5][3] He won the gold medal at the 2019 RS:X World Championships Men's U21 in Torbole, Italy, and the gold medal in the 2020 RS:X World Championships Men's U21 in Sorrento, Victoria, Australia.[5] 2022–presentAt the 2022 iQFoil World Championships held in Brest, France, Reuveny finished in fourth place.[6] In 2023, he won a bronze medal in a competition as part of the 2023 Sailing World Cup, the Princess Cup, in Palma, Spain.[7] In the 2024 iQFoil World Championships held in Lanzarote, Spain, Reuveny finished in eighth place.[6] Shortly after the competition, the Executive Committee of the Israel Sailing Association selected Reuveny to represent Israel at the 2024 Summer Olympics.[6] Reuveny was not considered a medal contender by the Israel Olympic Committee. During training, he said: "There are still hostages in Gaza and it was difficult training when the whole country is burning."[3] 2024 Paris OlympicsReuveny, representing Israel at the 2024 Paris Olympics, won the gold medal in Men's iQFoil class in Marseille, France.[3] He said: "I did it for our brave soldiers."[8] Israeli President Isaac Herzog said to him:
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