An Iranian-born Muslim wrestler won a Maccabiah medal after he entered the Jewish sports competition through a series of errors. Mohammad Babulfath, who holds Swedish citizenship, took first place in his weight class Sunday at the Maccabiah Games’ Greco-Roman wrestling competition. Babulfath and his coach and teammate arrived at the Maccabiah not knowing that it is open only to Jews and Israelis. Unsure if Babulfath deserved a medal, Maccabiah officials ultimately awarded him an improvised title, but gave the gold medal to someone else.
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
