Israelis claim 2 golds at Youth Sailing Worlds

Israel’s Maor Ben-Harush and Yoav Cohen each won gold medals at the Youth Sailing World Championships in Sanya, China on Friday, while the duo of Ido Bilik and Noam Homri took a bronze in the Boy’s 420.

Ben-Harush overcame a nine-point gap in the Boy’s Laser Radial to snatch a gold medal and cap a remarkable comeback both in and out of the water. Ben-Harush, who leapfrogged Daniil Krutskikh of Russia, was intentionally run over after getting into a verbal squabble with another teenager during a party in February 2016. He underwent surgery for over five hours in an effort to save his legs and doctors said it could take him years to walk again.

Ben-Harush returned to competition late last year and ended the prestigious Kiel Regatta in Germany in June in an impressive second place.

“When I came in this morning, I felt like I needed to save my second place,” said Ben-Harush on Friday. “But at the start I wanted to take gold and I gave it everything. I cannot believe this has happened and I’ve won.”

Cohen claimed gold in the Boy’s RS:X by a single point over China’s Hao Chen.

“It’s a dream come true. I can’t get over this feeling,” said Cohen. “I’ve won before but here I’ve worked harder than I’ve ever worked before. The level keeps getting better and better. I can't talk, I have no word. It's amazing."