My story in brief

In November 2021, I crossed the finish line of Ironman Tiberias - a competition that combines swimming, running and cycling around the Sea of Galilee - with a good result of 6:12 hours. I was at the peak of my fitness, the feeling during the competition was great, but something inside came back and poked me: according to all the training I was supposed to drop six hours. what happened to me?

Six months later, after routine training runs my heart rate was faster than usual and I felt an incomprehensible exhaustion, I began to go through a series of tests. I am a young person, an athlete, a marathoner. Adheres to a healthy lifestyle. I had no reason to fear. But when the results of the tests came, the sky fell on me: it turned out that my body had been harboring a ten-centimeter malignant cancerous growth in my upper stomach for years. Running actually saved my life. I didn't suffer any pain or symptoms in my daily life, and if it wasn't for that exhaustion from training, I wouldn't have bothered to get tested.

I embarked on a dizzying and merciless roller coaster ride: I underwent excruciating chemo treatments and a complex operation to remove my stomach that left me disabled for life. I reached the lowest moments of my life, but that's when I came to my senses and became the locomotive driver of the train. I navigated between the healing stations that were right for me and chose the most suitable way for me to solve the crisis of my life. I wouldn't have been able to do this if it weren't for the passengers by my side - my wife Liron, my four children and my parents.

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An inspiring story about dealing with physical pain and mental crises, about the warm and supportive family, about the determination and love of life, and finally - about a particularly sweet victory on the marathon course after two years of fighting for life