Hawaii triathlon finish: Amputee veteran completes Ironman

Boris Baruch Shtonda crossed the finish line of the Ironman World Championship in Hawaii on October 10. The Israeli army veteran completed the race on a custom-fitted running prosthetic, roughly three years after losing his right leg in the Gaza war.

The event required competitors to swim 3.8 kilometers, cycle 180 kilometers, and run a full marathon. Shtonda raced in the division for athletes with disabilities. He has been serving as a reservist in the IDF's Duvdevan unit since the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023.

About a month after his deployment, an explosive device severely wounded him in Beit Hanoun, a city in northern Gaza. Doctors amputated his right leg above the knee after several surgeries. Shtonda made athletic challenges a central part of his recovery. He has climbed Mount Kilimanjaro twice, swum across the Sea of Galilee, and finished a half Ironman race in Spain.

Training for the full Hawaii event took a year and a half. Friends of the Israel Defense Forces, known as FIDF, backed his preparation. Mike Hochstein, an FIDF supporter from Dallas, met Shtonda during a bike ride through Israel last year. Hochstein described Shtonda's dedication and perseverance as truly inspiring.

FIDF CEO Maj. Gen. (Res.) Nadav Padan said the result reflects the determination wounded soldiers bring to long rehabilitation. Padan noted that recovery does not end when medical treatment is over. He added that the process requires continued support and opportunities to rebuild strength and confidence. FIDF programs use sports and adventure activities to help veterans regain independence and set new goals beyond initial medical treatment.

Shtonda dedicated the race to wounded soldiers and anyone going through rehabilitation. He told supporters to be their own heroes and pull themselves out of their predicaments. He urged them to keep the faith and always believe in themselves.