Princess Avenyoh
Israeli sprinter Blessing Afrifah has won gold in the men’s 200 metres at the European Under-23 Athletics Championships held in Bergen, Norway.
Afrifah defended his title with a time of 20.64 seconds, the same time he ran to win the championship last year. The 21-year-old’s victory cements his position as one of Europe’s top young sprinters.
The win comes at a time when Israel is still recovering from recent national challenges. Speaking after the race, Afrifah expressed his pride, saying,
“I’m happy to finish the championship with the Israeli flag on me, it’s an honour. I’m glad I was able to bring a bit of light, a bit of joy during these difficult times.”
Afrifah, who was born in Israel to Ghanaian parents, now serves in the Israel Defense Forces and has previously spoken about the struggles he faced in gaining citizenship to represent Israel on the world stage.
His gold medal adds to Israel’s growing achievements in athletics and serves as a boost to the nation’s sporting community.