Saleh Shahin
Saleh Shahin (סאלח שאהין ;صلاح شاهین; born 28 October 1982) is an Israeli Paralympic medalist rower. He is Druze, from the Arab city of Shfaram, Israel. He enlisted in the Israeli Defense Forces, and served as a commander in the paratroopers. He was wounded in 2005 in a terrorist attack.  Shahin represented Israel at the 2024 Paris Paralympics in the PR2 mixed double sculls, and won the bronze medal with Shahar Milfelder.

Early and personal life
Shahin is Druze, from the Arab city of Shfaram, Israel. He and his wife Sabrin have two daughters."Makers for Heroes; Saleh Shahin," Restart. He enlisted in the Israeli Defense Forces in 2003, and rose to be a commander in the paratroopers."Beit Halochem athletes are going to the Paralympics!," Beit Halochem Canada, August 7, 2024.

Speaking of Arab-Jewish coexistence, Shahin said: "I feel an inseparable part of the State of Israel, and equal among equals."

Terrorist attack and injury
On January 13, 2005, Shahin was at work as a security guard for the Israel Airports Authority at the Karni crossing checkpoint on the Gaza-Israel border.Eliana Jordan (August 9, 2024). "Meet the Jewish and Israeli athletes competing in the 2024 Paralympics," The Jewish Chronicle. A number of terrorists from Gaza attacked the crossing, killed six Israeli civilians, wounding four others, and seriously wounding Shahin.Amy Spiro (September 1, 2024). "Rowers take gold, bronze as Israel continues to rack up Paralympic medals; Champ Moran Samuel says the day, like the year, held mixed emotions; Druze rower Saleh Shahin, wounded in 2005 Gaza border terror attack, says he wanted to bring some ‘light’ to nation," The Times of Israel. Shahin attacked the terrorists, and in his exchange of gunfire with them Shahin was injured by four bullets which crushed his left foot, and entered his left thigh tearing a main artery, hip joint, pelvis, and intestines in his abdomen.Stav Ifergan (September 1, 2024). "Success in Paris: gold for Moran Samuel, bronze for Shahar Milfelder and Saleh Shahin," Ynet.Guy Laiba (September 1, 2024). "The Paralympic athletes presented the most beautiful face of Israel," Ynet. He killed the terrorist who had shot him, as well as two other terrorists."The amazing story of Shahar Milfelder and Saleh Shahin; The rower was a basketball player and underwent surgery to remove a pelvis due to an illness, the Druze rower was injured in the attack after eliminating three terrorists: the story of the new bronze medalists," One, September 1, 2024."A huge achievement: a medal for Millfelder and Shahin in the pair rowing; Amazing: the pair of Israeli rowers who came as underdogs surprised in a big way in the final of the double rowing at the Paralympic Games, when they stopped the clock in a time of 8:31.85 minutes," One, September 1, 2024. 

Shahin received two awards for his acts of bravery in stopping the attack and pursuing an attacker."A significant Israeli achievement," Yoseph Haddad, June 16, 2023.. He suffers from considerable limitation in his range of motion as a consequence of his injuries. 

Rowing career
His club is Beit Halochem in Tel Aviv, Israel. Shahin trains at the Daniel Rowing Centre and on the banks of the Yarkon River in Tel Aviv, and his coaches are Dmitry Margolin and Sergey Bokarib."Schwang Athlete of the Week |Saleh Shaheen; Our athlete of the week was injured in a battle with terrorists and through sports managed to rehabilitate and even managed to compete in the world championship and world cup in rowing," Shvoong, April 20, 2021. He practices twice a day, six days a week."Sport saved Israeli Paralympian," DW, September 5, 2024 (video). He is 1.95 meters (6 feet, 5 inches) tall."Druze rower qualifies for Paralympic games with Jewish counterpart' Injured in a terror attack in 2005, Saleh Shaheen’s story is one of resilience, persistence and trust," The Jerusalem Post.

His rowing partner is Jewish-Israeli Shahar Milfelder, who is 15 years his junior, at 16 years old was diagnosed with cancer, and half of her pelvis was removed.Dotan  Malach (August 28, 2024). "Saleh Shahin and Shahar Milfeder dream of bringing a medal together," Makor Rishon. At the 2019 World Rowing Cup III, they won a gold medal in the PR3 Mixed Double Sculls (FA). At the 2023 World Rowing Championships, they came in first in the PR2 Mixed Double Sculls Final B. At the 2024 World Rowing Final Olympic and Paralympic Qualification Regatta in Switzerland, they won a silver medal in the PR2 Mixed Double Sculls  and qualified for the 2024 Paralympics.Oren Aharoni (May 26, 2024). "Without the injury I might not have been at the Paralympic Games in Paris - that's my destiny," Israel HaYom."Saleh SHAHIN," World Rowing.Eliana Jordan (August 9, 2024). "Meet the Jewish and Israeli athletes competing in the 2024 Paralympics," The Jewish Chronicle."Saleh Shahin and Shahar Milfelder," INZ-org.

2024 Paris Paralympics bronze medal
Shahin represented Israel at the 2024 Paris Paralympics in the PR2 mixed double sculls. He said: "It’s a great honour to represent my country, but it’s also a huge responsibility. I hope to do so in the most deserving and honorable way, especially in this difficult period after October 7. It is my goal to show the world how strong we are."Amelie Botbol  (August 28, 2024). "The Israeli war veterans going for sporting glory at the Paralympics; ‘It is my goal to show the world how strong we are’", The Jewish Chronicle. 

He won the bronze medal with Shahar Milfelder, with a time of 8:31.85, 13 seconds behind gold medalist Great Britain.Oren Aharoni (September 1, 2024). "Gold medal in rowing for Moran Samuel, bronze for Shahin and Millfelder," Israel HaYom."I will go to Millfelder and Shaheen in Paris; The pair of Israeli rowers, in their first appearance at the games, reached the podium in rowing," Mako, September 1, 2024. He said that at the start of their race, he heard the Israeli national anthem, and was in tears.  Speaking of the killing of six Israeli hostages whose bodies were recovered in Gaza that day, Shahin said: "I started with a really difficult morning with everything that is happening in the country at this time, and I said that there should be light at the end of the tunnel."

 See also 
List of Arab citizens of Israel
List of Israeli Druze

References

External links
 
 
 Instagram page

Category:1982 births
Category:Living people
Category:Israeli Druze people
Category:Israeli soldiers
Category:Medalists at the 2024 Summer Paralympics
Category:Paralympic bronze medalists for Israel
Category:Paralympic medalists in rowing
Category:Paralympic rowers for Israel
Category:People from Shefa-'Amr
Category:Rowers at the 2024 Summer Paralympics