Tulane University’s Jared Firestone — otherwise known as “The Jewish Jet” — placed No. 22 out of 24 in the men’s skeleton at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina, representing Israel. 

Firestone only edged out Canada and Japan in his heat. Great Britain’s Matt Westin took home the gold in the men’s skeleton before winning a second gold medal in the mixed team skeleton with his partner Tabitha Stoecker. 

Before graduating in 2012, Firestone was a member of Tulane’s track and field team, where he competed in the 100 and 200-meter dash events. Firestone said he first discovered the sport of skeleton two years after graduating, during the 2014 Olympic Games. 

Firestone said AJ Edelman, the first skeleton athlete to compete for Israel at the Olympics, helped him prepare for the games in an Instagram post after his race. 

“AJ spoke about visualizing perfect runs, but also adding seeing a “1” next to your name on the scoreboard as you cross the finish line, and giving a celebratory fist pump,” Firestone said. “Last night I took my final run as a skeleton athlete. I saw the ‘1’ next to my name, gave a big fist pump and got to hug my best friend waiting for me at the finish just like he was at the start.” 

Firestone said he wanted to honor the lives of the 11 Israeli athletes and coaches killed during the 1972 Munich Olympic Games. In what became known as the “Munich Massacre,” members of a Palestinian militant organization broke into the Olympic village and took 11 Israeli athletes, coaches and officials hostage. All the hostages and all but three of the terrorists were killed in a failed rescue attempt.