Wounded IDF soldier completes Hawaii Ironman

Nearly three years after being severely wounded in combat in Gaza and losing his right leg above the knee, Boris Baruch Shtonda of Tel Aviv, 29, completed the Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii, on October 10.

Shtonda competed using a specialized running prosthesis custom-fitted for the race, marking another milestone in his rehabilitation with support from Friends of the Israel Defense Forces and a donation from FIDF supporter Mike Hochstein of Dallas.

The Hawaii Ironman is among the world’s most demanding endurance competitions, requiring athletes to complete a 3.8-kilometer swim, a 180-kilometer bike ride and a 42.2-kilometer marathon. Shtonda competed in the division for athletes with disabilities.

A veteran of the IDF’s Duvdevan special forces unit, Shtonda was in Japan on October 7, 2023, and returned to Israel immediately to join the reserves. A month later, he was severely wounded by an explosive device during combat in Beit Hanoun in the Gaza Strip. He underwent numerous surgeries before his right leg was amputated above the knee.

Since his injury, Shtonda has made athletic challenges a central part of his rehabilitation. He climbed Kilimanjaro twice, completed a swim across the Sea of Galilee and finished a half Ironman in Valencia, Spain, in April. He then set his sights on the Ironman World Championship in Hawaii, training while working and pursuing a master’s degree. During that time, he also became a father.

After a year and a half of intensive training, he crossed the finish line in Kona.

“I want to share a message with all wounded soldiers and anyone going through a rehabilitation process: you are your own compass,” Shtonda said. “Sometimes, we have to be our own heroes and pull ourselves out of the predicaments we find ourselves in. Keep the faith, and always — always — believe in yourselves.”

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—FIDF