Gaza War Veteran Finishes Hawaii Ironman on a Running Prosthetic

Boris Baruch Shtonda finished the Ironman World Championship in Hawaii on October 10, three years after losing his right leg in a combat injury in Gaza.

The 35-year-old IDF veteran competed in the division for athletes with disabilities. The race required him to swim 3.8 kilometers, ride a bike for 180 kilometers, and run a full marathon. He completed the event wearing a custom-fitted specialized running prosthetic.

Shtonda served as a reservist in the IDF’s Duvdevan unit. He was deployed to the northern Gaza city of Beit Hanoun one month before the Hamas attack on October 7. During his deployment, an explosive device severely wounded him. Doctors performed multiple surgeries before amputating his leg above the knee.

He made athletic challenges a central part of his recovery. Since starting his rehabilitation, Shtonda climbed Mount Kilimanjaro twice and swam across the Sea of Galilee. He also finished a half Ironman race in Spain before committing to a year and a half of training for the Hawaii event.

The Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (FIDF) provided support for his training and race preparation. Mike Hochstein, a FIDF supporter from Dallas, helped fund the effort after meeting Shtonda during a bike ride in Israel last year. Hochstein said Shtonda’s determination made a lasting impression on him from their first meeting.

Shtonda dedicated his achievement to wounded soldiers undergoing rehabilitation. He told them to draw on their inner strength and become their own heroes. “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 believe in yourselves.”

Nadav Padan, CEO of FIDF, said recovery does not end when medical treatment is over. He noted that continued support and new goals help soldiers regain independence. The organization uses sports and adventure activities to assist wounded IDF soldiers and their families in rebuilding physical and mental resilience.