My Story

As an Olympic hopeful, my goal is to qualify Israel for the 2026 Winter Olympics. I am a World Cup athlete for Israel’s Bobsled & Skeleton Team in the sport of Skeleton, a lawyer, and co-founder of Advancing Jewish Athletics, Inc., a registered 501(c)(3) which distributes 100% of earmarked funds directly to its athletes, allowing them to serve as global ambassadors for the Jewish people and the State of Israel through sport.

My name is Jared Firestone, and this is how my journey began:

Raised in South Florida, I attended Scheck Hillel K-8 and Pine Crest High School where I was a high school district champion in the 100-meter dash. I continued competing in college as a member of the track & field team at Tulane University. After which I attended the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law at Yeshiva University. During my first semester of Law School, I suffered a Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA), effectively a “minor stroke”. Coincidentally, my recovery time fell during the 2014 Winter Olympics and is when I discovered the sport of Skeleton. I eventually completed my legal studies and am currently a licensed attorney in Florida and New York.

Aside from practicing law, my lifelong dream has been to represent Israel at the Olympic Games. This stems from my passion not only for athletics, but for Judaism and Israel, which began at Hillel and continued to flourish, particularly during my March of the Living experience. I found that I not only want to inspire young Jewish athletes by serving as a role model I could use my platform to educate people about the Holocaust. When I discovered Skeleton in 2014, I realized this was the perfect vehicle to fulfill this mission. After months of uncertainty following my mini stroke as to whether I’d be able to participate in sports again, I was cleared by doctors and committed to make my dream a reality.

Fast forward to 2022: I finished 3 places out of an Olympic berth in just my third competitive season. This included three podium finishes on the North America Cup in Lake Placid. I ended the season ranked 44th in the World, while earning the nickname The Jewish Jet” from my fellow competitors. 

In 2022/2023, i participated in three races, winning a silver, bronze, and Israel's first-ever gold medal in an Olympic-discipline sliding sport competition, at the North America Cup in Lake Placid, one of the qualifying circuits for the 2026 Olympic Games!

An opportunity for you to share my journey:

Participating in Skeleton as a “small nation athlete” is extremely expensive, with the average season costing $40,000 to attend a full season of races with a coach and updated equipment. The Israeli government does not provide funding for its winter sport athletes. Therefore, when I’m not training, which demands most of my time, I utilize the little time I do have fundraising and working as an attorney. Most competitors in this sport are heavily funded, however, I rely on my sponsors’ support to focus as much as possible on my Skeleton training, particularly during the season.

I am hoping to complete another four seasons and qualify a sled for Israel in the 2026 Olympic Games in Milan, Italy. With your support, this is an extremely attainable goal!

 

As a show of gratitude, I will place the names or business logos of my biggest sponsors on my sled, visible in photos and World Cup races, and can even offer televised “coaching” opportunities at specific races. I am always more than happy to further discuss any questions you may have. I can be reached via email jared@bobsleighskeletonisrael.com.

Sincerely,

Jared “the Jewish Jet” Firestone

Israel Bobsled & Skeleton National Team

P.S. - check out one of my World Cup races here, from my rookie season: https://youtu.be/FI1eH0oJtFU?t=239