Jowan Qupty aims to be the first Arab-Israeli Olympic swimmer

[King_David]

DEBRECEN, Hungary (AP) — Israel just concluded its most successful European swimming championships, winning its first ever gold medal, plus four bronzes.

None of them was won by Jowan Qupty. Just being at the meet was his victory.

With dreams of becoming Israel’s first Arab swimmer at the Olympics, Qupty won a three-week dispute decided by a sports court to join the team in Hungary.

Qupty fought the Israeli swimming federation over breaststroke qualifying times and the entry of a squad for the medley relay.

“Honestly, I don’t want to think that it was because I’m an Arab,” Qupty told The Associated Press during last week’s meet. “Any other person would think, ‘OK, why else would they do that?’ But I don’t want to think that way, because I know there’s a lot of politics involved.”


http://www.timesofisrael.com/jowan-quptys-quest-to-be-the-first-arab-israeli-olympic-swimmer/

[King_David]

1. more

“Of course I feel a huge connection to my Palestinian roots,” Qupty said. “There’s a big percentage of Palestinians — or Israeli Arabs — in Israel, and I also represent them. It’s an honor to represent a country and have everyone look up to you and be like, ‘OK, we want to be like him. If an Arab can do it let’s not give up.’”

[oberliner]

2. Interestingly, he now lives in the US

The article notes that he just graduated from a high school in Florida (which is renowned for it's swimming program) and is just starting college.