At the age of 20, a few months after winning three medals at the Paralympic Games in Tokyo, this week swimmer Ami Dadon showed up at the gates of the Haifa Recruitment Bureau and wore the IDF uniform for the first time in his life. Israel today".
About 140 new volunteers have enlisted in the IDF in recent days, which raises their numbers in the army to a new record - more than 2,000 volunteers. Among them was one soldier who fought to serve in the army and fulfill his dream - just after fulfilling a dream of an entire country and winning three medals .
Ami Dadoun in IDF uniform, Photo: Meitav Unit
Daddown is considered one of the big stars of the Israeli team for the Paralympic Games.
The young man, who was born with cerebral palsy and faces a limb with four limbs, defeated all his competitors and won two gold and one silver medal in Japan.
In addition, he managed to set a new world record in the 200-meter freestyle.
"The moment I received the gold medal and heard 'Hope' in Tokyo was the most exciting moment of my life," says Daddown.
Even then Daddown knew he was heading for another record in his life.
After a one-year delay in participating in the Tokyo Olympics, he enlisted in the IDF and began his role in the Third Air Force Technical Base in Haifa.
Deadline wins gold medal, Photo: Reuters
"Wearing a uniform is my dream from a young age. I was exempted from the army because of my situation, and I had to go through a long process to serve in the IDF.
"I wanted to be part of Israeli society in the IDF as well - the system that protects our country," he says excitedly.
Daddown says in answer to the question of whether he is a role model, because he hopes to be one.
"I do not know if I am a role model. I hope I influence people to step out of their comfort zone and do things for themselves and for the country. For me, both as an athlete and in the military I come out of the limit, the stigma. I am not limited, but a good athlete and soldier, and I hope it affects On people - with and without disabilities. "
