OY VEY! Israel claims Jordan’s first Olympic gold medalist as its own!

Published August 26th, 2016 - 02:14 GMT

Israel takes gold in the “chutzpah*" category after claiming that Jordan’s first-ever Olympic gold medalist is “Israeli” with faux Jordanian roots. The athlete was born in Abu Ghosh, Palestine, an Arab-majority town established long before the Israeli state - and one that bears his family's name. His family emigrated to Jordan soon after his birth in 1996. He is not Israeli, despite what the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Ynet News, and Haaretz write.

Taekwondo champion Ahmad Abughaush earned a gold medal for his triumphant performance at the 2016 Rio games. This week, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan celebrated the homecoming of its first gold medalist Olympic athlete with a warm welcome at Queen Alia International Airport where he was greeted by his family, a full press corps, and no less than three royal princes after disembarking the decorated Royal Jordanian jet that transported him back to Amman.

Israeli insanity aside, let’s look at the revelry surrounding his win. A public celebration will be held on Friday, August 26, in a park in the Jordanian capital, Amman. (*Yiddish word for "shameless audacity")

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Olympic gold medalist taekwondo champion Ahmad Abughaush

Taekwondo star Ahmad Abu Ghaush won his qualification to the Rio 2016 Olympics when he beat Thailand’s Sila Peertheb 12-1 in last April's semifinal. He later crushed Mongolia’s Temuujin Purevjav 14-2 to win the Asian Olympic Qualification Tournament gold medal.

This week he returned to Amman after winning Jordan's first ever Olympic gold medal, flown in with the national team and trainers by a specially decorated Royal Jordanian jet.

The Royal Jordanian jetliner was greeted with celebratory sprays of water - that'show airlines roll! - before the Jordan team deplaned to a crowd of wellwishers and media.

Jordan's first medalist - and the first Arab to win a taekwondo medal - has received 100s of texts and a flood of new Facebook friend requests. For media-rookie Ahmad, winning the men's under-68kg division gold was the easiest part of his newfound celebrity. After his tenth interview, he told his trainer, "This is harder than winning the final!"

The 20-year-old 'took the cake' with his win against Russian favorite Alexey Denisenko in the 68-kg division. Ahead in points as the clock ticked down, he made a brilliant dash towards the mat edge which cost him a point but burned off enough time to gain him gold with a 10-6 win - a massive upset!

Jordan's Olympic Chief, Prince Faisal, (shown here) and Prince Rashid, head of the country's taekwondo federation, were first to greet the Olympians, and Abu Ghaush spoke of his call from King Abdullah, "He told me 'you've put the face of Jordan on the map. all Jordanians are very happy about result - god helped you to get it."

Jordan's first medalist - and the first Arab to win a taekwondo medal - has received 100s of texts and a flood of new Facebook friend requests. For media-rookie Ahmad, winning the men's under-68kg division gold was the easiest part of his newfound celebrity. After his tenth interview, he told his trainer, "This is harder than winning the final!"

His first became interested in the ancient Korean combat sport as a child. Once the apres-Olympics celebrations calm down, Abu Ghaush (shown here with his mother) will resume his Sports Science degree at the University of Jordan.

Taekwondo star Ahmad Abu Ghaush won his qualification to the Rio 2016 Olympics when he beat Thailand’s Sila Peertheb 12-1 in last April's semifinal. He later crushed Mongolia’s Temuujin Purevjav 14-2 to win the Asian Olympic Qualification Tournament gold medal.

This week he returned to Amman after winning Jordan's first ever Olympic gold medal, flown in with the national team and trainers by a specially decorated Royal Jordanian jet.

The Royal Jordanian jetliner was greeted with celebratory sprays of water - that'show airlines roll! - before the Jordan team deplaned to a crowd of wellwishers and media.

He and his teammates were greeted by no fewer than three royal princes! Their Royal Highnesses Prince El-Hassan bin Talal, Prince Faisa bib-Hussein, and Prince Rashid bibnHassad led the welcoming ceremony.

The 20-year-old 'took the cake' with his win against Russian favorite Alexey Denisenko in the 68-kg division. Ahead in points as the clock ticked down, he made a brilliant dash towards the mat edge which cost him a point but burned off enough time to gain him gold with a 10-6 win - a massive upset!

Jordan's Olympic Chief, Prince Faisal, (shown here) and Prince Rashid, head of the country's taekwondo federation, were first to greet the Olympians, and Abu Ghaush spoke of his call from King Abdullah, "He told me 'you've put the face of Jordan on the map. all Jordanians are very happy about result - god helped you to get it."

Jordan's first medalist - and the first Arab to win a taekwondo medal - has received 100s of texts and a flood of new Facebook friend requests. For media-rookie Ahmad, winning the men's under-68kg division gold was the easiest part of his newfound celebrity. After his tenth interview, he told his trainer, "This is harder than winning the final!"

His first became interested in the ancient Korean combat sport as a child. Once the apres-Olympics celebrations calm down, Abu Ghaush (shown here with his mother) will resume his Sports Science degree at the University of Jordan.

Tags:Amman Ahmad Abughaush

OY VEY! Israel claims Jordan’s first Olympic gold medalist as its own!

Taekwondo star Ahmad Abu Ghaush won his qualification to the Rio 2016 Olympics when he beat Thailand’s Sila Peertheb 12-1 in last April's semifinal. He later crushed Mongolia’s Temuujin Purevjav 14-2 to win the Asian Olympic Qualification Tournament gold medal.

This week he returned to Amman after winning Jordan's first ever Olympic gold medal, flown in with the national team and trainers by a specially decorated Royal Jordanian jet.

The Royal Jordanian jetliner was greeted with celebratory sprays of water - that'show airlines roll! - before the Jordan team deplaned to a crowd of wellwishers and media.

The 20-year-old 'took the cake' with his win against Russian favorite Alexey Denisenko in the 68-kg division. Ahead in points as the clock ticked down, he made a brilliant dash towards the mat edge which cost him a point but burned off enough time to gain him gold with a 10-6 win - a massive upset!

His first became interested in the ancient Korean combat sport as a child. Once the apres-Olympics celebrations calm down, Abu Ghaush (shown here with his mother) will resume his Sports Science degree at the University of Jordan.

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