Noam Gershony

Gershony is identified with Kfar Saba. He was reported as 29 years old in 2012 and 36 in 2019, placing his birth around 1982–1983.[1][5][2] He completed the Israeli Air Force pilots' course with honors and was assigned to the "Magic Touch" squadron as an Apache combat-helicopter pilot.[1] During his military service, he played soccer, basketball, and volleyball.[1]

On the night of July 20–21, 2006, during the Second Lebanon War, Gershony was piloting an Apache helicopter on a cross-border mission when it collided with another Apache near Koach Junction, south of Kiryat Shmona.[1][3] Major Ran Kochva, who was aboard Gershony's helicopter, was killed.[1][3] Gershony later said he did not remember the collision and, as the rear pilot, accepted responsibility for what he described as human error.[1]

Gershony was reported to be in deep shock, with severe bleeding, extremely low blood pressure, and no detectable pulse. His injuries included fractures to both arms, a leg, his pelvis, and his jaw, as well as open fractures.[1][3] IDF search-and-rescue personnel attempted resuscitation and began transporting him toward Rambam Medical Center in Haifa, but a respiratory collapse forced an emergency landing at a hospital in Safed.[1][6] His blood pressure reportedly dropped to zero during the rescue effort, but the medical team continued and stabilized him.[6]

After emergency treatment, Gershony underwent numerous operations. He awoke after approximately six days of sedation, initially unable to eat, speak, drink independently, or leave his bed. He spent about six months in hospital and rehabilitation and was subsequently recognized as having 100-percent permanent disability.[1][3]

After medical rehabilitation, Gershony joined Beit Halochem in Tel Aviv and began training in wheelchair tennis, working with coach Nimrod Bichler.[3][1] Drawn to extreme sports, he also tried wheelchair water skiing and snow skiing as part of his return to physical activity.[3] By 2010 he was competing internationally, and he soon reached third place in the world rankings.[6][4]

Before the 2012 London Games, Gershony had succeeded at a Masters tournament in Belgium and competed in Australia, the United States, Japan, and France.[3] He later won championships in Australia, France, and the United States.[7] He also participated with Shraga Weinberg and Boaz Kramer in an international team championship described as wheelchair tennis's equivalent of the Davis Cup.[4] Reflecting on his survival, he said: "I was handed my life back. It was a miracle I survived. That moment I decided I won't waste my life."[5]

At the 2012 London Paralympics, Gershony defeated American David Wagner, then ranked number one in the world, to claim the quad singles gold medal the day before the closing ceremony.[4] The victory was Israel's first Paralympic gold medal since the 2004 Athens Games.[5] Gershony and Shraga Weinberg also won bronze in quad doubles.[4]

After his victory, Gershony said he felt on top of the world and could not describe the emotion of hearing "Hatikvah" while watching the Israeli flag being raised.[5] His gold came six years after the helicopter collision and the severe injuries it caused.[3]

Following his London triumph, Gershony eventually stepped back from singles competition. By 2019, he said that high-level competitive tennis had become too demanding and that he preferred playing for enjoyment.[2] He nevertheless remained willing to represent Israel's national wheelchair-tennis team and continued assisting it with his experience and advice.[4][2]

In September 2026, Gershony returned to competition to assist Israel's quad wheelchair-tennis team at a world team championship in the United States.[8] Playing alongside Guy Sasson and Roi Abergil, he helped Israel win bronze by defeating Chile 2–1. Diego Perez defeated Gershony 6–4, 7–5 in singles, but Gershony and Sasson won the deciding doubles match 6–1, 6–3 against Perez and Francisco Cayulaf.[8]

Gershony also took up surfing and learned to walk using crutches or a cane, continuing to push his physical boundaries after his Paralympic triumph.[7]

In 2018, Gershony was selected as one of 14 torch lighters for Israel's 70th Independence Day ceremony on Mount Herzl.[4] He received the news while in Canada on a Jewish community fundraising trip. The official announcement said that he "expresses the legacy of disabled and injured IDF soldiers who proudly and courageously carry the price of the state's revival on their bodies."[4] He later said that his London gold remained the most exciting moment of his life, although the torch-lighting ceremony came close.[2]

Gershony has lectured in Israel and abroad to Jewish community groups, high-tech employees, at-risk youth, and young people preparing for military service.[2] His talks focus on his injury and recovery, changing one's perspective, appreciating ordinary aspects of life, and encouraging young people to believe in themselves and pursue meaningful service.[3][2] He has also volunteered at Makom Aher, a hostel for at-risk youth in Tel Aviv, where he taught mathematics to teenagers.[7][2]

In a 2019 interview, Gershony said that informal actors had approached him about entering politics, but that it did not interest him at the time.[2] Reflecting on his military service and recovery, he said: "I paid a very heavy price for my service, but I do not regret it for a moment. I love my life very much."[2]

Gershony's connection to Zionist heritage was symbolized during an educational tour when he posed on the balcony of room 117 at Basel's Hotel Les Trois Rois to recreate the iconic photograph of Theodor Herzl.[9]