This Amputee War Hero And His Brother Just Won Israel's "Amazing Race"

The new season of "The Amazing Race Israel" has kicked off with a story that is captivating viewers across the country. Brothers Itai and Omri took the starting line with a unique challenge: Omri is an above-the-knee amputee, a result of a severe injury sustained during the "Iron Swords" war. Despite the physical limitations, the duo stunned competitors by finishing the first leg of the race in first place.

Omri’s injury occurred two years ago while he was serving as an officer in the Paratroopers Reconnaissance Unit (Sayeret Tzanchanim) in Gaza. An explosive device detonated inside a building, leaving him with complex injuries and a permanent amputation.

In a recent interview with Srugim, the brothers described themselves as a "steel duo," a term often used in the military to describe inseparable partners. "What compensated for the limitation was us, the mutual support," they explained. "Like in the army, one carries for the other."

The brothers admit that the pressure of the race is unlike anything they have experienced in 22 years of being siblings. They described the format as "crazy and stressful," noting that the intensity reveals sides of their personalities they hadn't seen before.

While they acknowledge that arguments are inevitable under such stress, they credit their synergy for their early success. "There are missions where one is both the brawn and the brain, and others where the second person takes over," they said. "Everything we learned in combat service, determination, competitiveness, never giving up, comes to life on the screen."

For Omri, participating in the race was about more than just the grand prize; it was about proving that a disability does not have to be a stopping point. "To anyone sitting at home with a limitation, an injury, or a challenge, watch this season," he said. "We wanted to show what can be done despite the difficulty. A limitation is not the end of the story. Often, it is only in the mind."