Shaked Bitton's world changed forever on October 31, 2023. The 22-year-old Givati Brigade soldier woke up in a hospital bed, his right leg gone—a casualty of Israel's ground offensive in Gaza. "I thought I'd be in a wheelchair for life, with my mom driving me everywhere," Bitton recalls.
But less than a year later, Bitton has found an unexpected path forward: as a member of Israel's national amputee soccer team.
In a recent interview with Israeli public broadcaster Kan, Bitton described his journey from devastating injury to competitive athlete. "It's crazy how rehabilitating it is and how similar it is to reality," he says of amputee soccer, a sport played on crutches with strict rules about prosthetic use.
The transition hasn't been easy. Bitton has had to relearn fundamental skills, mastering the art of passing, shooting, and maneuvering with crutches. "You essentially play with just one leg where the crutch helps you move. It's surprisingly difficult," he explains.
Yet the challenge has proven transformative. For Bitton and his teammates—all amputees or individuals with certain types of paralysis—the sport offers more than just physical rehabilitation. It's a return to normalcy, competition, and camaraderie.
Israel's national amputee soccer team, formed just five years ago, is already making waves internationally. Bitton notes the team's "amazing results" in such a short time, hinting at the resilience and determination that drives these athletes.
* Kann News contributed to this article.