Not only are many Jews proud to count two-time Olympian Aly Raisman – captain of the 2012 and 2016 US Olympic gymnastic teams and winner of six Olympic medals (three golds, two silvers and a bronze) – as “one of us,” but Aly is proud of being Jewish, and she very publicly exhibits her Jewish pride. At the 2012 Olympics, she dedicated her routine to the memory of the Israeli athletes murdered at the1972 Munich Games. And her gold-medal winning floor routine included the music of Jewish folk song Hava Nagila. Aly says that a letter she received from a Holocaust survivor sharing how much the performance meant helped her to realize that when she performs she represents not just America, but also Jews.
In 2020 Aly adopted her dog Mylo, writing on Instagram the day after she adopted him: “…I’ve already cried a few times because I feel so lucky 😋 He kept me up most of the night but I loved being able to comfort him & make him feel safe. Mylo is very sweet & loving & as each moment goes by he gets a little more confident & comfortable. He’s currently napping on my chest 🥰 I can’t wait to get to know him….”
