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Shtonda joined the Step by Step program of the In One Heart foundation, which supports wounded soldiers in pursuing athletic goals such as marathons and triathlons.
By Shula Rosen
A year after losing his leg in battle, IDF veteran Boris Shtonda is preparing to compete in one of the world’s toughest endurance challenges — the Ironman triathlon.
The 28-year-old Tel Aviv resident, who served in the elite Duvdevan unit and was gravely wounded during fighting in Beit Hanoun, has undergone 19 surgeries since his injury.
Now, he trains daily toward his next goal: completing a Half Ironman in Valencia, Spain, this coming April.
Shtonda begins many mornings with long swims off the Tel Aviv coast, followed by runs using his prosthetic leg. He tells Ynet the discipline of training gives him focus and purpose. “You can’t look for excuses. Don’t ask why you can’t — ask how you can,” he said in a recent interview. “When people tell me how hard it must be, I think to myself, so what? I may not have a leg, but I have my mind, and I know exactly what I’m working for.”
His journey has captured the attention of Israelis inspired by his determination. Knesset member Hili Tropper, who met Shtonda during a beach training session, wrote that many had doubted he would ever walk again. “But Boris breaks every barrier,” he said. “He’s already proven what real iron will looks like.”
As part of his rehabilitation, Shtonda joined the Step by Step program of the In One Heart foundation, which supports wounded soldiers in pursuing athletic goals such as marathons and triathlons. His coach, veteran Ironman athlete Tom Marmarelli, created a nine-month plan combining physical training, nutrition, and mental resilience. “Each fighter ends up fulfilling a personal dream,” Marmarelli said.
Shtonda has already summited Mount Kilimanjaro twice and married during his recovery, but he insists the Ironman represents something deeper. “Rehabilitation is personal,” he said. “No one can do it for you. You set your challenge, and you fight for it.”
Reflecting on his progress, he added, “The mind is the strongest muscle. Life is beautiful, and you have to challenge yourself every single day.”
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