How Bond Joined Israel's Team

"I am part Jewish, so ... I feel right at home," Bond, 39, told CBN News of her experience competing on team Israel.

Her journey to contending on behalf of the Jewish state started when she was 33 years old, which she considers significant considering her Christian heritage.

"I was 33 when I got my citizenship—on my 33rd birthday," she said. "Jesus was crucified when he was 33. I have always considered myself an American-Israeli or Israeli-American—either way. My dad was born in Haifa ... I still have some family that lives in Israel."

Bond said her Israeli heritage was always "very prominent" in her life, with the culture integrated into her daily life. Ultimately, she developed a "strong Israeli character," which helped lead her to seek Israeli citizenship in 2018.

"I just felt this calling with my faith being a Christian, being that Jesus —that's where He was born, and where He died, and where He rose again," Bond said. "And I had done enough for the US. team. I felt as though I had proven that I could ride for the US team. ... I felt it was time for me to make that change and to help along with my other teammates to bring Israel more recognition to the top of the sport and hopefully get others in Israel excited about hopefully getting into the equestrian sport."

Dealing With Terror Threats

There were some significant considerations for Bond when competing in the 2024 Olympic Games, though, especially after Hamas' Oct. 7 terror attack and the ongoing tensions in the Middle East—events that led to increased security concerns for Israeli Olympians.

"It was definitely nerve-racking, to say the least," she said. "I pride myself on being a pretty tough person, someone who isn't shaken too easily." (Screengrab image: via CBN News)

But Bond said she and others received a threatening email before the 2024 Olympics that left her stunned.

"[It] singled me out personally, along with ... I believe 16 other Israeli athletes from a terrorist organization threatening our lives and saying ... 'If you fly over, you drive over, we run the airports, we run the streets, we will have blood run in the streets like Munich in '72,'" she said, referencing the 1972 terror attack that claimed the lives of 11 Israeli Olympians. "That was a little concerning."

Bond said she coped with associated fears by leaning into Jesus, focusing on her calling and not any of the worries that the email sparked in her heart. The threats were especially concerning because the emails were delivered and addressed to each individual's personal email—and that's not all... Subscribe for free to Breaking Christian News here

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