Chen Yahalom

Major (res.) Chen Yahalom was very well known in the Israeli triathlon community, of which he was a member for over 15 years and participated in many competitions. He even won the 2022 'Half Ironman' division in a local competition.

He was drafted into the reserves as soon as the war broke out and served on the northern border. On Friday, he went on a 24-hour refresher break.

During cycling training with two of his friends, alongside Route 44, a car hit them and threw them off their bikes. His friends were slightly injured, but he sustained a severe head injury and was pronounced dead at the Wolfson Hospital in Holon.

He is survived by his wife, two brothers and parents.

His good friend, Amit Shaked, who was riding with him and was mildly injured in the accident, eulogized him: "Chen, my dear brother, eulogizing you is not something I planned in any scenario. You had everything in you. Death wasn’t part of you and never will be. Whoever met you knew within a minute that you were a rare person. A person you don't see anymore these days. The values that guided you your whole life were so true and clear. You were so powerful and so quiet, so successful and so humble. You devoured life and made sure that it was never at the expense of someone else, full of laughter, joy of life, lightness, and love of all living things wherever they are. You always put others before yourself, and on the other hand, you were full of self-respect. You are the dictionary definition of ‘the salt of the earth’."

He continued: "When I met your family yesterday, I understood exactly where you got all this. You received an education that aligns with the generation that built the Land of Israel. You knew where you came from and where you were going, you sacrificed yourself for a higher purpose and never sought reward for your actions. We have traveled tens of thousands of kilometers together. You are the best partner one could ask for. How much we laughed about everything whenever we could, jokes in all the colors of the rainbow; there was no topic that we could not laugh at. You always had a smile and always enabled us to move on even when things got tough. How much we argued, philosophized, and spent many hours on less important things, like how to lower the riding position by a centimeter, which tire would be the fastest, or whether it is worth donating a kidney to climb Nes Harim 10 seconds faster."

"We went through so much together, and through you, I learned about your rich world. Your absolute love for your partner Or the fact that your dog is like a child to you. The immense love and endless concern you had for your siblings, the amazing relationship you had with your parents, and the mutual and absolute love that you have within your family. A friend like you exists only in fairy tales. The knowledge that you will always be there for me and for each of your friends was absolute. Not only in emergencies but on a daily basis," he concluded.

Chen was an officer in the 8159th Battalion of the Artillery Corps. Chen, a major in the reserves. His friends testify that he was a charm of a guy, sensitive, pleasant and very valuable. He was a good friend, who always volunteered to help and contributed a lot of his energy to others. He is a one-of-a-kind personality, a heart of gold, an officer and a super fighter and at the same time one of the funniest, special and crazy people we have ever met. Chen Yaholum, a gifted athlete and Ironman, left behind dozens of friends, and partners in the shocked and pained way in the world of Israeli triathlon. 

The Israeli Ironman, "Isram," added a new category, "Yahlom Masters" in his honor.