Israeli Teen Stripped of Gold Medal for Displaying Israeli Flag

Yotam Budnik, a 17-year-old from Rehovot, earned a gold-medal score at the 2026 International Olympiad in Informatics in Uzbekistan — where Israeli students have been required to compete under a neutral flag since 2025. According to accounts circulating from the event, Budnik stepped onto the podium, pulled out an Israeli flag he had hidden, and draped it over his shoulders. The organization responded by nullifying his result, erasing him from the rankings and revoking his certificate.