2014 Sochi Olympics gets first Jewish medalist

(JNS.org)—Three days into the 2014 Sochi Olympic games, Jewish-American figure skater Jason Brown won a bronze medal at the team figure skating competitions Feb. 9.

In addition to his skating, Brown has grabbed international attention due to his hairstyle. Brown’s flowing ponytail seemed to move with the skater symmetrically as he danced. The ponytail even got its own Twitter account, @2014PonyPower, with many followers.

“I am still the same person before I left for [U.S.] Nationals,” he said.

“I’m that crazy guy with long hair who loves to skate and loves to perform,” Brown told NBC News after it was announced he had made the U.S. Olympic team.

Canadian-Jewish figure skater Dylan Moscvovitch also won a silver medal in the team competitions. Israel’s skiing competitor, Vladislav Bykanov, finished fourth in the men’s 1,500 meter short track competition.