Olympic Gold Medalist Amit Elor Welcomes Son Aryeh

Amit Elor made history in 2024 as the youngest American ever to win Olympic gold in wrestling, and now she's celebrating an even more personal victory.

The 22-year-old champion welcomed her first child on January 23, a son named Aryeh. She and her fiancé Micael Galvão, a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu competitor, chose the Hebrew name meaning "lion" to honor someone very special.

Elor named her baby after her maternal grandfather, Aryeh Dror, a Holocaust survivor. Following Ashkenazi Jewish tradition, she's keeping his memory alive through her son's name.

The wrestler shared a touching tribute to her grandfather last year on International Holocaust Remembrance Day. She posted a childhood photo of herself with Aryeh, remembering both him and her paternal grandfather David Mackler, who survived multiple concentration camps.

Her Israeli roots run deep. Both of Elor's parents grew up in Ashkelon, Israel, and her late father Ilan Mackler Elor was an Israeli discus thrower. She grew up in Walnut Creek, California, speaking Hebrew at home and embracing both her Jewish identity and athletic talents.

Sunny's Take

After her Olympic win, Elor gave an adorable interview in Hebrew that delighted fans worldwide. Now she's ensuring her son grows up with that same cultural connection, starting with a name that represents strength and courage. The couple even dressed baby Aryeh in a green bodysuit with an embroidered lion, a sweet nod to his powerful name.

Elor has spoken openly about how the rise of antisemitism reminds her that standing against hate matters more than ever. By honoring her grandfather's survival and passing down Jewish traditions, she's showing her son what resilience looks like.

From Olympic podiums to parenthood, this young champion keeps winning where it counts most.