Attila Mihaly Kertesz, a 37-year-old veterinarian born in Hungary and now living in Thailand, is set to make history as Israel's first Olympic cross-country skier at the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics. Kertesz only began training in the sport in 2018 and faced significant challenges, including a complex journey to Israeli citizenship and self-funding his Olympic dream. Despite skepticism from others and multiple near-misses in qualifying races, he secured his spot at the Games after meeting the qualification criteria in Norway in December 2025. Kertesz hopes his story will inspire others to pursue their dreams, regardless of age or obstacles, and aims to encourage more Israelis to take up winter sports. For Kertesz, simply reaching the Olympic starting line is already a dream come true.