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Arkansas State’s Chen to make historic debut on Winter Olympic stage

Arkansas State’s Chen to make historic debut on Winter Olympic stage

Photo: Contributed/Arkansas State Athletics


Jonesboro, AR – Contributed – Junior thrower Menachem Chen is set to become the 12th Olympian in Arkansas State track and field’s history when he competes at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.

The Rishon LeZion, Israel, native will represent the Israeli Bobsleigh National Team at the Games, competing in the two-man and four-man events. The 2026 Winter Games will be the first in which Israel is represented in the bobsleigh.

Chen holds the Red Wolves’ men’s discus record with a distance of 57.59m (188-11.00) and became the 2025 Sun Belt Conference Outdoor Champion in the event. The junior has won two shot put titles in the 2026 indoor season, claiming the first at the Commodore Winter Challenge (Dec. 6) before adding another at the Samford Invitational (Jan. 16).

The Red Wolves have produced 11 Olympians, but Chen will be the first to compete in the Winter Olympics.

Tom Hill was the first member of the Scarlet and Black to compete in the Games, claiming bronze in the men’s 110-meter hurdles at the 1972 games in Munich. Camryn Newton-Smith represented Australia in the women’s heptathlon at the 2024 Games in Tokyo.

A full list of A-State Olympians can be found by clicking here.

Media coverage and live results:

Coverage of the 2026 Winter Olympics will be split between NBC, Peacock and USA Network. Live results can be found by clicking here.

2026 Winter Olympics Bobsleigh Schedule (Men’s Two-Man and Four-Man):

Monday, Feb. 16
3 a.m. CT: Two-Man Bobsleigh: Heat 1 (Peacock)
4:57 a.m. CT: Two-Man Bobsleigh: Heat 2 (Peacock)

Tuesday, Feb. 17
12 p.m. CT: Two-Man Bobsleigh: Heat 3 (Peacock)
2:05 p.m. CT: Two-Man Bobsleigh: Heat 4 (Peacock)

Saturday, Feb. 21
3 a.m. CT: Four-Man Bobsleigh: Heat 1 (Peacock, USA Network)
4:57 a.m. CT: Four-Man Bobsleigh: Heat 2 (Peacock)

Sunday, Feb. 22
3 a.m. CT: Four-Man Bobsleigh: Heat 3 (Peacock)
5:15 a.m. CT: Four-Man Bobsleigh: Heat 4 (Peacock, USA Network)

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