Artem Dolgopyat

The same survey concluded 90% of secular couples and 79% of non-religious traditional couples also support civil marriage in Israel.

After 73 years of statehood, Israel still does not provide full rights to all of its citizens. Over 300,000 citizens live here but can't get married.

As MK Arye Deri (Shas) said: ”Winning a medal, doesn’t make him Jewish.”

When someone like Dolgopyat has grown up his entire life as a Jew and as an Israeli, the nuts and bolts of Judaism are part of his cultural upbringing.

OLYMPIC AFFAIRS: Most Olympians go out to the world stage and perform in their profession, representing Israel in the best way possible. But what do they get in return?

MIDDLE ISRAEL: The Olympic hero's scandalous inability to marry in his country can be fixed by adopting a civil marriage formula written jointly by a liberal law professor and a major Orthodox rabbi.

Calm, collected and serene is what Dolgopyat is all about, perhaps even a quiet assassin, calculated and aware of his surroundings when on the mat and the stakes are high.

There are people who are good enough to serve in the IDF and even die for this country, but are not good enough to get married in Israel – or to be buried next to their brothers in arms.

"It's intolerable that someone can fight on our behalf in the Olympics, represent us and win a gold medal and not be able to get married in Israel," said Alternate Prime Minister Yair Lapid.

Artem Dolgopyat, Israeli Olympic gold medalist, is not Jewish according to Jewish law and would therefore not be allowed to legally marry in Israel.