ROBERT Halfon MP welcomed Sam Howard, aged 16, and his parents, Toni and Dan, to Parliament on Monday this week to celebrate Sam’s success this summer in the Maccabiah Games.

Sam, who has been swimming competitively in Harlow and across Essex for a number of years, secured a bronze medal for swimming in the medley relay and even took part in an open water competition in the Sea of Galilee!

The Maccabiah games were first held in 1932 and bring together Jewish athletes from all over the world to compete. This year’s games were held in Israel in July and were the largest sporting event in the world for 2022, with 10,000 athletes from 80 countries competing in 42 categories.

Sam is already working hard to prepare for the next games, due to be held in three years time. This involves an intense training schedule of four evening and two morning sessions per week, whilst also studying for his GCSEs next summer.

Robert said: “I was delighted to invite Sam and his family to Parliament to hear more about his success this Summer. The Maccabiah Games are an important event for the Jewish community, bringing competitors together from all over the world. Sam represented Team GB and Harlow fantastically and we are all so proud of what he has achieved.”

Sam said: “It was great to represent Team GB in Israel this summer and I can’t wait to be back at the next Maccabiah Games. I enjoyed visiting Parliament this week and talking to Robert about the Games, we even got to meet the Foreign Secretary!”