Eithan Urbach
Encyclopedia
Eithan Urbach is a former backstroke
swimmer from Israel
, who is considered to be one of the greatest swimmers in Israel's history. Urbach competed in two Summer Olympics and was a member of Maccabi Haifa
.
.
In the fall of 1996, he began swimming at Auburn University
, and the following spring, he finished 8th in the 200 m backstroke at the NCAA Championship.
In 1997, Urbach won the silver medal in the 100 m backstroke (55.88) at the European Championships in Seville, Spain, and shared Israel's Sportsman of the Year award with fellow swimmer, and Auburn alumnus, Yoav Bruck.
Urbach continued his success in 1998, finishing 7th in the 100-meter backstroke (55.96) at the 1998 World Aquatics Championships
in Perth, Western Australia
.
He won the bronze in the same event (55.87) at the European LC Championships 1999
in Istanbul, Turkey.
He was also a member of the 4×100-meter medley (3:43.48) team which placed 8th at the 2000 European Championships.
At the 2001 World Aquatics Championships
in Fukuoka, Japan
, Urbach competed in the 50 m and 100 m backstroke events; he finished 26th in the preliminaries of the 50 m and 16th in the 100 m, and did not advance to the semifinals in either event.
, and swam in two events. In the 100 m backstroke, he finished first in his preliminary heat (56.74), but did not advance to the finals (he missed qualifying for the consolation final by 0.39 seconds). Urbach finished 22nd in the competition.
In Atlanta, Urbach was also a member of Israel's 4×100 m medley relay team – alongside breaststroker Vadim Alexeev
, freestyler Yoav Bruck
, and butterfly specialist Dan Kutler
– which reached the finals after finishing 4th in their preliminary heat (3:42.24). It was the first time an Israeli swimming team had made an Olympic final, and they finished 8th overall with a time of 3:42.90.
At the 2000 Summer Olympics
in Sydney
, Urbach became the first Israeli swimmer to qualify for the finals in an individual event. In the semifinals of the 100 m backstroke, he set an Israeli record with a time of 55.31, and qualified for the finals; he finished in 8th place with a time of 55.74. Urbach also helped break the national record in the 4×100 m freestyle relay (3:22.06), finishing in 14th place, and was a member of the 4×100 m medley relay (3:43.39), which finished 5th in the preliminary heat, and 17th overall.
Backstroke
The backstroke, also sometimes called the back crawl, is one of the four swimming styles regulated by FINA, and the only regulated style swum on the back. This has the advantage of easy breathing, but the disadvantage of swimmers not being able to see where they are going. It is also the only...
swimmer from Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
, who is considered to be one of the greatest swimmers in Israel's history. Urbach competed in two Summer Olympics and was a member of Maccabi Haifa
Maccabi Haifa
Maccabi Haifa is a sports club in Israel, founded in 1913, and part of the Maccabi association. It runs several sports clubs and teams in Haifa which have competed in a variety of sports over the years, such as Football, Weightlifting, swimming, Tennis, Table tennis, Volleyball, Team handball,...
.
Swimming career
Urbach first attracted international attention in 1994, when he was ranked # 81 in the world in the 200 m backstroke (2:04.41) at the age of 17. He helped the Israeli 4×100 m medley relay team finish in 6th place at the 1995 European Championships in ViennaVienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
.
In the fall of 1996, he began swimming at Auburn University
Auburn University
Auburn University is a public university located in Auburn, Alabama, United States. With more than 25,000 students and 1,200 faculty members, it is one of the largest universities in the state. Auburn was chartered on February 7, 1856, as the East Alabama Male College, a private liberal arts...
, and the following spring, he finished 8th in the 200 m backstroke at the NCAA Championship.
In 1997, Urbach won the silver medal in the 100 m backstroke (55.88) at the European Championships in Seville, Spain, and shared Israel's Sportsman of the Year award with fellow swimmer, and Auburn alumnus, Yoav Bruck.
Urbach continued his success in 1998, finishing 7th in the 100-meter backstroke (55.96) at the 1998 World Aquatics Championships
1998 World Aquatics Championships
The 1998 World Aquatics Championships or the 8th FINA World Swimming Championships were held in Perth, Western Australia, Australia between 8 January and 17 January 1998....
in Perth, Western Australia
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
.
He won the bronze in the same event (55.87) at the European LC Championships 1999
European LC Championships 1999
The European Long Course Championships 1999 were held in Istanbul, Turkey from Monday 26 July to Sunday 1 August, in the 50 m pool of the Ataköy Olympic Pool Stadium...
in Istanbul, Turkey.
He was also a member of the 4×100-meter medley (3:43.48) team which placed 8th at the 2000 European Championships.
At the 2001 World Aquatics Championships
2001 World Aquatics Championships
rightThe 2001 World Aquatics Championships or the 9th FINA World Swimming Championships were held in Fukuoka, Japan between 16 July and 29 July 2001....
in Fukuoka, Japan
Fukuoka, Fukuoka
is the capital city of Fukuoka Prefecture and is situated on the northern shore of the island of Kyushu in Japan.Voted number 14 in a 2010 poll of the World's Most Livable Cities, Fukuoka is praised for its green spaces in a metropolitan setting. It is the most populous city in Kyushu, followed by...
, Urbach competed in the 50 m and 100 m backstroke events; he finished 26th in the preliminaries of the 50 m and 16th in the 100 m, and did not advance to the semifinals in either event.
Olympics
At the age of 18, Urbach participated in the 1996 Summer Olympics1996 Summer Olympics
The 1996 Summer Olympics of Atlanta, officially known as the Games of the XXVI Olympiad and unofficially known as the Centennial Olympics, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1996 in Atlanta, Georgia, United States....
, and swam in two events. In the 100 m backstroke, he finished first in his preliminary heat (56.74), but did not advance to the finals (he missed qualifying for the consolation final by 0.39 seconds). Urbach finished 22nd in the competition.
In Atlanta, Urbach was also a member of Israel's 4×100 m medley relay team – alongside breaststroker Vadim Alexeev
Vadim Alexeev
Vadim Alexeev is a retired world-class Soviet/Israeli Olympic breaststroke swimmer. Alexeev was born in Almaty, Kazakh SSR, Soviet Union. He is Jewish, and emigrated to Israel in 1992. He speaks Russian.-Career:...
, freestyler Yoav Bruck
Yoav Bruck
Yoav Bruck is a former swimmer from Israel, who competed in three Summer Olympics for his native country, starting in 1992....
, and butterfly specialist Dan Kutler
Dan Kutler
Dan Kutler is a former butterfly swimmer, who was born in the United States, and swam for Israel in the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta. He lived in Santa Clara, California, and immigrated to Israel in 1994...
– which reached the finals after finishing 4th in their preliminary heat (3:42.24). It was the first time an Israeli swimming team had made an Olympic final, and they finished 8th overall with a time of 3:42.90.
At the 2000 Summer Olympics
2000 Summer Olympics
The Sydney 2000 Summer Olympic Games or the Millennium Games/Games of the New Millennium, officially known as the Games of the XXVII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated between 15 September and 1 October 2000 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, Urbach became the first Israeli swimmer to qualify for the finals in an individual event. In the semifinals of the 100 m backstroke, he set an Israeli record with a time of 55.31, and qualified for the finals; he finished in 8th place with a time of 55.74. Urbach also helped break the national record in the 4×100 m freestyle relay (3:22.06), finishing in 14th place, and was a member of the 4×100 m medley relay (3:43.39), which finished 5th in the preliminary heat, and 17th overall.