Israel at the Olympics
Encyclopedia
Israel
has competed at the Olympic Games
as a nation since 1952. Its National Olympic Committee
was formed in 1933 during the British Mandate of Palestine. As the team represented the Jewish community, it boycotted the 1936 Games
in Germany
in protest of the Nazi Party's anti-Semitic policies. Israel has sent a team to each Summer Olympic Games
since 1952 (except when they participated in the American-led boycott of the 1980 Summer Olympics
) and to each Winter Olympic Games
since 1994. In 1972, 11 members of the Israeli delegation were murdered
by Black September
terrorists.
Israel won its first Olympic medal only in its tenth Olympic appearance, in 1992
. Judoka
Yael Arad
was credited with the first medal in Israel's history, a silver. She was followed a day later by another judoka, Oren Smadja
, who won bronze. Since then, Israel won at least one medal in each Summer Olympics. In 2004
, Gal Fridman
became Israel's first gold medallist in men's windsurfing. This was his second medal, following his bronze in 1996
, and he is the only multi-medallist.
Israel has been more successful at the Paralympic Games
than at the Olympics. At the 2004 Summer Paralympics
in Athens
, Israelis won a total of thirteen medals, of which four were gold. Izhak Mamistvalov
won three medals (of which two were gold) in swimming, while Keren Leibowitz won four medals, of which one was gold, also in swimming. Israel, which has never hosted the Olympic Games, was the host of the 1968 Summer Paralympics
, and finished third on the medal chart with 62 medals, of which 18 gold. Possibly the most successful Israeli Paralympian was Uri Bergman
, who, between 1976 and 1988, won thirteen medals at the Paralympic Games, of which twelve gold. In total, Israel has won 113 gold medals
at the Summer Paralympic Games, contrasted with just 1 at the Summer Olympic Games.
Athletes by sports:
:
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
has competed at the Olympic Games
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
as a nation since 1952. Its National Olympic Committee
National Olympic Committee
National Olympic Committees are the national constituents of the worldwide Olympic movement. Subject to the controls of the International Olympic Committee, they are responsible for organizing their people's participation in the Olympic Games...
was formed in 1933 during the British Mandate of Palestine. As the team represented the Jewish community, it boycotted the 1936 Games
1936 Summer Olympics
The 1936 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XI Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event which was held in 1936 in Berlin, Germany. Berlin won the bid to host the Games over Barcelona, Spain on April 26, 1931, at the 29th IOC Session in Barcelona...
in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
in protest of the Nazi Party's anti-Semitic policies. Israel has sent a team to each Summer Olympic Games
Summer Olympic Games
The Summer Olympic Games or the Games of the Olympiad are an international multi-sport event, occurring every four years, organized by the International Olympic Committee. Medals are awarded in each event, with gold medals for first place, silver for second and bronze for third, a tradition that...
since 1952 (except when they participated in the American-led boycott of the 1980 Summer Olympics
American-led boycott of the 1980 Summer Olympics
The 1980 Summer Olympics boycott of the Moscow Olympics was a part of a package of actions initiated by the United States to protest the Soviet war in Afghanistan...
) and to each Winter Olympic Games
Winter Olympic Games
The Winter Olympic Games is a sporting event, which occurs every four years. The first celebration of the Winter Olympics was held in Chamonix, France, in 1924. The original sports were alpine and cross-country skiing, figure skating, ice hockey, Nordic combined, ski jumping and speed skating...
since 1994. In 1972, 11 members of the Israeli delegation were murdered
Munich massacre
The Munich massacre is an informal name for events that occurred during the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, Bavaria in southern West Germany, when members of the Israeli Olympic team were taken hostage and eventually killed by the Palestinian group Black September. Members of Black September...
by Black September
Black September (group)
The Black September Organization was a Palestinian paramilitary group, founded in 1970. It was responsible for the kidnapping and murder of eleven Israeli athletes and officials, and fatal shooting of a West German policeman, during the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, their most publicized event...
terrorists.
Israel won its first Olympic medal only in its tenth Olympic appearance, in 1992
Israel at the 1992 Summer Olympics
Israel competed at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain.Israel won its first ever Olympic medals at these Games. The first medallist in Israel's history was Yael Arad, who won silver on July 30 in judo's under-61 kg category for women, and she was followed a day later by another...
. Judoka
Judo
is a modern martial art and combat sport created in Japan in 1882 by Jigoro Kano. Its most prominent feature is its competitive element, where the object is to either throw or takedown one's opponent to the ground, immobilize or otherwise subdue one's opponent with a grappling maneuver, or force an...
Yael Arad
Yael Arad
Yael Arad is an Israeli judoka.She was the first Israeli to win an Olympic medal. She is widely recognized as one of Israel's most successful athletes and is credited with bringing judo into the athletic mainstream....
was credited with the first medal in Israel's history, a silver. She was followed a day later by another judoka, Oren Smadja
Oren Smadja
Shay-Oren Smadja is an Israeli judoka.He won the Olympic bronze medal in the under 71 category at the 1992 Summer Olympics. He became only the second Israeli sportsperson to win an Olympic medal, only one day after Yael Arad became the first....
, who won bronze. Since then, Israel won at least one medal in each Summer Olympics. In 2004
Israel at the 2004 Summer Olympics
Israel competed at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece.Israel won its first ever gold medal at these Games.-Athletics:Men's Pole Vault:* Aleksander AverbukhMen's Marathon:* Haile Satayin – 2:17.25...
, Gal Fridman
Gal Fridman
Gal Fridman is an Israeli windsurfer and Olympic gold medalist.He was born in Karkur, Israel, and lives in nearby kibbutz Sdot Yam.Fridman won a bronze medal in the Atlanta 1996 Summer Olympics, and a gold medal in the Athens 2004 Summer Olympics...
became Israel's first gold medallist in men's windsurfing. This was his second medal, following his bronze in 1996
Israel at the 1996 Summer Olympics
Israel competed at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, United States.- Bronze:* Gal Fridman — Sailing, Men's Mistral Individual Competition-Athletics:Men's Triple Jump:*Rogel Nachum*Qualification — 16.67m...
, and he is the only multi-medallist.
Israel has been more successful at the Paralympic Games
Paralympic Games
The Paralympic Games are a major international multi-sport event where athletes with a physical disability compete; this includes athletes with mobility disabilities, amputations, blindness, and Cerebral Palsy. There are Winter and Summer Paralympic Games, which are held immediately following their...
than at the Olympics. At the 2004 Summer Paralympics
2004 Summer Paralympics
The 2004 Summer Paralympics were held in Athens, Greece, from September 17 to September 28. The twelfth Paralympic Games, an estimated 4,000 athletes took part in the Athens programme, with ages ranging from 11 to 66. Paralympic events had already taken place during the 2004 Summer Olympics as...
in Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
, Israelis won a total of thirteen medals, of which four were gold. Izhak Mamistvalov
Izhak Mamistvalov
Izhak Mamistvalov is an Israeli swimmer.He represented Israel at the 2004 Summer Paralympics in Athens, where he won two gold medals and one silver, and set two Paralympic records....
won three medals (of which two were gold) in swimming, while Keren Leibowitz won four medals, of which one was gold, also in swimming. Israel, which has never hosted the Olympic Games, was the host of the 1968 Summer Paralympics
1968 Summer Paralympics
The 1968 Summer Paralympics were the third Paralympic Games to be held. Organised under the guidance of the International Stoke Mandeville Games Federation , they were known as the 17th International Stoke Mandeville Games at the time...
, and finished third on the medal chart with 62 medals, of which 18 gold. Possibly the most successful Israeli Paralympian was Uri Bergman
Uri Bergman
Uri Bergman is an Israeli paralympic swimming champion.Bergman was born in 1953 in Kibbutz Givat Brener and contracted polio as a young baby. In his youth he was active in the Kibbutz's water polo team, and later joining the Israel Sports Center for the Disabled...
, who, between 1976 and 1988, won thirteen medals at the Paralympic Games, of which twelve gold. In total, Israel has won 113 gold medals
All-time Paralympic Games medal table
An all-time medal table for all Paralympic Games from 1960 to 2008 Summer Paralympic Games and 1976 to 2010 Winter Paralympic Games is tabulated below....
at the Summer Paralympic Games, contrasted with just 1 at the Summer Olympic Games.
List of medalists
| Medal | Name | Games | Sport | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 Barcelona 1992 Summer Olympics The 1992 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event celebrated in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, in 1992. The International Olympic Committee voted in 1986 to separate the Summer and Winter Games, which had been held in the same... |
Judo Judo at the 1992 Summer Olympics The Judo competition at the 1992 Summer Olympics was contested in fourteen weight classes, seven each for men and women. The seven men's weight classes continued to be those first used in 1980. This was the first Olympic competition to award medals to women judoka; women competed in 1988 as a... |
Women's half middleweight | ||
| 1992 Barcelona 1992 Summer Olympics The 1992 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event celebrated in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, in 1992. The International Olympic Committee voted in 1986 to separate the Summer and Winter Games, which had been held in the same... |
Judo Judo at the 1992 Summer Olympics The Judo competition at the 1992 Summer Olympics was contested in fourteen weight classes, seven each for men and women. The seven men's weight classes continued to be those first used in 1980. This was the first Olympic competition to award medals to women judoka; women competed in 1988 as a... |
Men's lightweight | ||
| 1996 Atlanta 1996 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.... |
Sailing Sailing at the 1996 Summer Olympics Sailing/Yachting is a Olympic sport starting from the Games of the 1st Olympiad . With the exception of 1904 and possible 1916 sailing was always a part of the Olympic program.... |
Men's sailboard | ||
| 2000 Sydney 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... |
Canoeing Canoeing at the 2000 Summer Olympics Canoeing at the 2000 Summer Olympics was held at the Sydney International Regatta Centre for the sprint events and the Whitewater Stadium in Penrith for the canoe and kayak slalom disciplines. The repechage rounds that ran from the 1960 to the 1996 Games were eliminated in the sprint events while... |
Men's K-1 500 metres | ||
| 2004 Athens 2004 Summer Olympics The 2004 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad, was a premier international multi-sport event held in Athens, Greece from August 13 to August 29, 2004 with the motto Welcome Home. 10,625 athletes competed, some 600 more than expected, accompanied by 5,501 team... |
Judo Judo at the 2004 Summer Olympics Judo at the 2004 Summer Olympics took place in the Ano Liossia Olympic Hall and featured 368 judoka competing for 14 gold medals with seven different weight categories in both the men's and women's competitions. Japan dominated the event by taking 8 gold and 2 silver medals.Gold and silver medals... |
Men's half heavyweight Judo at the 2004 Summer Olympics - Men's 100 kg These are the results of the men's 100 kg competition in judo at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens. A total of 33 men competed in this event, limited to jūdōka whose body weight was less than 100 kilograms... |
||
| 2004 Athens 2004 Summer Olympics The 2004 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad, was a premier international multi-sport event held in Athens, Greece from August 13 to August 29, 2004 with the motto Welcome Home. 10,625 athletes competed, some 600 more than expected, accompanied by 5,501 team... |
Sailing Sailing at the 2004 Summer Olympics Sailing at the 2004 Summer Olympics took place at the Agios Kosmas Olympic Sailing Centre with eleven events being contested.The events were split into four classes for men, four for women, and three mixed classes that were open to both men and women... |
Men's sailboard Sailing at the 2004 Summer Olympics - Men's sailboard These are the results of the men's sailboard competition in sailing at the 2004 Summer Olympics.-Medalists:-Results:-Notes:... |
||
| 2008 Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics The 2008 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, was a major international multi-sport event that took place in Beijing, China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008. A total of 11,028 athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees competed in 28 sports and 302 events... |
Sailing Sailing at the 2008 Summer Olympics Sailing at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing was held from August 9 to 21. The competition took place in Qingdao, at Qingdao International Marina.... |
Men's sailboard |
Medals by Games
| 1992 Barcelona 1992 Summer Olympics The 1992 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event celebrated in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, in 1992. The International Olympic Committee voted in 1986 to separate the Summer and Winter Games, which had been held in the same... |
0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 1996 Atlanta 1996 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.... |
0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 2000 Sydney 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... |
0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 2004 Athens 2004 Summer Olympics The 2004 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad, was a premier international multi-sport event held in Athens, Greece from August 13 to August 29, 2004 with the motto Welcome Home. 10,625 athletes competed, some 600 more than expected, accompanied by 5,501 team... |
1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 2008 Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics The 2008 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, was a major international multi-sport event that took place in Beijing, China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008. A total of 11,028 athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees competed in 28 sports and 302 events... |
0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Total | 1 | 1 | 5 | 7 |
|---|
Medals by sport
| Sailing Sailing at the Summer Olympics Sailing has been one of the Olympic sports since the Games of the I Olympiad, held in Athens, Greece, in 1896. Despite being scheduled in the first Olympic program, the races were canceled due to severe weather conditions... |
1 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| Judo Judo at the Summer Olympics Judo was first included in the Summer Olympic Games at the 1964 Games in Tokyo, Japan. After not being included in 1968, judo has been an Olympic sport in each Olympiad since then. Only male judoka participated until the 1988 Summer Olympics, when women participated as a demonstration sport... |
0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Canoeing Canoeing at the Summer Olympics Canoeing and kayaking has been featured as a competition sport in the Summer Olympic Games since the 1936 Games in Berlin although it was a demonstration sport at the 1924 Games in Paris. There are two disciplines of canoeing in Olympic competition: slalom and sprint.Two styles of boats are... |
0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Total | 1 | 1 | 5 | 7 |
|---|
Olympic participants
299 athletes were members of the Israeli Olympic delegation, though six of them didn't actually take part in competitions.Athletes by sports:
| Sport | Athletes | Games | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summer Olympics | |||
| Athletics | 46 | 13 | 1952-1984, 1992-2008 |
| Swimming | 41 | 14 | 1952-2008 |
| Football | 35 | 2 | 1968, 1976 |
| Sailing | 29 | 9 | 1972-2008 |
| Shooting | 25 | 13 | 1952, 1960-2008 |
| Gymnastics | 23 | 8 | 1960, 1976-1992, 2000-2008 |
| Judo | 15 | 7 | 1976-1984, 1992-2008 |
| Wrestling | 14 | 7 | 1972-1976, 1988-2004 |
| Basketball | 13 | 1 | 1952 |
| Fencing | 13 | 9 | 1960, 1972-1984, 1992-2008 |
| Weightlifting | 11 | 6 | 1960, 1972-1984, 1992-1996 |
| Tennis | 9 | 5 | 1984-1992, 2004-2008 |
| Canoe/Kayak | 6 | 5 | 1984, 1996-2008 |
| Boxing | 5 | 3 | 1984-1988, 1996 |
| Taekwondo | 2 | 2 | 2004-2008 |
| Cycling | 2 | 1 | 1960 |
| Table tennis | 1 | 1 | 2004 |
| Winter Olympics | |||
| Skating | 8 | 5 | 1994-2010 |
| Skiing | 1 | 2 | 2006-2010 |
Athletes killed in the 1972 Olympics
The eleven members of Israel's 1972 Olympic team killed during the Munich massacreMunich massacre
The Munich massacre is an informal name for events that occurred during the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, Bavaria in southern West Germany, when members of the Israeli Olympic team were taken hostage and eventually killed by the Palestinian group Black September. Members of Black September...
:
- David BergerDavid Mark BergerDavid Mark Berger was an American-born weightlifter for the Israeli Olympic team in 1972. A lawyer by education, Berger was one of 11 members of Israel’s Olympic team who were taken hostage and subsequently murdered by Arab terrorists at the Munich Olympic Games.Berger was born in Cleveland, Ohio...
, 28, weightlifter - Ze'ev FriedmanZe'ev FriedmanZe'ev Friedman , was an Israeli flyweight weightlifter. A member of the Israeli Olympic team, he was murdered by terrorists in the 1972 Munich Olympics massacre. -Biography:...
, 28, weightlifter - Yossef GutfreundYossef GutfreundYossef Gutfreund was an Israeli wrestling judge for his country's 1972 Olympic team. He was murdered in the Munich massacre by Black September terrorists along with 10 other members of the Israeli team.-Biography:...
, 40, wrestling referee - Eliezer HalfinEliezer HalfinEliezer Halfin was a wrestler for the Israeli Olympic team at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, Germany. Along with 10 other athletes and coaches he was taken hostage by Palestinian Black September terrorists...
, 24, wrestler - Yossef RomanoYossef RomanoYossef Romano was a Libyan-born, Jewish Israeli weightlifter with the Israeli team that went to the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, Germany. He was the second of eleven Israeli team members murdered in the Munich massacre by Black September terrorists during that Olympics...
, 31, weightlifter - Amitzur ShapiraAmitzur ShapiraAmitzur Shapira was an Israeli short distance runners in the 1950s and a coach for the Israeli track and field team at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, Germany. At the time of his death he was also one of the country's best track coaches.-Early life:...
, 40, track coach - Kehat ShorrKehat ShorrKehat Shorr was the shooting coach for the 1972 Israeli Olympic team. He was one of the 11 members of Israel's Olympic team killed in the Munich massacre.-Biography:...
, 53, shooting coach - Mark SlavinMark SlavinMark Slavin , was an Israeli Olympic Greco-Roman wrestler and victim of the Munich massacre at the 1972 Summer Olympics....
, 18, wrestler - Andre SpitzerAndre SpitzerAndre Spitzer , was a fencing master and coach of Israel's 1972 Summer Olympics team. He was one of 11 athletes and coaches taken hostage and subsequently killed by Palestinians in the Munich massacre.-Early life:...
, 27, fencing coach - Yakov SpringerYakov SpringerYakov Springer , was a wrestler and a weightlifting coach and judge, but is best known as one of the victims of the Munich massacre at the 1972 Summer Olympics....
, 51, weightlifting judge - Moshe WeinbergMoshe WeinbergMoshe Weinberg was the coach of the Israeli international wrestling team as well as being the coach of Hapoel Tel Aviv. He was the Israeli youth champion in wrestling and also the adult champion for a period of 8 years. He began his career in Hapoel Haifa, later becoming a certified coach at...
, 33, wrestling coach