Israel at the 2008 Summer Olympics

Israel competed at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China. This was Israel's fourteenth participation in the Summer Olympics.

Israel at the
2008 Summer Olympics
IOC codeISR
NOCOlympic Committee of Israel
Websitewww.olympicsil.co.il (in Hebrew and English)
in Beijing
Competitors43 in 12 sports
Flag bearer Michael Kolganov[1]
Medals
Ranked 80th
Gold
0
Silver
0
Bronze
1
Total
1
Summer Olympics appearances (overview)

Israel sent 43 athletes to compete in Beijing, the largest Israeli delegation in Olympic history, with the previous record having been 40 in 2000, and was broken in 2016 with 47.[2] The Olympic team was split 23 men and 20 women, which is the largest share of women in Israel's summer Olympic history. This was the youngest delegation in Israel's Olympic history, with about half the team under the age of 23, and many of them were expected to reach their peak in time for the 2012 Olympics in London.

Shooter Guy Starik became the second Israeli in Olympic history to participate in 4 Olympic Games. Three athletes made their third Olympic appearance: pole vaulter Aleksandr Averbukh, who has two European championship titles, two world championship medals and two Olympic finals in his resume, judoka Ariel Ze'evi, three-times European champion and bronze medalist in 2004 Summer Olympics, and canoer Michael Kolganov, former world champion and bronze medalist in 2000 Summer Olympics, who was the flagbearer for Israel in the opening ceremony.[1] 12 other athletes made their second Olympic appearance, while 27 athletes made their Olympic debut at Beijing.

Israel made its Olympic debut in Beijing in the team event in rhythmic gymnastics, women's épée in fencing, women's one-person dinghy (Laser Radial) in sailing, and women's doubles in tennis.

Among the medal hopefuls were Ariel Ze'evi, and also Udi Gal and Gideon Kliger, 3-times world bronze medalists in sailing 470 class, Shahar Tzuberi, world bronze medalist in sailboard Neil Pryde RS:X class, and tennis men's double team Jonathan Erlich and Andy Ram, winners of the 2008 Australian Open and #3 seeds in the Olympic tournament.

Medalists
Medal Name Sport Event
 BronzeShahar TzuberiSailingMen's sailboard

Other notable achievements
Place Name Sport Event
4Vered Buskila and Nike KorneckiSailingWomen's 470 class
5Gal YekutielJudoMen's 60 kg
6Alona Dvornichenko
Katerina Pisetsky
Maria Savenkov
Rachel Vigdorchick
Veronika Vitenberg		GymnasticsWomen's rhythmic team all-around
8Alexander ShatilovGymnasticsMen's floor
9Irina RisenzonGymnasticsWomen's rhythmic individual all-around
10Maayan DavidovichSailingWomen's sailboard

Results summary
Windsurfer Shahar Tzuberi with his bronze medal
Gymnast Alex Shatilov
Rhythmic gymnast Irina Risenzon
Swimmer Guy Barne'a
Rhythmic gymnast Veronika Vitenberg
Judoka Ariel Ze'evi

The largest delegation in Israel's Olympic history won just one bronze medal by Shahar Tzuberi in this Olympics, which was below the expectations of the National Olympic committee. However, beside disappointment from failures of medal hopefuls, such as Arik Ze'evi, Udi Gal and Gideon Kliger, and Jonathan Erlich and Andy Ram, there were some fine performances from other athletes.

The sailing team was close to win another medal by Vered Buskila and Nike Kornecki in women's 470 class, who finished in fourth place, while Maayan Davidovich became the first Israeli female windsurfer to place in the top 10.

The Gymnasts excelled and recorded first finals in Israel Olympic history by Alex Shatilov, 8th in men's floor (best achievement in artistic gymnastics), the rhythmic team placed sixth on its debut in the team all-around event, while Irina Risenzon placed 9th in the rhythmic individual all-around event. Also the 14th place of Neta Rivkin, the youngest member of the Olympic team, was a good achievement.

There were plenty of national records in the swimming pool – 11 in 17 races – and 3 swimmers achieved 4 top-16 places between them, more than any previous Olympics. Gal Nevo was the best of them, with 11th place in 400 metres individual medley and 13th place in 200 metres individual medley. Nimrod Shapira Bar-Or got 15th place in 200 metres freestyle, and Guy Barne'a 16th in 100 metres backstroke.

Among the other sports, there was only one notable achievement, Gal Yekutiel's fifth place in judo, which was beyond the expectations from him.

In shooting, 4-times Olympian Guy Starik came close to the final of the rifle prone event, but a miss on the final shot placed him in 12th place, losing on tie break to the 4 shooters ranked above him.

On the down side, all four athletes in track-and-field failed to reach their expected results, all three fencers were eliminated in their first bouts, and four tennis players recorded just one win between them (by Shahar Pe'er) before being eliminated.

Athletics
Main article: Athletics at the 2008 Summer Olympics

Four athletes represented Israel in Beijing.[3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15]

Key
  • Note–Ranks given for track events are within the athlete's heat only
  • Q = Qualified for the next round
  • q = Qualified for the next round as a fastest loser or, in field events, by position without achieving the qualifying target
  • NR = National record
  • N/A = Round not applicable for the event
  • Bye = Athlete not required to compete in round
Men
Track & road events
Athlete Event Heat Final
Result Rank Result Rank
Itai Magidi 3000 m steeplechase 9:05.02 13 Did not advance
Haile Satayin Marathon — 2:30:07 69
Field events
Athlete Event Qualification Final
Distance Position Distance Position
Aleksandr Averbukh Pole vault 5.45 28 Did not advance
Niki Palli High jump 2.20 21 Did not advance

Canoeing
Main article: Canoeing at the 2008 Summer Olympics

Sprint

Michael Kolganov represented Israel in kayaking.[16][17][18]

Athlete Event Heats Semifinals Final
Time Rank Time Rank Time Rank
Michael Kolganov Men's K-1 500 m 1:38.396 1 QS 1:43.145 4 Did not advance
Men's K-1 1000 m 3:38.207 5 QS 3:43.108 8 Did not advance

Qualification Legend: QS = Qualify to semi-final; QF = Qualify directly to final

Fencing
Main article: Fencing at the 2008 Summer Olympics

Delila Hatuel, Noam Mills and Tomer Or represented Israel.[19][20][21][22][23][24]

Men
Athlete Event Round of 32 Round of 16 Quarterfinals Semifinals Final / BM
Opposition
Score		 Opposition
Score		 Opposition
Score		 Opposition
Score		 Opposition
Score		 Rank
Tomer Or Individual foil  McGuire (CAN)
L 10–11		 Did not advance
Women
Athlete Event Round of 64 Round of 32 Round of 16 Quarterfinals Semifinals Final / BM
Opposition
Score		 Opposition
Score		 Opposition
Score		 Opposition
Score		 Opposition
Score		 Opposition
Score		 Rank
Noam Mills Individual épée —  Flessel-Colovic (FRA)
L 8–15		 Did not advance
Delila Hatuel Individual foil Bye  Nikichina (RUS)
L 9–10		 Did not advance

Gymnastics
Main article: Gymnastics at the 2008 Summer Olympics

Artistic

Alexander Shatilov represented Israel.[25]

Men
Athlete Event Qualification Final
Apparatus Total Rank Apparatus Total Rank
F PH R V PB HB F PH R V PB HB
Alexander Shatilov All-around 15.600 13.825 14.075 15.575 14.500 14.225 87.800 29 Did not advance
Floor 15.600 — 15.600 8 Q 14.125 — 14.125 8

Rhythmic

Irina Risenzon, Neta Rivkin and a team of 5 gymnasts represented Israel.[26][27][28][29][30]

Athlete Event Qualification Final
Rope Hoop Clubs Ribbon Total Rank Rope Hoop Clubs Ribbon Total Rank
Neta Rivkin Individual 16.500 16.825 16.450 16.100 65.875 14 Did not advance
Irina Risenzon 16.800 17.100 17.125 16.825 67.850 8 Q 17.025 16.350 16.850 16.550 66.775 9
Athlete Event Qualification Final
5 ropes 3 hoops
2 clubs		 Total Rank 5 ropes 3 hoops
2 clubs		 Total Rank
Alona Dvornichenko
Katerina Pisetsky
Maria Savenkov
Rachel Vigdorchick
Veronika Vitenberg		 Team 15.300 16.225 31.525 7 Q 16.050 16.050 32.100 6

Judo
Main article: Judo at the 2008 Summer Olympics

3 judoka represented Israel.[31][32][33]

Men
Athlete Event Preliminary Round of 32 Round of 16 Quarterfinals Semifinals Repechage 1 Repechage 2 Repechage 3 Final / BM
Opposition
Result		 Opposition
Result		 Opposition
Result		 Opposition
Result		 Opposition
Result		 Opposition
Result		 Opposition
Result		 Opposition
Result		 Opposition
Result		 Rank
Gal Yekutiel −60 kg Bye  Khashbaatar (MGL)
W 0001–0000		  Dragin (FRA)
L 0001–1001		 Did not advance  Khergiani (GEO)
W 0001–0000		  Kishmakov (RUS)
W 0001–0000		  Fallon (GBR)
W 0200–0101		  Houkes (NED)
L 0000–1012		 5
Ariel Ze'evi −100 kg —  Demontfaucon (FRA)
W 0010–0001		  Grol (NED)
L 0001–0010		 Did not advance  Corrêa (BRA)
L 0001–0011		 Did not advance
Women
Athlete Event Round of 32 Round of 16 Quarterfinals Semifinals Repechage 1 Repechage 2 Repechage 3 Final / BM
Opposition
Result		 Opposition
Result		 Opposition
Result		 Opposition
Result		 Opposition
Result		 Opposition
Result		 Opposition
Result		 Opposition
Result		 Rank
Alice Schlesinger −63 kg Bye  Décosse (FRA)
L 0000–0011		 Did not advance  Žolnir (SLO)
L 0000–1001		 Did not advance

Sailing
Main article: Sailing at the 2008 Summer Olympics

Seven sailors in five boats represented Israel in Beijing.[34][35][36][37][38]

Men
Athlete Event Race Net points Final rank
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 M*
Shahar Tzuberi RS:X 1 3 1 3 17 6 19 18 1 4 2 58 3rd place, bronze medalist(s)
Udi Gal
Gideon Kliger		 470 13 16 13 14 30
BFD		 11 15 2 12 12 EL 108 14
Women
Athlete Event Race Net points Final rank
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 M*
Maayan Davidovich RS:X 13 9 20 9 13 14 16 4 9 10 7 111 10
Nufar Edelman Laser Radial 25 12 3 15 25 11 9 19 17 CAN EL 111 16
Vered Buskila
Nike Kornecki		 470 8 13 1 2 8 19 3 1 11 15 2 66 4
Notes
  • M = Medal race. Only the top 10 competitors participated in the final medal race.
  • EL = Eliminated – did not advance into the medal race
  • BFD = Black Flag Disqualification (under rule 30.3).
  • DSQ = Disqualified after a protest
  • CAN = Race canceled
  • OCS = On the course side of the starting line at the starting signal and failed to start, or broke rule 30.1

Shooting
Main article: Shooting at the 2008 Summer Olympics

Three shooters represented Israel in Beijing [39]

Men

Athlete Event Qualification Final
Points Rank Points Rank
Doron Egozi 10 m air rifle 587 41 Did not advance
50 m rifle 3 positions 1155 36 Did not advance
Gil Simkovich 50 m rifle prone 592 22 Did not advance
50 m rifle 3 positions 1153 38 Did not advance
Guy Starik 50 m rifle prone 594 12 Did not advance

Swimming
Main article: Swimming at the 2008 Summer Olympics

Seven swimmers represented Israel in the Olympics.[3][40][41][42][43][44][45][46]

Men
Athlete Event Heat Semifinal Final
Time Rank Time Rank Time Rank
Nimrod Shapira Bar-Or 100 m freestyle 49.10 26 Did not advance
200 m freestyle 1:47.78 15 Q 1:48.16 15 Did not advance
Guy Barne'a 100 m backstroke 54.50 15 Q 54.93 16 Did not advance
Tom Be'eri 100 m breaststroke 1:02.42 42 Did not advance
200 m breaststroke 2:11.44 20 Did not advance
Itai Chammah 200 m backstroke 2:00.93 26 Did not advance
Alon Mandel 100 m butterfly 52.99 36 Did not advance
200 m butterfly 1:59.27 28 Did not advance
Gal Nevo 200 m individual medley 1:59.66 12 Q 2:00.43 13 Did not advance
400 m individual medley 4:14.03 11 — Did not advance
Women
Athlete Event Heat Semifinal Final
Time Rank Time Rank Time Rank
Anya Gostomelsky 50 m freestyle 25.23 19 Did not advance
100 m freestyle 55.18 22 Did not advance
100 m backstroke 1:01.87 25 Did not advance
100 m butterfly 59.50 36 Did not advance

Synchronized swimming
Main article: Synchronized swimming at the 2008 Summer Olympics

Anastasia Gloushkov and Inna Yoffe represented Israel.[47]

Athlete Event Technical routine Free routine (preliminary) Free routine (final)
Points Rank Points Total (technical + free) Rank Points Total (technical + free) Rank
Anastasia Gloushkov
Inna Yoffe		 Duet 43.583 15 43.334 86.917 15 Did not advance

Taekwondo
Main article: Taekwondo at the 2008 Summer Olympics

Bat-El Gatterer competed in Taekwondo.[48]

Athlete Event Round of 16 Quarterfinals Semifinals Repechage Bronze Medal Final
Opposition
Result		 Opposition
Result		 Opposition
Result		 Opposition
Result		 Opposition
Result		 Opposition
Result		 Rank
Bat-El Gatterer Women's −57 kg  Zubčić (CRO)
L 3–4		 Did not advance

Tennis
Main article: Tennis at the 2008 Summer Olympics

Jonathan Erlich, Andy Ram, Tzipora Obziler and Shahar Pe'er competed in tennis.[49][50][51][52]

Athlete Event Round of 64 Round of 32 Round of 16 Quarterfinals Semifinals Final / BM
Opposition
Score		 Opposition
Score		 Opposition
Score		 Opposition
Score		 Opposition
Score		 Opposition
Score		 Rank
Jonathan Erlich
Andy Ram		 Men's doubles —  Clément /
Llodra (FRA)
L 4–6, 4–6		 Did not advance
Tzipora Obziler Women's singles  Koryttseva (UKR)
L 5–7, 7–5, 4–6		 Did not advance
Shahar Pe'er  Cîrstea (ROU)
W 6–3, 5–7, 6–0		  Zvonareva (RUS)
L 3–6, 6–7(4–7)		 Did not advance
Tzipora Obziler
Shahar Pe'er		 Women's doubles —  Dulko /
Jozami (ARG)
L 3–6, 2–6		 Did not advance

See also

References
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  2. "Sinai Says: With multiple medal contenders, Israeli Olympians primed for podium return". Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 15 August 2016.
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  6. Sinai, Allon (July 3, 2008). "Alex Averbukh". Fr.jpost.com. Retrieved November 14, 2011.
  7. Sinai, Allon (July 10, 2008). "Magidi given Olympic place; Palli needs to make 2.27m again". Fr.jpost.com. Retrieved November 14, 2011.
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