Israel at the Olympics

 

Israel’s best hopes for Olympic glory lie in the diversity and versatility of its athletes competing in London 2012, according to the Israel Embassy in the UK.
Israel’s 15th delegation numbers 38 athletes, in eight sports, including gymnastics (ten athletes), swimming (eight) and sailing (seven).

Israel first competed at the Olympic Games in 1952 in Helsinki, and the Olympic Committee of Israel has sent delegations to all Summer Olympics since then. Israel made its debut at the Winter Olympics in 1994, and has been a regular participant since.

Yael Arad won Israel’s first Olympic medal in 1992 with a silver medal in Judo and Gal Fridman won Israel’s first, and so far only, gold medal at the 2004 Olympic games in men’s windsurfing. Israel has won at least one medal at every Olympics since the Barcelona games 20 years ago, and the team is determined to continue this tradition at London 2012.