Gad Tsobari

Gad Tsobari

Gad Tsobari (or Tsabari) (born 1948) is an Israeli-born flyweight freestyle wrestler and a member of Israel's 1972 Olympic team. He finished 12th (of 50) in his event, and was considered a possible medal threat at the Montreal Games of 1976.

Tsobari turned out to be the only survivor of the six athletes housed in Apartment 3 at 31 Connollystraße, which was the second apartment taken by Arab terrorists in the early morning hours of September 5, 1972 see|Munich massacre.

Although he was originally taken hostage by the Black September fedayeen, Tsobari was able to escape with the help of his already-wounded coach, Moshe Weinberg, who attacked the terrorists and received fatal gunshot wounds in the process. While Weinberg was fighting the terrorists, Tsobari dashed down a flight of stairs and through an underground garage, even as one of the terrorists pursued and shot after him. Tsobari found his way to the Olympic Village security building, where he informed officials about the break-in at the Israeli quarters.

Nearly 18 hours later, Tsobari and the rest of the Israeli Olympians not taken hostage watched the helicopters take off for Fürstenfeldbruck airbase, where the massacre would occur. In a harbinger of events to come in his life, Tsobari was heard to mutter "I've missed my flight."

In an obvious case of "survivor guilt", Tsobari drank heavily and required years of psychotherapy after returning to Israel with the bodies of his fallen teammates. Tsobari has since recovered and is currently a wrestling coach in Israel.


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем сделать НИР

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Munich massacre — Image of hostage taker looking over the balcony of the Israeli team quarters at Building 31 of the Munich Olympic Village. This is probably the widely recognizable and iconic photo of the event.[1] …   Wikipedia

  • David Mark Berger — For other people of the same name, see David Berger (disambiguation). David Mark Berger (June 24, 1944 – September 6, 1972) was an American born weightlifter for the Israeli Olympic team in 1972. A lawyer by education, Berger was one of 11… …   Wikipedia

  • Moshe Weinberg — For the Polish composer, see Mieczysław Weinberg. Moshe Weinberg (sometimes Weinberger) (1939 September 5, 1972) was the coach of the Israeli international wrestling team as well as being the coach of Hapoel Tel Aviv. He was the Israeli youth… …   Wikipedia

  • Yossef Romano — Infobox person name=Yossef Romano birth date=birth date|1940|12|30 birth place=Libya death date=dda|1972|09|05|1940|12|30 death cause=Gunshot wounds, terrorism victim death place=Munich, Germany nationality=Israeli known for=Munich massacreYossef …   Wikipedia

  • Moshe Weinberg — (hebräisch ‏משה ויינברג‎, auch Weinberger; * 1939; † 5. September 1972) war Trainer der israelischen Ringermannschaft und der Mannschaft von Hapoel Tel Aviv. Er war israelischer Jugendmeister und auch als Erwachsener lange Zeit Meister. Seine… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Mosche Weinberg — (hebräisch ‏משה ויינברג‎, auch Weinberger; * 1939; † 5. September 1972 in München) war Trainer der israelischen Ringermannschaft und der Mannschaft von Hapoel Tel Aviv. Er war israelischer Jugendmeister und auch als Erwachsener lange… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”