Israel at the 2008 Summer Olympics

Infobox Olympics Israel
games=2008 Summer
competitors=43
sports=12
flagbearer=Michael Kolganov Kolganov to carry Israel flag in Beijing [http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1215330904908&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull] ]
officials=
gold=
silver=
bronze=1
total=
rank=81

Israel competed at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China. This was Israel's 14th participation in the summer Olympics.

43 Israeli athletes competed in Beijing, the largest Israeli delegation in Olympic history, the previous record having been 40 at Sydney 2000. The Olympic team was split almost equally between men and women, with 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 are 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 medallist in 2000 Summer Olympics, who was the flagbearer for Israel in the opening ceremony.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 epee 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 Zubari, world bronze medallist 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

"'Women

Canoe/Kayak

Flatwater (1)

Michael Kolganov represented Israel in kayaking. Kolganov to represent Israel [http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1214726209736&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull] ] Michael Kolganov [http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1215330997339&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull] ] Israel's flagbearer aims for one last Olympic success in Beijing [http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1215331164000&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull] ]

Men

Gymnastics

Artistic (1)

Alexander Shatilov represented Israel.Alex Shatilov [http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1215331182710&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull] ]

Women

* BFD: Disqualification under rule 30.3 - Black Flag Rule
*( ): Excluded Score
* X: Cancelled

Shooting (3)

Three shooters represented Israel in Beijing Doron Egozi, Gil Simkovitch and Guy Starik [http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1215330918604&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull] ]

Men

Women

ee also

* Israel at the 2008 Summer Paralympics

References

* Official website of the 2008 Summer Olympics [http://www.beijing2008.cn/] (English, French, Spanish, Arabic and Chinese)
* The Last Word: Watch out... the Olympics are coming [http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1214492517654&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull]
* Athletes Murdered at Munich remembered en route to Beijing [http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1215331062945&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull]