Israel wins first-ever Olympic gold

By Bernie Wilson
AP Sports Writer
August 25, 2004

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/oly_men_s_windsurfing_sai
   
ATHENS, Greece -- A windsurfer whose first name means "wave" in 
Hebrew gave Israel its first Olympic gold medal ever Wednesday, 
taking a plunge in the Saronic Gulf to celebrate. Gal Fridman 
sailed a remarkably consistent regatta, never finishing worse 
than eighth in the 11-race series. He placed second in Wednesday's 
decisive race.

After Fridman crossed the finish line, he took a victory dip and 
then wrapped himself in an Israeli flag when he came out of the water.

Fridman's victory finally gives Israelis the chance to hear their 
national anthem during a medal ceremony, scheduled for later in the 
day. The song is "Hatikvah" - The Hope - and Israeli fans sang it 
spontaneously last week when Ariel Zeevi won a bronze medal in judo.

There has been tremendous pressure on Israeli athletes to get their 
country's first gold at the Athens Games. When Zeevi won his medal, 
he called it "the hardest day of my life" because of the scrutiny.

In 12 previous Olympics dating to 1952, Israel had won only one silver 
and three bronze medals. Fridman won a bronze in his event in 1996.

Until Wednesday, its Olympic legacy was primarily somber - political 
complications, occasional snubs by athletes from Islamic countries 
and, overshadowing all else, the killing of 11 athletes and coaches 
who were seized by a Palestinian terrorist group called Black 
September at the 1972 Games in Munich.

Two other members of Fridman's sailing club had a chance to win a 
medal in doubles at Seoul in 1988, ranking second heading into 
the final day of competition. They didn't compete because it was 
Yom Kippur, the most holy day of the year for Jews.

Fridman's victory came after Ricardo Santos of Brazil, the leader 
through 10 races, finished 17th in the finale. Nikolaos Kaklamanakis 
of Greece won the silver, and Nick Dempsey of Britain took the bronze.

Faustine Merret of France won the gold in the women's race. Yin Jian 
of China won the silver, and Alessandra Sensini of Italy got the 
bronze.