Israel at the 2008 Summer Olympics
# 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 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. 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. 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 |
| - | - | - | - |
| Bronze | Shahar Tzuberi | Sailing | Men's sailboard |

### Other notable achievements

| Place | Name | Sport | Event |
| - | - | - | - |
| 4 | Vered Buskila and Nike Kornecki | Sailing | Women's 470 class |
| 5 | Gal Yekutiel | Judo | Men's 60 kg |
| 6 | Alona Dvornichenko Katerina Pisetsky Maria Savenkov Rachel Vigdorchick Veronika Vitenberg | Gymnastics | Women's rhythmic team all-around |
| 8 | Alexander Shatilov | Gymnastics | Men's floor |
| 9 | Irina Risenzon | Gymnastics | Women's rhythmic individual all-around |
| 10 | Maayan Davidovich | Sailing | Women's sailboard |

## Results summary

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

Four athletes represented Israel in Beijing.

### 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

### Track & road events

| Athlete | Event | Heat | Heat | Final | Final |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Athlete | Event | Result | Rank | Result | Rank |
| Itai Magidi | 3000 m steeplechase | 9:05.02 | 13 | Did not advance | Did not advance |
| Haile Satayin | Marathon | — | — | 2:30:07 | 69 |

### Field events

| Athlete | Event | Qualification | Qualification | Final | Final |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Athlete | Event | Distance | Position | Distance | Position |
| Aleksandr Averbukh | Pole vault | 5.45 | 28 | Did not advance | Did not advance |
| Niki Palli | High jump | 2.20 | 21 | Did not advance | Did not advance |

## Canoeing

### Sprint

Michael Kolganov represented Israel in kayaking.

| Athlete | Event | Heats | Heats | Semifinals | Semifinals | Final | Final |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Athlete | Event | 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 | Did not advance |
| Michael Kolganov | Men's K-1 1000 m | 3:38.207 | 5 QS | 3:43.108 | 8 | Did not advance | Did not advance |

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

## Fencing

Delila Hatuel, Noam Mills and Tomer Or represented Israel.

### Men

| Athlete | Event | Round of 32 | Round of 16 | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Final / BM | Final / BM |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Athlete | Event | Opposition Score | Opposition Score | Opposition Score | Opposition Score | Opposition Score | Rank |
| Tomer Or | Individual foil | McGuire (CAN) L 10–11 | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance |

### Women

| Athlete | Event | Round of 64 | Round of 32 | Round of 16 | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Final / BM | Final / BM |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Athlete | Event | 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 | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance |
| Delila Hatuel | Individual foil | Bye | Nikichina (RUS) L 9–10 | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance |

## Gymnastics

### Artistic

Alexander Shatilov represented Israel.

**Men**

| Athlete | Event | Qualification | Qualification | Qualification | Qualification | Qualification | Qualification | Qualification | Qualification | Final | Final | Final | Final | Final | Final | Final | Final |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Athlete | Event | Apparatus | Apparatus | Apparatus | Apparatus | Apparatus | Apparatus | Total | Rank | Apparatus | Apparatus | Apparatus | Apparatus | Apparatus | Apparatus | Total | Rank |
| Athlete | Event | F | PH | R | V | PB | HB | Total | Rank | F | PH | R | V | PB | HB | Total | Rank |
| Alexander Shatilov | All-around | 15.600 | 13.825 | 14.075 | 15.575 | 14.500 | 14.225 | 87.800 | 29 | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance |
| Alexander Shatilov | 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.

| Athlete | Event | Qualification | Qualification | Qualification | Qualification | Qualification | Qualification | Final | Final | Final | Final | Final | Final |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Athlete | Event | 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 | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance |
| Irina Risenzon | Individual | 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 | Qualification | Qualification | Qualification | Final | Final | Final | Final |
| Athlete | Event | 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

3 judoka represented Israel.

### Men

| Athlete | Event | Preliminary | Round of 32 | Round of 16 | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Repechage 1 | Repechage 2 | Repechage 3 | Final / BM | Final / BM |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Athlete | Event | 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 | 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 | Did not advance | Corrêa (BRA) L 0001–0011 | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance |

### Women

| Athlete | Event | Round of 32 | Round of 16 | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Repechage 1 | Repechage 2 | Repechage 3 | Final / BM | Final / BM |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Athlete | Event | 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 | Did not advance | Žolnir (SLO) L 0000–1001 | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance |

## Sailing

Seven sailors in five boats represented Israel in Beijing.

### Men

| Athlete | Event | Race | Race | Race | Race | Race | Race | Race | Race | Race | Race | Race | Net points | Final rank |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Athlete | Event | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | M* | Net points | Final rank |
| Shahar Tzuberi | RS:X | 1 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 17 | 6 | 19 | 18 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 58 | |
| Udi Gal Gideon Kliger | 470 | 13 | 16 | 13 | 14 | 30 BFD | 11 | 15 | 2 | 12 | 12 | EL | 108 | 14 |

### Women

| Athlete | Event | Race | Race | Race | Race | Race | Race | Race | Race | Race | Race | Race | Net points | Final rank |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Athlete | Event | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | M* | Net points | Final rank |
| 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

Three shooters represented Israel in Beijing

Men

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

## Swimming

Seven swimmers represented Israel in the Olympics.

### Men

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

### Women

| Athlete | Event | Heat | Heat | Semifinal | Semifinal | Final | Final |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Athlete | Event | Time | Rank | Time | Rank | Time | Rank |
| Anya Gostomelsky | 50 m freestyle | 25.23 | 19 | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance |
| Anya Gostomelsky | 100 m freestyle | 55.18 | 22 | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance |
| Anya Gostomelsky | 100 m backstroke | 1:01.87 | 25 | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance |
| Anya Gostomelsky | 100 m butterfly | 59.50 | 36 | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance |

## Synchronized swimming

Anastasia Gloushkov and Inna Yoffe represented Israel.

| Athlete | Event | Technical routine | Technical routine | Free routine (preliminary) | Free routine (preliminary) | Free routine (preliminary) | Free routine (final) | Free routine (final) | Free routine (final) |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Athlete | Event | 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 | Did not advance | Did not advance |

## Taekwondo

Bat-El Gatterer competed in Taekwondo.

| Athlete | Event | Round of 16 | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Repechage | Bronze Medal | Final | Final |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Athlete | Event | 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 | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance |

## Tennis

Jonathan Erlich, Andy Ram, Tzipora Obziler and Shahar Pe'er competed in tennis.

| Athlete | Event | Round of 64 | Round of 32 | Round of 16 | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Final / BM | Final / BM |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Athlete | Event | 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 | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance |
| Tzipora Obziler | Women's singles | Koryttseva (UKR) L 5–7, 7–5, 4–6 | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance |
| Shahar Pe'er | Women's singles | Cîrstea (ROU) W 6–3, 5–7, 6–0 | Zvonareva (RUS) L 3–6, $6–7^{(4–7)}$ | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance |
| Tzipora Obziler Shahar Pe'er | Women's doubles | — | Dulko / Jozami (ARG) L 3–6, 2–6 | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance |
