2009 Maccabiah Games Explained

18th Maccabiah
Size:250
Host City:Tel Aviv, Israel
Nations:55
Athletes:9,000
Opening:July 12, 2009
Closing:July 24, 2009
Opened By:Jason Lezak
Stadium:Ramat Gan Stadium
Debuting Countries: Grenada
Kazakhstan
Palau
Slovenia
Uzbekistan
Previous:17th Maccabiah

The 18th Maccabiah Games (Hebrew: המכביה ה-18 ישראל תשס"ט), were held in July 2009.[1] According to the organizing committee these were the largest games held yet. These Games were the world's fifth-largest sporting event, behind the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, World Police and Fire Games, and Universiade. On the 13 July, more than 6,000 Jewish athletes from all over the world joined Team Israel's 3,000 participants at the Ramat Gan Stadium in Tel Aviv District, Israel, for the opening ceremony.[2] American swimmer Jason Lezak was given the honor of lighting the Maccabiah torch at the Opening Ceremony.[3]

History

The Maccabiah Games were first held in 1932.[4] In 1961, they were declared a "Regional Sports Event" by, and under the auspices and supervision of, the International Olympic Committee.[5] [6] [7] Among other Olympic and world champions, swimmer Mark Spitz won 10 Maccabiah gold medals before earning his first of nine Olympic gold medals.[8]

The Maccabiah Games are open to Jewish athletes from around the world, as well as to all Israeli athletes regardless of ethnicity or religion. Arab Israelis have also competed in it.[9] [10]

Notable competitors

Oliver Gindin started the tournament well, but a hamstring injury had an impact on his game. However, internal pressure was taking its toll on Oliver, but he still managed to fill his shoes both as a box-to-box midfielder and the indispensable leader. Greco-Roman former world champion wrestler Lindsey Durlacher was the flagbearer for the US, and Olympic pole vaulter Jillian Schwartz, who later won a gold medal, was one of the US banner bearers.[11] [12]

American Max Fried, who in 2017 became a major league baseball player with the Atlanta Braves, won a gold medal with the Team USA Juniors baseball team.[13]

US Olympic and world champion swimmer Jason Lezak won four gold medals (in the 50m freestyle, 100m freestyle, freestyle relay, and medley relay), while setting four Maccabiah records, and was named the most outstanding male athlete of the Games.[12] American basketball players Dan Grunfeld led the US Open Men's Basketball team, which included Bryan Cohen and Zack Rosen, to a gold medal over Israel, as college basketball coach Bruce Pearl coached the team, assisted by Doug Gottlieb.[12] American swimmer Andrea Murez won nine medals (five gold and four silver), breaking all-time Maccabiah Games records while winning gold medals in four individual events: 50m freestyle (26.44); 100m freestyle (0:56.44); 200m freestyle (2:03:45); and 200m Individual Medley (2:20.74), and earned her 5th gold medal anchoring the USA 4 × 100m Freestyle Relay team, which set an all-time Maccabiah Games record (3:53:55).[14]

Israeli swimmers who won gold medals were future Olympian Amit Ivry in the Women's 100m butterfly (with a time of 58.50), Keren Siebner in the freestyle and the medley, Guy Barnea in the Men's 100m backstroke (with a time of 54.22, setting a new Maccabiah Games record and Israeli record), Gal Nevo in the 400m medley, Olympian Michael Halika in the 200 m individual medley, and Alon Mandel in the 100m butterfly (setting a new Maccabiah Games record of 52.99 seconds).[15] [16] [17] Israeli swimmers who won silver medals included Nimrod Shapira Bar-Or in the 100m freestyle (49.02; behind Jason Lezak, and a new Israeli record) and Vitali Pushkar in the 50m freestyle behind Jason Lezak.[18] [19] [20]

Israeli judokas Or Sasson, a future Olympic bronze medalist, and Golan Pollack, a future world championship bronze medalist, won gold medals at −100 kg and half lightweight (under 66 kg), and Gili Cohen won a bronze medal.[21] [22] [23] Israeli judokas Yarden Gerbi, a future world champion and Olympic bronze medalist, and Gregory Rudelson won silver medals.[24] [25] Brazilian judoka and future world championship silver medalist and Olympic bronze medalist Felipe Kitadai won a bronze medal at U60, beating Lindsey Durlacher along the way.[26] [27] [28] Aaron Cohen won a bronze medal for the United States.[29] [30]

Israeli champion and future Olympian Laetitia Beck won an individual gold medal and a team gold medal in golf at the Games.[31] Israeli fencers who won gold medals were Olympians Tomer Or in men's foil, and Ayelet Ohayon in women's team foil.[32] [33] [34]

Israeli gymnast and future Olympian Valeria Maksyuta won gold on the vault, and silver medals in the all-around and on the uneven bars.[35] Israeli gymnast and future Olympian Alexander Shatilov won four gold medals and two silver medals.[36] Hungarian gymnast Orsolya Nagy won a bronze medal; also a fencer, she won a bronze medal in the individual sabre event at the 2009 World Fencing Championships.[37]

Israeli runner and future Olympian Maor Tiyouri was the silver medalist in the 1500m and a bronze medalist in the 800m.[38] [39] Russian Olympian Igor Pavlov won the gold medal in the pole vault.[40] Israeli Olympic pole vaulter Alex Averbuch also competed in the Games.[41]

In football, Sam Sloma won a silver medal with Great Britain.[42] Israelis Timor Avitan, Nir Bitton, Tzahi Elihen, Sari Falah, Muayan Halaili, Adir Maman, Barak Moshe, Alon Turgeman, Arik Yanko, Osher Zeitun, and Hana Nasser won a bronze medal in football.[43] [44] [45] Zac MacMath and Kyle Altman competed for Team USA in football.[46] [47] [48] Alon Badat, Gil Vainshtein, and Felix Gelt competed for Canada.[49] Steven Solomon competed for Australia as captain of its junior soccer team.[50] Barry Silkman played football for the gold medal-winning 45-plus Team GB.[51]

Bensiyon Songavkar played for Team India and won a silver medal in cricket.[52] [53] Jason Molins, Mark Bott, and Darren Gerard played for the UK in cricket.[54]

Chess grandmaster Judit Polgár from Hungary, the number 1 rated woman in the world, was named the Maccabiah's most outstanding female athlete of the Games.[12] Russian chess grandmaster Ian Nepomniachtchi, later ranked fourth in the world, won a gold medal, and Israeli grandmaster Boris Gelfand and Slovenian grandmaster Alexander Beliavsky competed in the tournament.[55] [56] [57] Russian grandmaster Evgeny Najer won the rapid tournament in Netanya, ahead of Nepomniachtchi, Beliavsky, Gelfand, Judit Polgar, and Ukrainian grandmaster Pavel Eljanov.[58] [59] German grandmaster Daniel Fridman also competed in chess.[60]

American Brian L. Roberts won a silver medal in squash.[61] Zach Test and Shawn Lipman played for the US Maccabiah rugby union team, winning a bronze medal.[62] [63]

Ukrainian future world championship silver medalist Vasyl Fedoryshyn competed in wrestling.[64] Canadian Olympic wrestler David Zilberman competed as well.[49]

Canadian volleyball player and future Olympian Josh Binstock competed for Canada.[65] [66] [67]

Participating communities

*Reference.[68]

Medal count

right|thumb|220px|Medals in the 18th Maccabiah, frontright|thumb|220px|Medals in the 18th Maccabiah, back

Sports

The following are the 31 sports which were contested at these Games.[69]

External links

Official
Unofficial

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Maccabi USA – Welcome to Maccabi USA official website. We are Building Jewish Pride Through Sports.
  2. Web site: 2009-07-04 . The Last Word: The power of the Maccabiah . . https://archive.today/20090719004008/http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1244371079547&pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull . 2009-07-19 . dead .
  3. Web site: Lezak lights torch at Maccabiah opening . July 13, 2009 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090716220149/http://jta.org/news/article/2009/07/13/1006476/maccabiah-opening-ceremony-set . July 16, 2009 . mdy .
  4. Web site: A brief history of the Maccabiah Games. Mark. Mietkiewicz. June 19, 2017.
  5. Book: Gender Politics and the Olympic Industry. Helen Jefferson Lenskyj. Palgrave Macmillan. 2012. 9781137291158.
  6. Mitchell G. Bard and Moshe Schwartz, 1001 Facts Everyone Should Know about Israel p. 84.
  7. Web site: History of the Maccabiah Games. Maccabi Australia. July 4, 2017. October 20, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161020064514/http://www.maccabi.com.au/Maccabiah/Page/1591/Maccabiah-Games-History/History-of-the-Maccabiah-Games.cfm. dead.
  8. Web site: At Maccabiah Games, 300 Jewish American athletes become bar and bat mitzvah. July 14, 2022. The Forward.
  9. News: Goldman. Ilan. Arab athletes at the Maccabiah: Going for gold, seeking recognition. February 16, 2014. Haaretz. July 8, 2013. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20140301233904/http://www.haaretz.com/news/sports/maccabiah-2013/.premium-1.534619. March 1, 2014.
  10. News: Porat. Avinoam. Arab Israeli wins Maccabiah gold. February 16, 2014. Ynet. June 11, 2005. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20140225101647/http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3111132,00.html. February 25, 2014.
  11. http://www.all-athletics.com/en-us/2009-12-17/jillian-schwartz-wants-compete-israel Jillian Schwartz wants to compete for Israel
  12. Web site: History: The 2000s . 2013-10-04 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131005015229/http://maccabiusa.com/about-us/history/2000s.html . 2013-10-05 . dead .
  13. Web site: Oster . Marcy . Max Fried, 18, drafted by Padres . Jewish Telegraphic Agency. 2012-06-05 . 2017-05-16.
  14. Web site: Magallanes. Raul. Venice High Alum Going to 2016 Rio Olympics. 2020-07-13. The Oarsman.
  15. Web site: Maccabiah Games - Meet Results - Swimming World .
  16. Web site: Games and Results; Maccabiah Swimming. maccabiah.com. October 22, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131023055800/http://www.maccabiah.com/data/Uploads/Swimming%2018th%20Maccabiah.pdf. 2013-10-23. dead.
  17. Web site: Maccabiah Games: Guy Barnea Sets Israeli Record. July 21, 2009.
  18. Web site: Lane 9 News Archive: Maccabiah Games: Andrea Murez Doubles; Jason Lezak Completes Ambassador Tour . 2009-07-22 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120322104432/http://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/lane9/news/21754.asp . 2012-03-22 . dead .
  19. News: USA Sectionals, Maccabiah Games, World Championships Results on The Morning Swim Show News Segment . Swimming World Magazine . July 20, 2009 . November 18, 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110420002525/http://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/lane9/news/21734.asp . April 20, 2011 .
  20. Web site: Talshir . Uri . Lezak, Barnea easily demolish swimming records . Haaretz . November 4, 2011 . November 19, 2011.
  21. Web site: Maccabiah Games Tel Aviv Event. JudoInside.
  22. Web site: Golan Pollack, Judoka, JudoInside. 7 August 2016.
  23. Web site: Or Sasson, Judoka. JudoInside.
  24. Web site: Maccabiah Games Tel Aviv, 2009; judo results, medals, matches, photos and videos . JudoInside . July 19, 2009 . September 9, 2013.
  25. Web site: Gregory Rudelson, Judoka. JudoInside.
  26. Web site: Felipe Kitadai (Brazil) – Judo stats and info . JudoInside . July 28, 1989 . November 26, 2013.
  27. Web site: Judo Results 18th Games . Maccabiusa.com . July 19, 2009 . November 26, 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131202234703/https://maccabiusa.com/sports/games-results/343.html . December 2, 2013 .
  28. Web site: Aaron Cohen and Barry Friedberg Win Bronze at the Maccabiah Games . Teamusa.usoc.org . July 20, 2009 . November 26, 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131202231433/http://teamusa.usoc.org/USA-Judo/Features/2009/July/20/Aaron-Cohen-and-Barry-Friedberg-Win-Bronze-at-the-Maccabiah-Games . December 2, 2013 .
  29. Web site: SFCPressPoint: JUDO: Aaron Cohen to Carry U.S. Team Banner at the Maccabiah Games in Israel on Monday, Lindsey Durlacher Named Flagbearer. sportsfeatures.com. 3 May 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150402135606/http://www.sportsfeatures.com/presspoint/pressrelease/49563/judo-aaron-cohen-to-carry-u.s.-team-banner-at-the-maccabiah-games-in-israel-on-monday-lindsey-durlacher-named-flagbearer. 2 April 2015. dead.
  30. Web site: 18th Games: Judo Results - Maccabi USA. maccabiusa.com. 3 May 2015. October 18, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171018224245/https://www.maccabiusa.com/2009-18th-maccabiah-games-results/18th-games-judo-results/. dead.
  31. News: ספורט – ענפים נוספים nrg – ...גולף: לטיסיה בק זכתה בטורניר . he. Nrg.co.il . July 22, 2009. September 18, 2013.
  32. Web site: Archived copy . 2015-03-31 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150402115707/http://www.maccabiah.com/Data/Uploads/Fencing%2018th%20Maccabiah.pdf . 2015-04-02 .
  33. Web site: Games and Results . 2015-03-31 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150402115707/http://www.maccabiah.com/Data/Uploads/Fencing%2018th%20Maccabiah.pdf . April 2, 2015 . mdy .
  34. News: US men's hoops limps into medal round. Pearl's boys narrowly avoid another loss, to face Canada in semis . The Jerusalem Post . October 23, 2013 . October 29, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131029193444/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/jpost/doc/319690932.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Jul%2021,%202009&author=ZACK%20COLMAN&pub=Jerusalem%20Post&edition=&startpage=&desc=US%20men%27s%20hoops%20limps%20into%20medal%20round.%20Pearl%27s%20boys%20narrowly%20avoid%20another%20loss,%20to%20face%20Canada%20in%20semis;%20Israel%20takes%20on%20Argentina . live .
  35. http://www.intlgymnast.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1077:israel-dominates-18th-maccabiah-games&catid=5:competition-reports&Itemid=221 Israel Dominates 18th Maccabiah Games
  36. Web site: Archived copy . 2015-03-31 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150402144930/http://www.maccabiah.com/Data/Uploads/Gymnastics%2018th%20Maccabiah.pdf . 2015-04-02 . dead .
  37. Web site: Archived copy . 2015-03-31 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150402144930/http://www.maccabiah.com/Data/Uploads/Gymnastics%2018th%20Maccabiah.pdf . 2015-04-02 .
  38. http://www.usfdons.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=2229 University of San Francisco Dons Athletics – Maor Tiyouri – 2013 Women's Track and Field
  39. http://www.maccabiusa.com/2009-18th-maccabiah-games-results/18th-games-track-field-results/ 18th Games: Track & Field Results
  40. Web site: Tilastopaja .
  41. Web site: Recent Ukrainian oleh wins Maccabiah gold. July 15, 2009.
  42. Web site: GB through to Maccabiah football final .
  43. Web site: סגלי נבחרות ישראל לטורניר הכדורגל של המכביה . Israel Football Association . 9 July 2009 . 12 July 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090629062609/http://football.org.il/Archive/Articles/Pages/NationalTeamsJune24_2009.aspx . 29 June 2009 . dead .
  44. Web site: סגלי נבחרות ישראל לטורניר הכדורגל של המכביה . Israel Football Association . 2009-07-09 . 2009-07-12 . June 29, 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090629062609/http://football.org.il/Archive/Articles/Pages/NationalTeamsJune24_2009.aspx . dead .
  45. Web site: סגלי נבחרות ישראל לטורניר הכדורגל של המכביה . https://web.archive.org/web/20090629062609/http://football.org.il/Archive/Articles/Pages/NationalTeamsJune24_2009.aspx . Israel Football Association . 2009-07-09 . 2009-06-29 . 2009-07-12 . dead .
  46. News: Soccer . Maccabi USA . 2009-04-03 .
  47. Web site: GOLD MEDALISTS U.S. Captures Maccabi Games crown . 2015-04-02 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150402150923/http://www.bigapplesoccer.com/us/mnt.php?article_id=12628 . 2015-04-02 . dead .
  48. Web site: Two Zachs, One Goal . The Jewish Exponent . July 29, 2022 . January 12, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160112130013/http://jewishexponent.com/two-zachs,-one-goal . dead .
  49. https://www.maccabicanada.com/2009-maccabiah-delegation "2009 Team Canada Delegation"
  50. Web site: David Weiner . Maccabiah 2013: Steven Solomon . J-Wire . 5 July 2013 . 14 March 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140314101956/http://www.jwire.com.au/news/maccabiah-2013-steven-solomon/35529 . 14 March 2014 . dmy-all .
  51. Web site: Reference . thejc.com.
  52. Web site: Successful Maccabiah outing for Indian cricketers. 8 August 2009.
  53. News: Sandeep . Dwivedi . Indian cricketers strike silver at Jewish Olympics, little Moshe first to get a feel . The Indian Express. 28 July 2009 . 22 August 2009 .
  54. News: Maccabiah Cricket Squads Announced . TotallyJewish.com . 23 August 2009 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110606081833/http://www.totallyjewish.com/sport/c-10122/maccabiah-cricket-squads-announced/ . 6 June 2011 .
  55. Web site: 2013 Maccabiah Games - The Jewish Olympics. Soffer. Ram. Ram Soffer. 2013-07-24. Chess News. ChessBase. 2019-11-14.
  56. Web site: JUDAISM AND CHESS.
  57. Web site: Evgeniy Najer and Ian Nepomniachtchi lead Maccabiah International Chess Festival 2009 | Chessdom Chess . 28 July 2017 . 29 July 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170729021852/http://reports.chessdom.com/news-2009/maccabiah-games-2009-r4 . dead .
  58. Web site: Najer wins Maccabiah rapid. Peter. Doggers (PeterDoggers). Chess.com.
  59. Web site: The Week in Chess 767. theweekinchess.com. 2017-08-07.
  60. Web site: Evgeniy Najer and Ian Nepomniachtchi lead Maccabiah International Chess Festival 2009. 2009-07-13. Chessdom. 2019-04-23. July 29, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170729021852/http://reports.chessdom.com/news-2009/maccabiah-games-2009-r4. dead.
  61. Michael Elkin "Shoah Salute: Personal Meaning for Comcast CEO", Jewish Exponent, May 4, 2011; accessed June 20, 2015.
  62. News: USA Maccabiah Team Ready For Jewish Olympics . https://web.archive.org/web/20090918124458/http://www.erugbynews.com/article.php?sec=116&a=5002 . usurped . September 18, 2009 . eRugbyNews . June 19, 2009 . August 11, 2009 .
  63. News: Maccabiah USA Team Wins Bronze . https://web.archive.org/web/20110412080614/http://erugbynews.com/article.php?sec=116&a=5167 . usurped . April 12, 2011 . eRugbyNews . July 22, 2009 . August 11, 2009 .
  64. Web site: August 2, 2012 by Clermont Sun Publishing Company . The American Israelite.
  65. Web site: Reference . thejc.com.
  66. Web site: Jewish quartet clash on the beach in Argentina . The Canadian Jewish News.
  67. Web site: Jewish Olympians Binstock and Schachter are ready for Rio. 4 August 2016.
  68. Web site: Maccabiah Games-2009. Opening. (3) - YouTube. https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/Liq7lK_wUuU . 2021-12-21 . live. .
  69. http://www.maccabiah.com/imgs/ntext/catalog/competitionmap080908.pdf "Maccabiah Sports"