Ran Torten Explained

Ran Torten
Native Name:רן טורטן
Native Name Lang:Hebrew
Fullname:Ran Jacob Torten
Birth Date:14 December 1966
Birth Place:Israel
Height:5-11.5 (182 cm)
Weight:154 lbs (70 kg)
Classes:Men's 470 Class Two-Person Dinghy
Show-Medals:yes

Ran Jacob Torten (also "Ram" and "Ron," and "Tortan"; ; December 14, 1966) is an Israeli former Olympic competitive sailor.[1] He was born in Israel, and is Jewish.[2]

Sailing career

In 1986, Torten and his brother Dan Torten came in sixth in the 470 World Championships.[2]

He competed for Israel at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea at the age of 24 in Sailing, with his brother.[1] In the Men's 470 Class Two-Person Dinghy they came in 18th.[1] When he competed in the Olympics he was 5–11.5 (182 cm) tall and weighed 154 lbs (70 kg).[1]

Sailors at the Olympics are judged by the best six of their seven races.[3] One of the brothers' races, their fifth—as they were 10th in the standings—fell on Yom Kippur (the holiest day on the Jewish calendar), and the delegation instructed them to not compete.[4] [5] [6] [7] They ignored the Israeli National Olympic Committee's instructions, sailed to a # 9 finish, were thrown off the Israeli team, and were sent back to Israel the following day.[4] [6] [8] Uri Afek, the Israeli delegation head, said, "Everyone knew no Israelis compete on Yom Kippur," but the brothers said they were not racing but rather sailing for their own enjoyment.[9] The brothers' appeals against the disciplinary committee's decision was rejected by the District and Supreme Court.[10] They were suspended by the Israeli Sports Association for a period of five years, but the Israeli High Court overturned that decision.[11]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Ram-Jacob Torten Bio, Stats, and Results. https://web.archive.org/web/20200418073930/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/to/ram-jacob-torten-1.html. dead. 2020-04-18. sports-reference.com.
  2. http://www.jewsinsports.org/olympics.asp?ID=643 "Torten, Ron"
  3. Web site: Israel’s Olympic Athletes Face Yom Kippur Problem. 20 September 1988. jta.org.
  4. Web site: A brief history of Israel at the Games. Haaretz.
  5. Web site: 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics - Israel, Olympic Tradition. https://web.archive.org/web/20120517062945/http://www.2008.nbcolympics.com/countries/country=isr/olympictradition/index.html. dead. May 17, 2012. NBC Olympics.
  6. Web site: Israeli Yachtsmen Facing Suspension. Sun Sentinel.
  7. Web site: 1988 OLYMPIC GAMES Yachtsmen ordered home - 26 Sept 1988. The Canberra Times.
  8. Web site: 26 October 1988. The Jewish Post.
  9. Web site: GAO LEADS WOMEN'S SPRINGBOARD. 24 September 1988. Washington Post.
  10. Web site: Disabled Israeli athlete banned for allegedly competing on Yom Kippur. Haaretz.
  11. Web site: Sport in the State The Last Fifty Years. Jewish Agency.