Israel at the 2004 Summer Olympics

Israel at the
2004 Summer Olympics
IOC codeISR
NOCOlympic Committee of Israel
Websitewww.olympicsil.co.il (in Hebrew and English)
in Athens
Competitors36 in 13 sports
Flag bearers Ariel Ze'evi (opening)
Gal Fridman (closing)
Medals
Ranked 52nd
Gold
1
Silver
0
Bronze
1
Total
2
Summer Olympics appearances (overview)
Israel's Olympic medalists Gal Fridman (sailing) and Ariel Ze'evi (judo)

Israel competed at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece, from 13 to 29 August 2004. It was the nation's thirteenth appearance at the Summer Olympics.

The Olympic Committee of Israel sent 36 athletes to the Games, 20 men and 16 women, to compete in 13 sports. The team's size was smaller by three from that sent to the previous games in Sydney (which was, by far, the nation's largest delegation). Nine athletes had competed in Sydney, including sprint canoer and Olympic bronze medalist Michael Kolganov and European judo champion Ariel Ze'evi, who later became the nation's flag bearer in the opening ceremony.[1][2]

Notable Israeli athletes featured tennis men's doubles team Jonathan Erlich and Andy Ram, Russian imports Larissa Kosorukova in sprint canoeing and Alexander Danilov in men's pistol shooting, and synchronized swimming pair Anastasia Gloushkov and Inna Yoffe, the youngest of the team at age 16. Apart from Kosorukova and Danilov (both competed for Russia in 1996), Georgian-born wrestler Gocha Tsitsiashvili and rifle shooter Guy Starik made their third Olympic appearances as the most experienced members of the team.

Israel left Athens with two medals, including its first ever Olympic gold from windsurfer Gal Fridman in men's mistral one design.[3] On the other hand, the bronze medal was awarded to judoka Ariel Ze'evi in men's half-heavyweight division.[4]

  1. ^ Griver, Simon (28 June 2012). "Israel hopes London is paved with gold". The Jewish Chronicle. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
  2. ^ "2004 Athens: Flag Bearers for the Opening Ceremony". Olympics. 13 August 2004. Retrieved 11 September 2013.
  3. ^ "Windsurfer wins Israel's first gold". ESPN. 25 August 2004. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
  4. ^ Wilkinson, Tracy (20 August 2004). "Zeevi's Judo Bronze Is Good as Gold for Israel". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 10 April 2014.