| Israel at the 2020 Summer Olympics | |
|---|---|
 | |
| IOC code | ISR |
| NOC | Olympic Committee of Israel |
| Website | www |
| in Tokyo, Japan 23 July 2021 – 8 August 2021 | |
| Competitors | 90 (55 men and 35 women) in 15 sports and 66 events |
| Flag bearers (opening) | Yakov Toumarkin Hanna Knyazyeva-Minenko |
| Flag bearer (closing) | Linoy Ashram |
| Medals Ranked 39th |
|
| Summer Olympics appearances (overview) | |
Israel competed at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo with its largest contingent to date − a delegation of 90 athletes, 55 men and 35 women, who competed in 15 different sports. This was almost double the previous number of 47 athletes who represented Israel at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics.[1][2] The Games were also Israel's most successful to date, winning four medals, including two gold.[1] At Tokyo, Israel marked its Olympic debuts in surfing (new to the 2020 Games), baseball (returning to the Games), archery, equestrian and marathon swimming.
Israel returned home from Tokyo with two gold and two bronze medals, a record number of medals won by Israel in one Olympics. Artistic gymnast Artem Dolgopyat won the gold medal in the men's floor exercise and rhythmic gymnast Linoy Ashram won the gold medal at the women's rhythmic individual all-around event. Taekwondo practitioner Avishag Semberg won the bronze medal in the Women's 49 kg category and the national judo team won another bronze medal in the mixed team event. Several Israeli athletes advanced to the finals of their respective sporting events, but narrowly missed out on standing on the winner's podium.[1]
Originally scheduled to take place in the summer of 2020, the Games were postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic until 23 July to 8 August 2021.[3] Since Israel's debut in 1952, Israeli athletes have appeared in every edition of the Summer Olympic Games, other than the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow, which it opted not to attend because of the nation's support for the US-led boycott. This was Israel's 17th appearance at the Summer Olympics.
Backstroke swimmer Yakov Toumarkin and triple jumper Hanna Knyazyeva-Minenko were chosen as the nation's flag bearers at the opening ceremony and Linoy Ashram was chosen as the nation's flag bearer at the closing ceremony.[1]
Also, for the first time since 11 Israeli athletes and a West German police officer were murdered during the Munich Olympics in 1972 by the Palestinian terrorist group Black September, a moment of silence was held during the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games.[4][5]
- ^ a b c d Spiro, Amy (2021-08-08). "As Olympics come to an end, Israel celebrates its best Games ever". The Times of Israel. Archived from the original on 2021-08-08. Retrieved 2021-08-09.
- ^ Allon Sinai (5 August 2016). "Israeli Olympic delegation preparing to wow in Rio". The Jerusalem Post. Archived from the original on 29 March 2017. Retrieved 15 August 2016.
- ^ "Joint Statement from the International Olympic Committee and the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee". Olympics. 24 March 2020. Archived from the original on 25 April 2021. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
- ^ Burack, Emily (2021-07-23). "For first time, Olympics opening ceremony honors Israeli athletes murdered in Munich". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Archived from the original on 2021-08-01. Retrieved 2021-08-01.
- ^ Grohmann, Karolos (2021-07-23). "After 49 years Israelis killed at 1972 Munich Games remembered in opening ceremony". Reuters. Archived from the original on 2021-08-01. Retrieved 2021-08-01.