Team Great Britain has been reflecting on what must be the most successful Maccabiah Games after the 500-strong delegation returned home with 38 medals.
A total of nine gold, 13 silver and 16 bronze were returned with the delegation bringing home medals in a number of sports ranging from a first for football in more than 40 years to the track and field where every junior athlete collected silverware. JFS pupil Richard Goodman, 16, was crowned the most successful individual athlete after winning two golds and a bronze.
GB head of delegation David Pinnick said: “I am absolutely delighted with our overall haul of medals. We certainly had some outstanding individual and team performances which I hope we can build on in future Games.
“It is clear that our community is capable of producing very accomplished athletes in a wide range of sports and we must try to use all our efforts in the future to ensure that we continue to bring as many as possible of our top sportsmen and women to our international events.”
The two-week event culminated in a closing ceremony at Latrun in Jerusalem. Israel President Shimon Peres said: “This was the best Maccabiah ever. I hope some of you fell in love with us, because we love all of you without exception.”
He named American swimmer Jason Lezak and Hungarian chess player Judit Polgar the Games’ outstanding athletes.
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