Olympics: Shahar Tzuberi brings home bronze in Neil Pryde sailing

Shahar Tzuberi won a bronze medal in the Neil Pryde final race, Wednesday morning.

The 21-year-old by Wednesday morning was Israel’s last hope at the 2008 Olympic Games.
After a disappointing run for Israel in the Beijing Olympics, windsurfer Shahar Tzuberi finally gave Israelis a reason to cheer.

Tzuberi won the bronze medal at Wednesday’s Neil Pryde finals, Israels first medal at the 2008 games, after arriving in second place in the final race.

The 21-year-old finished the 10th and final race of the regular competition in fourth position on Tuesday and entered the decisive contest in fourth place overall.

Julien Bontemps of France led the Neil Pryde event on 45 negative points, with Nick Dempsey and Tom Ashley tied on 46 points right behind him.

On Tuesday, Tzuberi was in second position after the first half of the race, but when the wind picked up in the second half he dropped down two positions, which may be crucial when all is said and done.

“The race was very tough,” Tzuberi said. “The wind was weak, the way I like it, but Bontemps overtook me midway through the race.”

Of his chances to win a medal Tzuberi said: “If I do well in the medal race I could win any one of the three medals. If I finish first and one of my rivals comes in fifth, I will have a medal. Nevertheless, I’m not focusing on the other surfers, but on my own performance.”

The Israeli said the forecast for Wednesday is for weak winds and insisted that the competition is still wide open.

“I managed to close in on first position today and did my upmost,” he said.

Anybody at this level knows what they’re doing and everything will be decided on Wednesday,”

Ma’ayan Davidovich will compete in the women’s windsurfing medal race on Wednesday, but regardless of her result will still finish the competition in 10th place overall.

The 20-year-old ended the final regular race in 10th position and pipped Frenchwoman Faustine Merret by three points to book a place in the medal race.

Davidovich’s gap from ninth-placed Wai Kei Chan is, however, 22 points, and she has no chance of finishing any higher than her current position.

“My goal was to reach the medal race and I’m pleased I managed to do so,” Davidovich said.