The Maccabiah Games, first held in 1932, are an international Jewish and Israeli multi-sport event now held quadrennially in Israel. The Maccabiah Games are open to Jewish athletes from around the world, and to all Israeli citizens regardless of their religion. It is the third-largest sporting event in the world by number of competitors, with 10,000 athletes competing. The Maccabiah Games were declared a "Regional Sports Event" by, and under the auspices and supervision of, the International Olympic Committee in 1961.
Jason Edward Lezak is an American former competitive swimmer and swimming executive. As a swimmer, Lezak specialized in the 50-meter and 100-meter freestyle races. His pro career lasted for nearly fifteen years, spanning four Olympic games and eight Olympic medals.
Michael "Mickey" Halika is a former Israeli swimmer.
The 2005 Maccabiah Games, held in Israel, were the 17th incarnation of the 'Jewish Olympics.' They attracted the largest attendance of any Maccabiah Games, including more than 900 representatives from the United States, almost 500 from Australia, and more than 2,000 from Israel, bringing the total participants to more than 7,700 from 55 countries.
The 2009 Maccabiah Games, the 18th incarnation of the Maccabiah Games, were held in July 2009. According to the organizing committee these were the largest games held yet. These Games were the world's fifth-largest sporting event, behind the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, World Police and Fire Games, and Universiade. On the 13 July, more than 6,000 Jewish athletes from all over the world joined Team Israel's 3,000 participants at the Ramat Gan Stadium in Tel Aviv District, Israel, for the opening ceremony. American swimmer Jason Lezak was given the honor of lighting the Maccabiah torch at the Opening Ceremony.
Garrett Weber-Gale is an American competition swimmer, two-time Olympic gold medalist, and world record-holder in two events.
The Women's 100 metre freestyle event at the 2009 Maccabiah Games took place on 19 July at the Wingate Institute. This swimming event used freestyle swimming, which means that the method of the stroke is not regulated. Nearly all swimmers use the front crawl or a variant of that stroke. Because an Olympic size swimming pool is 50 metres long, this race consisted of two lengths of the pool.
Swimming at the 2005 Maccabiah Games was held between July 10 and July 14. Heats were held in the mornings while finals were held in the early evenings. All swimming events took place at the Wingate Institute in Netanya.
The men's 100 metre backstroke event at the 2009 Maccabiah Games took place on 9 July, at the Wingate Institute. This swimming event used the backstroke. Because an Olympic size swimming pool is 50 metres long, this race consisted of two lengths of the pool.
The women's 200 metre freestyle event at the 2005 Maccabiah Games took place on 11 July at the Wingate Institute. This swimming event used freestyle swimming, which means that the method of the stroke is not regulated. Nearly all swimmers use the front crawl or a variant of that stroke. Because an Olympic size swimming pool is 50 metres long, this race consisted of four lengths of the pool.
The men's 100 metre breaststroke event at the 2005 Maccabiah Games took place on 13 July at the Wingate Institute. This swimming event used the breaststroke. Because an Olympic size swimming pool is 50 metres long, this race consisted of two lengths of the pool.
The men's 100 metre butterfly event, included in the swimming competition at the 2005 Maccabiah Games, took place on 11 July, at the Wingate Institute. In this event, swimmers covered two lengths of the 50-metre (160 ft) Olympic-sized pool employing the butterfly stroke.
The women's 100 metre butterfly event, included in the swimming competition at the 2005 Maccabiah Games, took place on 11 July, at the Wingate Institute. In this event, swimmers covered two lengths of the 50-metre (160 ft) Olympic-sized pool employing the butterfly stroke.
The women's 400 metre individual medley event at the 2005 Maccabiah Games took place on 11 July at the Wingate Institute. This swimming event used medley swimming. Because an Olympic size swimming pool is 50 metres long, this race consisted of eight lengths of the pool. The first two lengths were swum using the butterfly stroke, the second pair with the backstroke, the third pair of lengths in breaststroke, and the final two were freestyle. Unlike other events using freestyle, swimmers could not use butterfly, backstroke, or breaststroke for the freestyle leg; most swimmers use the front crawl in freestyle events anyway.
The men's 400 metre individual medley event at the 2005 Maccabiah Games took place on 11 July at the Wingate Institute. This swimming event used medley swimming. Because an Olympic size swimming pool is 50 metres long, this race consisted of eight lengths of the pool. The first two lengths were swum using the butterfly stroke, the second pair with the backstroke, the third pair of lengths in breaststroke, and the final two were freestyle. Unlike other events using freestyle, swimmers could not use butterfly, backstroke, or breaststroke for the freestyle leg; most swimmers use the front crawl in freestyle events anyway.
Amit Ivry is an Israeli Olympic swimmer, Maccabiah Games champion, and national record holder. She competes in the butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke, and medley.
Maccabiah sports are official sports contested at the Maccabiah by the International Maccabiah Committee (IMC). Recent Maccabiah games included over 40 different sports.
Andrea "Andi" Murez, is an Israeli-American Olympic swimmer. She swam for Israel at the 2016 Summer Olympics. She will represent Israel at the 2020 Summer Olympics.
The 2017 Maccabiah Games, also referred to as the 20th Maccabiah Games, were the 20th edition of the Maccabiah Games. They took place from 4 to 17 July 2017, in Israel. The Maccabiah Games are open to Jewish athletes from around the world, and to all Israeli citizens regardless of their religion. A total of 10,000 athletes competed, a Maccabiah Games record, making the 2017 Maccabiah Games the third-largest sporting competition in the world. The athletes were from 85 countries, also a record. Countries represented for the first time included the Bahamas, Barbados, Cambodia, the Cayman Islands, Haiti, Malta, Morocco, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, and Trinidad. The athletes competed in 45 sports.
