Israeli windsurfer Shahar Tzuberi won Israel's first Olympic medal, after competing today in the medal race at the Beijing Olympics. Tzuberi will bring home a bronze medal. On Tuesday the 21-year-old finished the 10th and final race of the regular competition in fourth position on Tuesday and will enter the decisive contest in fourth place overall. 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.

Michal Kolganov will compete in the semifinals of the K1 1000 meters competition. He will need to cross the finish line among the top three to progress. Kolganov advanced to his second semifinal of the Beijing Games on Tuesday, clocking a time of 1:38.396 minutes in the K1 500 meters competition. The 33-year-old won his heat, but was only 13th overall and will have to be at his very best if he's to finish among the top three in Thursday's semis and advance to the final.

Alex Averbukh, the senior athlete in Israel's delegation and the only hope for making a final in the Bird's Nest, will join the competition Wednesday in the pole vault. Averbukh's advantage is his experience. Beijing is his third Olympiad - he finished in eighth place in Athens. He also holds a silver and a bronze from previous world championships as well as a European gold. However, he was sidelined by injury for quite a while and has not been impressive this year.  He will join the group in the second preliminary, starting at 3:40 P.M. Israel time. Topping 5.75 meters guarantees a spot in the final. If fewer than 12 athletes reach this height, a lower level could be enough.

On Thursday morning, at 5:30 Israel time, Bat-El Getterer will begin her Olympic bid in the women's 57kg taekwando competition. 08/20/08