Israeli dedicates first gold to Munich victims

By Jeremy Laurence
August 25, 2004
 
ATHENS (Reuters) - Israel's first Olympic gold medallist has 
dedicated his victory to his 11 countrymen killed in the Munich 
massacre of 1972, vowing he would visit their memorial to show 
them his medal.

"I'm sure they're watching us," said Athens windsurfing Mistral 
champion Gal Fridman, who was born three years after the Israeli 
athletes and coaches were killed following an attack on the Olympic 
village in Germany by Palestinian guerrillas.

"We think about them all the time. They're always in our mind," 
said Fridman, draped in an Israeli flag.

"When I get home I will go to the memorial place for them and 
show them the gold medal."

Fridman's victory, the first since Israel first took part in 
the Olympics in 1952, brought screams of delight in shops and 
offices across the country. Many were glued to television sets, 
which repeatedly showed him crossing the finish line in triumph.

"We are all excited, all the people of Israel. I think also all 
of the Jewish people," said Israeli President Moshe Katsav on 
Wednesday.

"To see our flag displayed and hear our national anthem played 
at the awards ceremony is a moment we have long been waiting for," 
team chief Gilad Lustig said.