Spotlight Swimmers Lead Jewish athletes are strong on U.S. Olympic team. Garrett Weber-Gae is one of four Jewish swimmers on the American squad. Marc Brodsky Jewish Telegraphic Agency New York F or Jason Lezak, Ben Wildman- Tobriner and Garrett Weber-Gale, the marketing possibilities are endless — perhaps "The Three Chaverim" or "Jews in the Pool?' All three Jewish sprinters are hoping to make a splash as part of the U.S. men's swimming team in Beijing for the 2008 Summer Olympics. Not only will they be competing as indi- viduals, but they are expected to make up three-fourths of the 4x100-meter freestyle relay team. "We joke about going to the Maccabiah Games and setting a world record:' Lezak says, referring to what is known as "the Jewish Olympics." Dara Torres Toss in 41-year-old Dara Torres, another Jewish swimmer and sprinter who will be competing in her fifth Games, and the possibilities rise even higher. The swimmers are among the seven Jewish athletes believed to comprise the American Jewish contingent headed to China. They are a mix of veterans and newcomers, all with a realistic chance of acquiring medals at the Games, which begin with the opening ceremony Aug. 8. Already, Wildman-Tobriner and Weber- Gale have their nickname: the "hyphen- ated Jew crew." That makes for some good- natured fun around the pool, Wildman- Tobriner says, adding that he is proud to represent his heritage — along with the United States — in China. Another Jewish athlete eyeing water- related success for the Americans is kayaker Rami Zur, who is in his second Olympics for the United States after repre- 01001001*. Jews In The Olympics Jewish Telegraphic Agency Staff New York The following is a list of Jewish ath- letes competing in the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing: United States Fencing, Women – Sara Jacobson, sabre Kayaking – Rami Zur, 500-meter indi- vidual Swimming, Men – Jason Lezak,100- meter freestyle, relays; Garrett Weber- Gale,100 freestyle, relays; Ben Wildman- Tobriner, 50 freestyle, relays Swimming, Women – Dara Torres, 50- meter freestyle, relays Track and Field, Women – Deena Kastor, marathon C18 August 7 • 2008 3N Israel Artistic Gymnastics, Men – Alex Shatilov, all-around Canoeing, Men – Michael Koganov, K-1 500 and 1000 meters Fencing, Men – Tomer Or, foil Fencing, Women – Dalilah Hatuel, foil; Noam Mills, epee Judo, Men – Ariel Ze'evi,100 kg; Gal Yekutiel, 60 kg Judo, Women – Alice Schlezinger, 63 kg Rhythmic Gymnastics, Individual – Ira Risenzon; Neta Rivkin Rhythmic Gymnastics, Team – Kayta Pizatzki, Racheli ldgorcheck, Maria Savnakov, Alona Dvorinchenko, Veronica Witberg Sailing, Men – Gidi Klinger and Udi Gal, 470; Shahar Tzuberi, windsurfing Sailing, Women – Vered Buskila and Nika Kornitzky, 470; Nufar Eledman, laser radial; Ma'ayan Davidovich, wind- surfing senting Israel in the 2000 Games. Some Jewish landlubbers also will wear the red, white and blue in Beijing: fencer Sara Jacobson and marathoner Deena Kastor. Both won bronze medals in '04 in Athens. Lezak is competing in his third Olympics and has garnered four medals on relay teams, including a gold in the 4x100 medley in '04. At 32, he is the oldest male to qualify for an Olympic swim team. "That's an accomplishment in itself' says Lezak, of Irvine, Calif. At the recent U.S. Olympic trials in Omaha, Neb., the 6-foot-4, 215-pounder Shooting – Doron Egozi, 50-meter rifle 3,10-meter air rifle; Gil Simkovich, 50- meter rifle 3, 50-meter rifle prone; Guy Starik, 50-meter rifle prone Swimming, Men – Itay Chama, 200- meter breaststroke; Gal Nevo, 200 and 400 individual medley; Guy Barnea,100 breaststroke; Tom Be'eri,100 and 200 breaststroke; Allon Mandel,100 and 200 butterfly, Nimrod Shapira Bar-Or, 200 freestyle Swimming, Women – Anya Gostamelsky, 50 and 100 freestyle,100 backstroke, 100 butterfly Synchronized Swimming – Anastasia Gloushkov and Ina Yoffe, duet Taekwondo – Bat-El Getterer, 57 kg Tennis, Men – Andy Ram and Yoni Erlich, doubles Tennis, Women – Shahar Peer, singles; Tzipora Obziler, doubles with Peer Track and Field, Men – Alex Averbukh, pole vault; Niki Palli, long jump; Haile Satayin, marathon; Itai Magidi, 3000- broke the American record in the 100- meter freestyle with a semifinal time of 47.58, setting himself up as the probable anchor on that relay team. "Winning medals in the relays is such an amazing feeling, being a part of a team:' Lezak says. In part, it was his disappointment as an individual competitor in Athens that spurred Lezak to keep his Olympic dreams. He failed to qualify for the finals in the 100-meter freestyle, though Lezak says he had a "great opportunity" to win an individual medal. "I took the preliminaries too lightly," he admits. "I was thinking about how many races I had to swim and I saved too much energy. "I learned a horrible lesson, but it kind of got me going another four years. I kind of felt like I had unfinished business?' Now Lezak, who will be competing in relays and in the 100-meter race, wants to mount the podium by himself. "I'm a team-type player:' he says, "but to do something on your own feels pretty good. I have a lot to prove to myself. I know I'm capable, I just haven't done it yet?' He'll have plenty of competition from Weber-Gale, of Milwaukee, and Wildman- Tobriner, a fellow Californian. Weber-Gale, 22, edged Lezak in the 100-meter finals in the trials. ❑ meter steeplechase Argentina Hockey, Women – Gisele Kanevsky Judo, Women – Daniela Krakower Swimming, Men – Damian Blaum Table Tennis – Pablo Tabachnik Weightlifting, Women – Nora Koppel Australia Table Tennis – David Zalcberg Soccer, Women – Tal Karp Canada Baseball – Adam Stern Wrestling – David Zilberman, 96 kg; Ari Taub,120 kg plus Chile Tennis, Men - Nicolas Massu Great Britain Rowing – Josh West