Israel edged out the United States in the total number of medals captured during the 9th Maccabiah games which ended here last night. The score, after eight days of competition, was 163 medals for Israel and 162 for the U.S. But the American athletes had 76 gold medals to 60 for the Israelis.
The U.S. scored heavily yesterday in the gold category, winning nine of ten wrestling events. But Israel scored an upset 86-80 victory over the U.S. in last night’s basketball final to put it over the top in overall medals. Israel also took a gold medal in football, beating the Mexican team 3-1.
The 18 other nations competing in the “Jewish Olympics” lagged far behind the Americans and Israelis in medals in all categories. The final standing of the teams were as follows, gold; silver and bronze medals, respectively:
U.S., 76, 51, 35; Israel, 60, 45 1/2, 60 1/2; South Africa, 16, 9, 17; Sweden, 11, 6, 2; Great Britain, 5, 9, 12; Germany. 5. 3, 0; Australia. 4, 10, 7; France. 4, 6, 10; Holland, 3. 8, 5; Mexico, 2. 6. 10; Italy. 2, 5, 4; Rhodesia, 1, 5, 3; Belgium, 1/2, 2. 1; Austria, 1/2, 1, 3; Canada. 0. 10 1/2, 10 1/2; Brazil. 0, 2, 3; Argentina, 0, 2, 1; Japan, 0. 1. 0; Greece, 0. 0, 1.
Americans who took gold medals in yesterday’s wrestling events included Gilbert Serota, of Union, NJ; Richard Soffman, West Orange, NJ; Stuart Pruzansky, Passaic. N.J.; Robert Richmond, Norwood, Mass.; Alex Steinberg, Brookline, Mass.; and Victor Mitelberg. of Skokie. III.
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