Israel defeated the South African water polo championship team, as the Seventh Maccabiad got underway today in Ramat Gan, before some 50,000 spectators.
Two new Maccabiah records were set in the opening heats of swimming events this morning. Mark Spitz, of the United States, raced through the 400-meter men’s freestyle contest in four minutes and 26.2 seconds, 6.3 seconds better than the record set by an American in the previous Games. Heidi Ross, of the United States, splashed through the 100-meter women’s butterfly contest in one minute and 11.4 seconds. Twelve-year-old Cathy Cole and Carole Adler, both of the United States, and M. Fluxman, of South Africa, also beat previous Maccabiad swimming records.
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