For Jews, there are familiar Olympic moments that we all know, from the tragedy of the 1972 Munich massacre to the triumph of Israel’s first Gold medal in 2004.
There are plenty of stories that we’re less familiar with, like when Israel forfeited a Yom Kippur Olympic sailing competition. Or when a French synchronized swim routine was deemed anti-Semitic.
Here, the JTA Archive Blog take a look back at some of the most memorable events (and the ones you’ve never heard about) in Jewish Olympic history.
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- PARIS (1924)
Jewish sports organizations attempt to participate as a nation in Olympic games.
AMSTERDAM(1928)
Jewish committee for Olympic games founded.
Jewish girl sets 400m relay record.
German-Jewish olympian Helene Mayer meets president for tea.
LOS ANGELES (1932)
Jewish law student wins discuss-throwing competition.
BERLIN (1936)
Boycott Berlin movement emerges in Spain. Plan alternate "People’s Olympiad" in same year.
Hitler promises fair play for Jews at Olympics, later orders anti-Jewish signs to be removed for Olympic games.
Jewish hot dog vendors barred from Berlin Olympics
Jewish woman dropped from German team
1940 GAMES CANCELLED
1944 GAMES CANCELLED (World War II)
LONDON (1948)
Israel denied participation in international games
HELSINKI (1952)
Israel sends first delegation to Olympics
MELBOURNE (1956)
Kosher kitchen set up for athletes in Melbourne
ROME (1960)
200 Jewish athletes participate in the games, including 18 from Israel, who met with the Pope. Israel admits it is far from European sports standards
TOKYO (1964)
Polish Jewish girl takes silver in long jump
MEXICO CITY (1968)
Israeli athletes blame losses on the altitude
MUNICH (1972)
Israeli team fails to attend memorial service at Dachau
Black September terrorist organization kills two Israeli athletes as hostage situation unfolds. 11 Israeli athletes are killed as the standoff comes to a grizzly conclusion.
MONTREAL (1976)
First Israeli athlete to reach finals in an Olympic event falls short
MOSCOW(1980)
Israel boycotts Moscow Olympics.
LOS ANGELES (1984)
Israeli sailors have high hopes
Israeli coaches German basketball team
SEOUL (1988)
Israeli sailors forfeit race on Yom Kippur
BARCELONA (1992)
Israel wins first (and second) olympic medals
ATLANTA (1996)
Jews protest France’s anti-semitic synchronized-swim routine
SYDNEY (2000)
Israeli finish line technology implemented at the Olympics
ATHENS (2004)
Gal Friedman wins first olympic gold medal in Windsurfing
BEIJING (2008)
Jews protest China’s support of Sudanat Olympic torch demonstration
