2008 Olympics: Doron Egozi, Gil Simkovitch and Guy Starik

Israel will have three shooters at the Beijing Olympics, all to take part in the 10 meter air rifle, 50m rifle prone and 50m three positions competitions.

By ALLON SINAI
Olympicslogo-63 (photo credit: Courtesy)
Olympicslogo-63
(photo credit: Courtesy)
Israel will have three shooters at the Beijing Olympics, with Doron Egozi, Gil Simkovitch and Guy Starik all to take part in the 10 meter air rifle, 50m rifle prone and 50m three positions competitions. The 26-year-old Simkovitch was the first to meet the criteria by finishing in first position at the World Cup 50m rifle prone competition in Munich in June of last year. A month later the 27-year-old Egozi reached the final of the European Championships, finishing the 50m three positions contest in Spain in eighth place. Both Simkovitch and Egozi are guided by the 43-year-old Starik and at one stage it seemed as though the veteran would only be going to Beijing as a coach. Starik, however, eventually booked his place in the delegation after the International Olympic Committee decided that he will be given a quota place for equaling the world record in the 50m rifle prone competition in Munich in May, shooting a perfect 600 score. Starik also took part in the Atlanta, Sydney and Athens Games and will join sailor Yoel Sela as the only Israeli to ever compete in four Olympics.