Introducing Israel’s Olympians: Gidi Kliger, Eran Sela

Sailing – 470 Class: Kliger is back for a third attempt at an Olympic medal, this time with Eran Sela.

By ALLON SINAI
Sailing 311 (photo credit: Sharon Ben Tov)
Sailing 311
(photo credit: Sharon Ben Tov)
After experiencing bitter disappointment with Udi Gal in both the Athens and Beijing Games, Gidi Kliger is back for a third attempt at an Olympic medal in sailing, this time with Eran Sela.
Kliger and Gal split up after 14 successful years together following the Beijing Olympics due to the latter’s retirement, but Kliger, 32, had no intention of giving up on his dream of winning an Olympic medal.
The duo claimed multiple medals at World and European Championships, but was frustrated at not even finishing in the top 10 at the Olympics, coming in at 13th in Athens and 14th in Beijing.
Kliger and Sela clicked almost immediately, winning a silver medal at the 2010 European Championships before taking a bronze in the event a year later.
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The duo just missed out on a medal at last year’s World Championships, finishing in fourth, but has proven that it has what it takes to succeed in the Olympic course by taking a bronze medal at the London Olympics Test Event in Weymouth last year and ending the World Cup event at the venue in eighth earlier this month.
After two previous failures, this may be Kliger’s last chance at an Olympic medal.
Any other outcome would be heartbreaking.