1953 Maccabiah Games

Eight hundred ninety athletes representing 21 countries competed in the 1953 4th Maccabiah Games.

4th Maccabiah
Host cityTel Aviv, Israel
Nations participating22
Debuting countries Brazil
 Chile
 Rhodesia
Athletes participating890
Main venueRamat Gan Stadium

Israeli President Itzhak Ben-Zvi opened the Games.

First-time entries included Brazil, Chile, and Zimbabwe (Rhodesia).

History

The Maccabiah Games were first held in 1932.[1]

Israeli postal stamp

Notable medalists

In gymnastics, Abie Grossfeld of the United States won 6 gold medals.[2]

In tennis, Anita Kanter of the US won gold medals in women's doubles with partner Tobia Greenberg of the US, and mixed doubles, and the silver medal in women's singles. Tobia Greenberg also won the silver medal in mixed doubles with partner Pablo Eisenberg. Angela Buxton of Great Britain, who three years later was to win the doubles title at Wimbledon, won the gold medal in women's singles. On the men's side, Grant Golden, who was ranked # 2 in the US that year, captured three gold medals in the men's singles (over South African Sid Levy), the men's doubles with partner Pablo Eisenberg, and the mixed doubles with Kanter.[3][4]

In boxing, Abraham Rosenberg, a concentration camp survivor, won the heavyweight division gold medal. Rozenberg fighting for France lived to that time in Germany, but Germany didn't have a team in that Maccabiah, so Rozenberg fought for France.

Ben Helfgott, a concentration camp survivor, won the weightlifting gold medal in the lightweight class for Great Britain for the second Games in a row.

In fencing, a gold medal was won by 3-time Pan American Games gold medalist Allan Kwartler in foil. British Olympian and world champion Allan Jay won three gold medals.[5][6]

Harry Kane of Britain won the 400 meter with a games record time of 50.5.[7]

It was decided to change the duration after this Maccabiah to once every four years, to gain Olympic recognition.

Participating communities

The number in parentheses indicates the number of participants that community contributed.

References
  1. "The 20th Maccabiah Games: A brief History (Part 1)," The Canadian Jewish News.
  3. New York Times Wednesday September 30, 1953
  4. New York Times September 25, 1953
  5. The Canadian Jewish Chronicle
  6. "Allan Jay"
  7. "Eight Jewish Athletes at BEG". The Canadian Jewish Chronicle. July 30, 1954. Retrieved 28 October 2013.
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