| "I did it!", were Shachar's first words, with joyous smile on his face. Friends from the Israeli delegation at Qingdao stood yelling and whooping, jumping for joy and waving Israeli flags in the air, as Shachar sailed back to the beach. Wading into the water, they hoisted him, surfboard and all, onto their shoulders for a congratulatory victory march, as befits a champion.
After a brilliant start in the first six races, tempered by some poorer results in the next two or three, Shachar finished the tenth and final race, which gives double points, in second place. This brought him back up to a third overall ranking, winning him the bronze medal and Israel's first medal in the Beijin Olympics 2008.
Shachar Tsoberi, only 21 years old, has won his first Olympic medal! The RS:X gold went to Tom Ashley of New Zealand, and the silver to Julien Bontemps of France. Shachar's final, decisive, race got off to a poor start when the team got a disqualification due to the Greek competitor and had to go back to the starting line, but Shachar made up for lost time, bettering his position through some strategic decisions, and ending the race in second place so that he was able to win the bronze medal.
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Shachar was congratulated by the Prime Minister and other dignitaries, being praised for his spirit, his composure, for saving face, and for being a great athlete and the material of champions. Shachar was pleased that all his hard work had paid off and was glad about how happy it made everyone back home. He knew that all of Eilat was following his achievements avidly, and that the whole country had its hopes pinned on him.
The bronze medal won by Shachar Tsoberi is Israel's third Olympic medal in the sport of sailing. The previous two were the bronze and gold won by Gal Friedman in the Atlanta '96 and Athens '04 Olympics, respectively. Shachar competed against Friedman for the ticket to the Beijin '08 Olympics and, if he imitates his predecessor, will yet bring home the gold in future Games.
Shachar, everyone in Eilat is very happy for you and very proud of you. Well done!!!
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