While Shachar Tsoberi celebrated in Beijin with his coaches, Raphael Belilus (‘Rafa') and Shlomo Zaks, and mates from the Israeli Olympic delegation, at home his family and friends had been glued to the television awaiting the official results with bated breath.  When it became clear that Shachar had won a medal, everyone cheered, and the Tsoberi home began filling up with Eilatis coming to congratulate his achievement, while the phone began ringing off the hook and the press converged on the family.  Tears came to the eye of many an Eilati upon hearing that one of their own had won an Olympic medal. 

Until the day of the final race, Shachar's parents went to work and carried on as usual, Zev (affectionately known as ‘Poodle') at the Israel Oceanographic and Limnological Research (IOLR) institute where he is head electrician, and Vered as a secretary in the Schiffman law offices.  On the day of the final race, the law office closed and everyone joined Vered in watching her son in his deciding race for an Olympic medal.  The Tsoberi family is modest and unassuming and, in spite of their pride in Shachar, made no special fuss over the fact that their son might become, and did in fact become, an Olympic medalist.  Shachar's maternal grandparents, Tuvia and Malka Heller, are very proud of their grandson and are happily letting everyone know it.  The family did not plan any special events when hearing he had won, preferring to celebrate with Shachar when he returns home.  When he returns, the whole of Eilat will be celebrating with him, bigtime!

The Eilatis are very proud of their local hero, and Shachar's name has become a household word in his hometown.  Every conversation includes a proud mention of his achievements, and many of the youth who, like Shachar, have grown up with the sea, have made themselves into experts on windsurfing.  Pride in Shachar's bronze medal reverberates throughout the city, and Shachar returns that caring and pride in his hometown.  His mother says that whenever he returns from the frequent training and competitions he has been attending abroad over the last couple of years, he tells her "Mum, there is nothing like Eilat anywhere in the world, nothing matches this sea, clear, clean, excellent temperature all year around, nowhere in the world, not even in Hawaii." The Tsoberi family had decided not to be in Beijin during the Olympic events.  Two months ago they travelled to China to watch Shachar at training and see the country and its people, the sports facilities that had been built for the Olympic Games, and the place where the sailing events would be held, 900 km away from Beijin in Qingdao.  For the Games themselves the family would stay at home where they could watch instant updates via television or computer, since they would not be able to see Shachar anyway, and both he and they felt that their presence might only make him feel more under pressure