1957 Maccabiah Games
Encyclopedia
Twenty countries sent 980 athletes to compete in the 1957 5th Maccabiah, an international Jewish athletics competition similar to the Olympics.
The presence of a large number of world-class Jewish athletes elevated the quality of competition. The athletes had been housed in the newly built Maccabiah Village.
Mexico
sent its first contingent of athletes.
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.
Abie Grossfeld
of the United States dominated the Games, winning 7 golds in 7 gymnastics events: AA, R, PH, FX, HB, PB, & V.
Angela Buxton
of Great Britain
, who the year prior had won the doubles title at Wimbledon
, won the gold medal in women's singles.
In fencing, Byron Krieger
, 2-time Pan American Games
gold medal winner, won individual Gold in SABRE and individual Bronze in FOIL.
In weightlifting, Isaac Berger
became the first athlete to establish a world record in the State of Israel, pressing 258 pounds (117 kg) in Featherweight competition for the US, a year after winning an Olympic gold medal.
Ben Helfgott
, a concentration camp survivor, won the weightlifting gold medal in the lightweight class for Great Britain
for the third Games in a row.
The presence of a large number of world-class Jewish athletes elevated the quality of competition. The athletes had been housed in the newly built Maccabiah Village.
Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
sent its first contingent of athletes.
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.
Abie Grossfeld
Abie Grossfeld
Abie Grossfeld is a former American gymnast and current American gymnastics coach.Grossfeld has represented the United States as a gymnastics competitor or coach in seven Olympic Games, seven World Championships, six Maccabiah Games, and five Pan American Games — in addition to many other major...
of the United States dominated the Games, winning 7 golds in 7 gymnastics events: AA, R, PH, FX, HB, PB, & V.
Angela Buxton
Angela Buxton
Angela Buxton is an English tennis player. She won the women's doubles title at both the French Championships and Wimbledon in 1956 with Althea Gibson.-Tennis accomplishments:...
of Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
, who the year prior had won the doubles title at Wimbledon
The Championships, Wimbledon
The Championships, Wimbledon, or simply Wimbledon , is the oldest tennis tournament in the world, considered by many to be the most prestigious. It has been held at the All England Club in Wimbledon, London since 1877. It is one of the four Grand Slam tennis tournaments, the other three Majors...
, won the gold medal in women's singles.
In fencing, Byron Krieger
Byron Krieger
Byron Lester Krieger was an American foil, sabre, and épée fencer. Krieger represented the United States in the Olympics in 1952 and 1956. He was officially rated as one of the nation's top 10 fencers for 15 years during his career.-College:Krieger graduated from Northwestern High School...
, 2-time Pan American Games
Pan American Games
The Pan-American or Pan American Games are a major event in the Americas featuring summer and formerly winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Pan American Games are the second largest multi-sport event after the Summer Olympics...
gold medal winner, won individual Gold in SABRE and individual Bronze in FOIL.
In weightlifting, Isaac Berger
Isaac Berger
Isaac "Ike" Berger was an Olympic weightlifter for the United States. He holds 23 world weightlifting records, and is a 12-time United States national titleholder.-Early life:...
became the first athlete to establish a world record in the State of Israel, pressing 258 pounds (117 kg) in Featherweight competition for the US, a year after winning an Olympic gold medal.
Ben Helfgott
Ben Helfgott
Ben Helfgott is a British Holocaust survivor and former champion weightlifter.He was a guest on the BBC Radio 4 Desert Island Discs programme on 1 April 2007...
, a concentration camp survivor, won the weightlifting gold medal in the lightweight class for Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
for the third Games in a row.