Udi Gal
Encyclopedia
Udi Gal is an Israeli Olympic sailor, who is a sailing world championship three-time bronze medalist.
, Israel. He started sailing at 8 years of age, and started racing at 13 years of age. He competes with the club Hapoel Tel Aviv
. He competed with partner Gideon Kliger
in two-man competitions from the outset of his career, through 2009.
The first event he won was the Youth Europeans 420, in 1996. In 1998 he and Kliger won the European Youth Championships, and in 2001 they finished second in the European Championship in Ireland.
In 2004 he was chosen as chair of the Israel Olympic Committee's athletes section.
He and Kliger won bronze medals in the Sailing 470 World Championship
for three straight years in Men's 470-Class Two-Person Dinghy
— in 2006–08. In June 2007, he came in third in the Men's 470 ISAF Sailing World Championships, in Cascais
, Portugal. In January 2008, he came in third in the Men 470 World Championships, in Melbourne
, Australia. In April 2008, he and Kliger were ranked third in the world in the 470 class dinghy.
Gal and Kliger competed on behalf of Israel at the 2004 Summer Olympics
in the Sailing at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece, and on behalf of Israel at the 2008 Summer Olympics
in Sailing at the 2008 Summer Olympics
in Beijing, China, in Men's 470-Class Two-Person Dinghy
, coming in 15th and 14th, respectively.
Biography
Gal is Jewish, and was born in Tel AvivTel Aviv
Tel Aviv , officially Tel Aviv-Yafo , is the second most populous city in Israel, with a population of 404,400 on a land area of . The city is located on the Israeli Mediterranean coastline in west-central Israel. It is the largest and most populous city in the metropolitan area of Gush Dan, with...
, Israel. He started sailing at 8 years of age, and started racing at 13 years of age. He competes with the club Hapoel Tel Aviv
Hapoel Tel Aviv
Hapoel Tel Aviv is a sports club in Israel, founded in the 1920's, and part of the Hapoel association. It runs several sports clubs and teams in Tel Aviv which have competed in a variety of sports over the years, such as football, weightlifting and others...
. He competed with partner Gideon Kliger
Gideon Kliger
Gideon "Gidi" Kliger is an Israeli Olympic sailor, who is a sailing world championship three-time bronze medalist.-Biography:...
in two-man competitions from the outset of his career, through 2009.
The first event he won was the Youth Europeans 420, in 1996. In 1998 he and Kliger won the European Youth Championships, and in 2001 they finished second in the European Championship in Ireland.
In 2004 he was chosen as chair of the Israel Olympic Committee's athletes section.
He and Kliger won bronze medals in the Sailing 470 World Championship
470 World Championship
The 470 World Championship is an international sailing regatta in the 470 class organized by the International Sailing Federation. Until 1985 the competition was open to both sexes. Afterwards races were held separately for male and female competitors. The 470 is an Olympic class since...
for three straight years in Men's 470-Class Two-Person Dinghy
470 (dinghy)
The 470 is a double-handed monohull planing dinghy with a centreboard, Bermuda rig, and centre sheeting. The name is the overall length of the boat in centimetres . The hull is fibreglass with integral buoyancy tanks. The 470 is equipped with spinnaker and trapeze, making teamwork necessary to...
— in 2006–08. In June 2007, he came in third in the Men's 470 ISAF Sailing World Championships, in Cascais
Cascais
Cascais is a coastal town in Cascais Municipality in Portugal, 30 kilometres west of Lisbon, with about 35,000 residents. It is a cosmopolitan suburb of the Portuguese capital and one of the richest municipalities in Portugal. The former fishing village gained fame as a resort for Portugal's royal...
, Portugal. In January 2008, he came in third in the Men 470 World Championships, in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Australia. In April 2008, he and Kliger were ranked third in the world in the 470 class dinghy.
Gal and Kliger competed on behalf of Israel at the 2004 Summer Olympics
Israel at the 2004 Summer Olympics
Israel competed at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece.Israel won its first ever gold medal at these Games.-Athletics:Men's Pole Vault:* Aleksander AverbukhMen's Marathon:* Haile Satayin – 2:17.25...
in the Sailing at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece, and on behalf of Israel at the 2008 Summer Olympics
Israel at the 2008 Summer Olympics
Israel competed at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China. This was Israel's 14th participation in the Summer Olympics.43 Israeli athletes competed in Beijing, the largest Israeli delegation in Olympic history, the previous record having been 40 at Sydney 2000...
in Sailing at the 2008 Summer Olympics
Sailing at the 2008 Summer Olympics – Men's 470 class
Men's 470 class competition at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing took place between August 11 and 18 in Qingdao, at the Qingdao International Marina. 29 pairs competed in this 470 dinghy competition....
in Beijing, China, in Men's 470-Class Two-Person Dinghy
470 (dinghy)
The 470 is a double-handed monohull planing dinghy with a centreboard, Bermuda rig, and centre sheeting. The name is the overall length of the boat in centimetres . The hull is fibreglass with integral buoyancy tanks. The 470 is equipped with spinnaker and trapeze, making teamwork necessary to...
, coming in 15th and 14th, respectively.