Fridman earns Israel’s first Olympic gold
By Morakinyo Abodunrin, Athens
Friday, August 27, 2004

Windsurfer Gal Fridman earned Israel's first Olympic gold medal on Wednesday as some of the Games' less traditional sports took center stage in Athens.

Fridman, 28, a bronze medallist in Atlanta in 1996, won the men's mistral gold ahead of Greece's Nikolaos Kaklamanakis and Briton Nick Dempsey.

The triumph sparked celebrations at home in Israel, and a congratulatory call from Israeli President Moshe Katsav.
"I still don't believe it," Fridman said.
Until Wednesday, Israel's Olympic haul was just one silver and three bronze.

Winter spoirts power Austria secured their first gold of the Athens Games as Kate Allen surged past Loretta Harrop just meters from the finish to claim the women's triathlon title.
Allen, who was born in Australia but trains in her adopted country, was a lowly 44th after the opening 1.5km open-water swim in the bay of Vouliagmeni, worked her way up to 10th after the 40km bike race and came into her own in the closing run.

Harrop, who had led virtually all the way, said her late-race fade may have looked like the stuff of disappointment, but she was happy with silver ahead of American Susan Williams.

Triathlon, on the Olympic programme for just the second time after making its debut in Sydney, kicked off a day in which the more arcane Olympic sports had a chance to shine.
In Athletics, Moroccan middle-distance great Hicham El Guerrouj was sure to be a draw as he launched his 5,000m campaign just a day after ending eight years of Olympic agony with a triumph in the 1,500m.