ISRAEL21c

Racing since the age of eight, this will be the third time Gideon Kliger will be steering a course for sailing gold at the Olympics.

One of Israel’s top skippers on the 470 dinghy, Kliger has won a number of prestigious sailing prizes and medals over the last 15 years.

He made his first headway in the sport when he and partner Udi Gal won the European Youth Championships in 1998. Other medals include bronze at the Sailing 470 World Championship for three straight years in a row in Men’s 470-Class Two-Person Dinghy — from the years 2006 through to 2008.

He has placed fifth in 2002 at the World Championship, and the years after fourth and fifth. At the 2004 and 2008 Olympics, Kliger and his partner placed 14 and 15.

He continues to win medals at top ranking sailing competitions internationally as he races for Olympic gold.