The Maccabiah Games that ran from July 4 through July 18 hosted 10,000 competitors from 85 countries who took part in 45 different sporting events. Of the 2,100 medals handed out, Israel led the count with 466 (172 gold, 149 silver and 145 bronze). The United States came in second with a total of 163 medals (49 gold, 67 silver and 47 bronze).
Athletes from Arizona brought home a total of 15 medals. Swimmer Samantha Krew of Scottsdale brought home the most medals, with four silver and three bronze. She competed in the women’s junior swimming category and won silver in the 200-meter freestyle, 400-meter freestyle relay, 800-meter freestyle relay and the 400-meter individual medley relay. Samantha won bronze in the 200-meter butterfly, 100-meter freestyle and 50-meter freestyle.
Also in swimming, Aaron Rosen of Scottsdale took home two silver medals, one for anchoring Team USA’s 800-meter freestyle relay team and as part of the 400-meter freestyle relay team in the men’s juniors swimming category. Both Aaron and Samantha train at Scottsdale Aquatic Club.
Earning a gold medal in the women’s senior uneven bars open gymnastics category was Evelyn Micco of Scottsdale, who trains at Arizona Sunrays in Phoenix.
Tamara Statman, of Phoenix, also brought home a gold medal as part of the women’s open softball competition with Team USA.
Winning silver was Natasha Friedman of Phoenix as a member of the USA’s women’s open soccer team.
Madison Kirsch of Scottsdale earned a bronze medal on the balance beam in the women’s junior gymnastics category.
Rachel Meyer of Tucson, who is the assistant coach for Wildcat Taekwondo, won a bronze medal in Taekwondo.
David Rosenfeld of Paradise Valley was part of the masters ice hockey Team USA who won the bronze medal.
Congratulations to all of the medal winners and all those who competed on behalf of Team USA.
Another athletic competition for Jewish teens ages 12 to 16 is the annual Maccabi Games. These games run July 30 through Aug. 4 and will be held in Birmingham, Alabama this year. To follow the action, visit jccmaccabibham.org.
