Jewish USA athletes in the 2012 London Olympics

I have been asked frequently who is Jewish for Team USA in the London Olympics.  Not all of the Israeli Athletes are Jewish including Donald Sanford.

Jason Lezak, 2009 Maccabiah Torch Lighter in Israel is back for his fourth and last Olympic run.  The 36-year-old swimmer is one of five captains for the 530-member American squad. Fellow Jews joining Jason on the USA Team at the London Games, include, gymnasts Alexandra Raisman (gold medal winner) and Julie Zetlin, swimmer Anthony Ervin, rower David Banks, fencer Tim Morehouse (fencing coach, Yury Gelman and the fencing announcer, Jeff Bukantz is Jewish as well.)

2009 Maccabi USA Flag Bearer, Jillian Schwartz, a pole vaulter on the American team at the 2004 Athens Olympics, will be representing Israel this time around.  Jillian is the only Jewish track athlete representing Israel at the Olympics.

With Olympic glory, there is always Olympic disappointments.  There were some heavily touted Jewish athletes that didn’t make the cut this time. They include swimmers Dara Torres (five Olympics, 12 medals), Garret Weber-Gale (two gold medals at the 2008 Beijing Games), Andrea Murez (2012 NCAA champion in the 200- and 400-yard freestyle relays), Daniel Madwed (2012 Big Ten champion in four events), Dustin Emrani, Deena Kastor, Eric Goucher and Eric Friedland. Also not heading to London to compete are soccer player Yael Averbuch and gymnast David Sender.