Eithan Urbach facts for kids
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| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Nationality |  Israel |
| Born | 12 January 1977 Haifa, Israel |
| Height | 185 cm |
| Weight | 75 kg |
| Sport | |
| Sport | Swimming |
| Strokes | backstroke, 50m, 100m, 200m |
| Club | Maccabi Haifa |
| College team | Auburn University |
| Coach | David Marsh (Auburn) |
Eithan Urbach (born January 12, 1977, in Haifa, Israel) is a former backstroke swimmer. He represented Israel in two Olympic Games. Eithan also swam for Auburn University in the United States. He was known for setting new Israeli swimming records. In 1997, Eithan Urbach was named Israel's Sportsman of the Year.
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Swimming for College: Auburn University
Eithan Urbach swam for Auburn University while he was in college. His coach there was David Marsh. Under Coach Marsh, Auburn's swimming team won the NCAA Swimming championships in 1997 and 1999. Eithan was part of the team during these big wins.
Winning at the SEC Championships
In February 1997, Eithan competed at the Southeastern Conference (SEC) Swimming Championships. He finished 5th in the 200-meter backstroke. Auburn University won the SEC Championships that year. This started a long winning streak for Auburn in these championships.
Success at the NCAA Championships
In March 1997, Eithan swam at the NCAA Swimming Championships. He placed eighth in the 200-meter backstroke. His time was very close to the top swimmers. The Auburn men's team won the NCAA Swimming Championships that year. They finished their 1997 season without any losses.
Eithan at the 1996 Summer Olympics
Eithan Urbach competed in two events at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta. He was only 19 years old at the time.
Setting an Israeli Backstroke Record
On July 23, 1996, Eithan swam in his main event, the 100-meter backstroke. He finished 22nd overall. Even though he didn't win a medal, he set a new Israeli record. His time was 56.74 seconds. This achievement made him well-known in Israel for backstroke swimming.
Making History in the Medley Relay
Eithan was also part of the Israeli 4x100-meter medley relay team. He swam the backstroke part of the race. The team finished eighth in the finals. Another Auburn swimmer, Yoav Bruck, swam the freestyle leg.
In the preliminary race, Eithan helped the team set a new Israeli national record. This was a huge moment for Israeli swimming. His team became the first Israeli swimming team to reach an Olympic final. Many people watched this exciting race.
Eithan at the 2000 Summer Olympics
Eithan Urbach swam for Israel again at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney.
He competed in the 4x100-meter freestyle relay. His team finished 14th.
In the 100-meter backstroke, Eithan had his best performance at these Olympics. He placed 8th with a time of 55.74 seconds. This was a new personal best for him. He was very close to winning a medal in this event.
Eithan also swam the backstroke leg in the 4x100-meter medley relay. The Israeli team placed 17th in this event.
International Swimming Achievements
Eithan Urbach won several medals in international competitions.
European Championships Medals
- In August 1997, he won a silver medal at the European Championships in Seville, Spain. This was for the 100-meter backstroke.
- In 1998, he earned a bronze medal at the European Short Course Championships in Sheffield, England. This was also in the 100-meter backstroke.
- In July 1999, he won another bronze medal at the European Championships in Istanbul, Turkey. This was for the 100-meter backstroke.
World Cup Bronze Medals
- In November 1996, Eithan won a bronze medal at the FINA Swimming World Cup in Germany. This was in the 200-meter backstroke.
- In January 2002, at age 25, he won two more bronze medals at the FINA Swimming World Cup in France. He won one in the 50-meter backstroke and another in the 100-meter backstroke.
See also
- List of select Jewish swimmers
