Eithan Urbach facts for kids
 |
|
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Native name | איתן אורבך |
| 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 (Hebrew: איתן אורבך) was born on January 12, 1977, in Haifa, Israel. He is a former backstroke swimmer who represented Israel in many competitions. Eithan also swam for Auburn University in the United States.
He competed in two Summer Olympics: the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta and the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney. In 1996, his Israeli team made history. They were the first Israeli swimming team to reach an Olympic final in the 4x100 medley relay. Eithan swam the backstroke part of this relay. In 1997, Eithan Urbach was honored as Israel's Sportsman of the Year.
College Swimming Career
Eithan Urbach swam for Auburn University in the United States. His coach there was David Marsh. Under Coach Marsh, Auburn's swimming team was very successful. They won the NCAA Swimming Championships in both 1997 and 1999. Eithan was part of the team during these big wins.
Auburn's SEC Championships
In February 1997, Eithan competed at the Southeastern Conference (SEC) Swimming Championships. He finished 5th in the 200-meter backstroke. Auburn won the SEC Championships that year. This win started a long series of championships for Auburn.
NCAA Championships Success
In March 1997, Eithan swam at the NCAA Swimming Championships. He placed eighth in the 200-meter backstroke. The Auburn men's team won the NCAA Swimming Championships that year. They finished their 1997 season without any losses.
Olympic Games Appearances
Eithan Urbach proudly represented Israel in two Olympic Games. He competed in Atlanta in 1996 and in Sydney in 2000.
1996 Atlanta Olympics Highlights
At the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Eithan swam in two events. He was only 19 years old at the time.
100m Backstroke Record
On July 23, 1996, Eithan competed in his best event, the 100-meter backstroke. He finished 22nd in this race. 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 his backstroke swimming.
Historic Medley Relay
Eithan was also part of the Israeli 4x100 medley relay team. He swam the backstroke leg of the race. The team finished eighth in the finals. They set a new Israeli national record in the preliminary race. This was a huge moment for Israeli swimming. Eithan's team was the first Israeli swimming team to reach an Olympic final.
2000 Sydney Olympics Performance
Eithan Urbach competed again at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney. He swam in the Sydney International Aquatic Center.
Strong 100m Backstroke
In the 100-meter backstroke, Eithan had his best performance at the 2000 Olympics. He finished 8th with a time of 55.74 seconds. This time was his new personal best. He was very close to winning a medal.
Relay Events
Eithan also swam in the 4x100m freestyle relay. His team placed 14th. He also swam the backstroke leg in the 4x100m medley relay. In this event, the team finished 17th.
International Competitions
Eithan Urbach won several medals in international swimming events. He competed in European Championships and World Cup events.
European Championships Medals
Eithan earned multiple medals at the European Championships.
- In August 1997, he won a silver medal in the 100-meter backstroke. This was at the European Championships in Seville, Spain.
- In 1998, he won a bronze medal in the 100-meter backstroke. This was at the European Short Course Championships in Sheffield, England.
- In July 1999, he earned another bronze medal in the 100-meter backstroke. This competition was the European Championships in Istanbul, Turkey.
FINA World Cup Medals
Eithan also achieved success at the FINA Swimming World Cup.
- In November 1996, he won a bronze medal in the 200-meter backstroke in Germany.
- In January 2002, at age 25, he won two more bronze medals in France. He earned one in the 50-meter backstroke and another in the 100-meter backstroke.
Eithan also competed in other major events. In January 1998, he finished 7th in the 100-meter backstroke at the World Championships in Perth, Australia. In July 2000, he placed fourth in the 100-meter backstroke finals at the European Championships in Helsinki. He was just shy of winning another medal.
See also
In Spanish: Eithan Urbach para niños
- List of select Jewish swimmers
