Sela, Yoel

Sport:
sailing

Country Represented:
Israel

Years Competed:
1984, 1988, 1992

Olympic Info:
During the 1980s and 1990s, Sela and partner Eldad Amir were Israel's top Flying Dutchman sailing team (dinghy), competing in three Olympiads. At the 1984 Los Angeles Games, they finished in eighth place, despite placing third in Race 3 and 5 (they were disqualified for the final two races).

The duo returned to the Olympics at the 1988 Seoul Games and came very close to winning the first medal in Israeli history. They again competed in the Flying Dutchman and finished fourth overall, missing a medal by only 11.30 points. During the competition, the second race fell on Yom Kippur and Israeli officials had forbidden any athletes from competing that day. They made it understood that athletes who disobeyed would be sent home. Sela and Amir did not compete and officially finished 11th in the race, a berth they bettered consistently during the Olympics. Had they been able to compete in the second race, they would have certainly medaled.

Their final Olympic competition occurred at the 1992 Barcelona Games where they finished in 20th place.

Career Highlights:
In 1990, Sela and Amir finished fifth in the World Championships. The following year they won the Italian Open and placed second in the France Open.

Birth and Death Dates:
b. June 10, 1951

Origin:
Hadera, Israel

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