Israelis celebrate judo Olympic result

The Israelis' triumphs in the Olympics (Gal Fridman's gold in windsurfing and Arik Ze'evi's bronze in judo) were only two of more than a dozen medals won by Jewish athletes at the Games, including two golds earned by Chile's Nicolas Massu in tennis and several more medals by U.S. Jewish swimmers.

But athletes winning medals wasn't the only Jewish story at the Games. An Iranian athlete, Arash Miresmaeli, made international headlines after he refused to fight an Israeli competitor, Ehud Vaks, in judo.

In Israel, a country hungry for good news, the medals were the main story from this year's Games.

Newspapers published commemorative posters of Fridman, a victory laurel on his head, kissing his gold medal. Billboards were posted over major roads saying "Gal Fridman, You Made the Country Proud," and rabbis spoke of Fridman in their Shabbat sermons.

Ze'evi won the bronze in the under 100-kg category. His face is now also seen plastered in advertising posters across the country, as Israeli companies scramble to use these new Israeli sports heroes to sell their products.

Ze'evi said Fridman's gold should motivate younger Israelis to pursue Israeli sports. He said more corporations should get involved in helping sponsor athletes, not only in the country's favorite sports like soccer and basketball.