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Gal Fridman

Gal Fridman is an Israeli windsurfer who won Israel's first Olympic gold medal, at the Athens 2004 Games.

born 1975Israel's first Olympic gold medalBronze medal at Atlanta 19962002 windsurfing world championshipCoaching Tom Reuveny

Born: 16 September 1975, Pardes Hanna-Karkur
Occupation: windsurfer, sailor

Gal Fridman was born in 1975 in Pardes Hanna-Karkur

Gal Fridman was born on September 16, 1975, to Uri and Dganit Fridman. He grew up in Pardes Hanna-Karkur, near the Mediterranean Sea. His father introduced him to windsurfing.

He trained at the sailing club in Sdot Yam and competed internationally in youth events while still in school. He joined the Israeli national team and served in the army with the status of a sportsman. After his service he began competing as an adult.

Fridman won a bronze medal at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. He lost his place at the 2000 Sydney Games to Amit Inbar, then became world champion in 2002. At the 2004 Athens Olympics he won gold in the Mistral class and dedicated it to the 11 Israeli athletes murdered in 1972.

He struggled with the new board model and failed to qualify for the 2008 Beijing Games. He retired in 2008 and became a coach, working with Nimrod Mashiah. As head coach of the men's windsurfing team, he led Tom Reuveny to Olympic gold at Paris 2024.