Gal Friedman won Israel's first Olympic gold medal ever in the 2004 Olympics Wednesday. Gal Friedman sailed a remarkably consistent regatta in the Mistral windsurfing competition, never finishing worst than eighth in the 11-race series. He placed second in Wednesday's decisive race. British windsurfer Nick Dempsey moved into first place with Gal trailing him by 18 seconds into the third float. The route had been shortened and ended at the 4th float, and Friedman advanced towards the finishing line neck-to-neck just behind Dempsey. Placing, however, was determined in relation to Brazilian Ricardo Santos, who placed 16th, and Gal placed first. He immediately pulled out his Israeli flag and draped it over himself.
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