2008 Olympics: Tom Be'eri - 100m and 200m breaststroke

Be'eri is Israel's best breaststroker since the legendary Vadim Alexsev, who still owns the 100m breaststroke record.

By ALLON SINAI
olympics 88 (photo credit: Courtesy)
olympics 88
(photo credit: Courtesy)
The 22-year-old Tom Be'eri thought he had missed out on the Olympics after he could only manage 13th position in the 200m breaststroke in March's European Championships, at which he was required to finish among the top-12. Be'eri, however, put the disappointment behind him and two weeks later set an outstanding Israeli record of 2:13.34m and secured his place in Beijing. His record time is of such quality that in last year's World Championships it was worth 10th position. Be'eri is Israel's best breaststroker since the legendary Vadim Alexsev, who still owns the 100m breaststroke record.