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Last update - 02:20 21/08/2008 Averbukh leaves Games with a wave and a somersault By Uzi Dann BEIJING - Alex Averbukh, Israel's most decorated and experienced athlete, yesterday strove to become the country's first Olympian to make three consecutive finals, but in the end he couldn't deliver the goods. In fact, he wasn't even close. Everything was hard for the pole vaulter from the get-go. He started out at 5.45-meters and failed in his first two attempts. He cleared that height on his third and final chance, allaying fears he would go home without a single successful jump. He then went straight for 5.65-meters, which would have been sufficient for making the finals. However, he failed in all three attempts and finished tied for 28th place. Advertisement Averbukh quickly recovered from the letdown and departed with a somersault on the mattress below the pole in the Bird's Nest stadium. Later, he said an injury to his achilles' tendon bothered him and announced he would be lying low for a while. "I'm not retiring," he said, "but in the coming year I intend to better enjoy the competitions." He said he would attend the world championships, "but without a lot of pressure." He added that after next year, he would turn to coaching. "I'll be a fitness trainer," the European champion said. Kolganov looks ahead to 500m race After the not-so-impressive showing of Itai Magidi in the 3,000-meter steeplechase and Niki Palli's exit from the high-jump preliminaries, the only remaining Israeli athlete in Beijing is Haile Satayin, who runs the marathon Sunday. Michael Kolganov, as expected, failed yesterday to make the final of the 1,000-meter kayak competition. He placed eighth in his semifinal heat with a time of 3:43.11, ranking him 17th overall. Today he faces his main test, the semifinal of the 500-meter kayaking, the category in which he took bronze in Sydney. The top three in each of three heats will advance to the final. His main opponents will be Hungarian veteran Akos Vereckei, who finished fourth in Athens and is a former world champion; Denmark's Kasper Bleibach, a young and rising star, who won the European championship this year; and the 1,000-meter Olympic champion, Eirik Veraas Larsen of Norway, who is not as strong in the shorter race. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Tears of joy Shahar Zubari's bronze medal was Israel's first of the 2008 Beijing Olympics. 'Germ of corruption' Mahmoud Ahmadinejad repeats his prediction that Israel will be wiped off the map.

Read & React Ahmadinejad: Israel is a germ of corruption that will be removed Responses: 139 Israel warns nationals of Hezbollah kidnap threat abroad Responses: 37 Sheetrit: Israel must not attack Iran, except in line of defense Responses: 26 Meron Benvenisti: Israel's greatest fear is a one-state solution Responses: 72 More Headlines 00:40 U.S. to Syria: Do not meddle in Russia-Georgia conflict 19:04 Livni: Time is running out for peace talks with Palestinians 16:28 State orders West Bank fence rerouted in favor of Palestinians 02:26 ANALYSIS / Fence relocation is acknowledgment that route is politically motivated 02:46 Prosecution to seek immunity for Talansky in U.S. 02:45 Barak: I'm not worried about being removed before elections 01:47 Study: Babies in womb during Six-Day War more likely to have schizophrenia 00:10 IN PICTURES / Olympians display their body art 00:26 Israeli tennis star Shahar Peer leads master class for N.Y. children 21:32 Life of top television presenter threatened, possibly by 'psychic' interviewee 22:28 Jordan urges world to press Israel to halt E. Jerusalem excavations 02:09 Israeli terror victims sue Chinese bank for funding Hamas, Islamic Jihad 19:47 Israel removes West Bank roadblock outside Ramallah 01:08 Happy birthday, Mr. President! Peres marks his 85th with trip to Negev Previous Editions Select Day 21 aug 20 aug 19 aug 18 aug 17 aug 15 aug 14 aug 13 aug 12 aug 11 aug 10 aug 08 aug

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