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Last update - 02:20 21/08/2008 The Last Word / Fairy tale began with the club By Uzi Dann BEIJING - Shahar Zubari provides the classic script for an Olympic athlete, starting with a special childhood, obstacles and disappointments along the way that suddenly turn into stunning success. As in any Olympic tale, ours also has chapters and twists that without them, there would be no bronze medal in Qingdao. It involves a slender, seemingly harmless boy who is a fearless fighter who never gives in to anyone, confident in his ability and radiating that self-assuredness. He is as stubborn as a mule, such as insisting his childhood coach, Rafa Balilius, accompany him to China despite his lack of international experience. He has a supportive family - a father who also surfs and parents who invested time, money and education into the child. He is as cool as a cucumber. Those who know him well assert that Zubari, a party guy on the beach, becomes exceptionally focused and concentrated once he approaches the water. Advertisement The story has animosity and a driving force - the lack of respect for a young athlete from Eilat and the attention paid to Gal Fridman, even as Zubari emerged as the premier surfer. The story has love - the boy simply loves what he does. And, no less important, the story consists of a little luck; the introduction of the Neil Pryde surfboard came just in time for Zubari, as did the collapse of Britain's Neil Dempsey in the final yesterday. But where's the bit about the hard work that appears in every Olympic story? Even Zubari describes himself as a little lazy. He doesn't love training. But all the other components made him Israel's sixth medal winner. Zubari made it to where he did thanks to the Eilat Marine Education and Sport Center, his club. More than the coaches and the support and the family feeling within the small town, the club staff kept its finger on the pulse and became one of the first in the world to buy the new Neil Pryde boards three years ago when the Olympic committee changed from the Mistral. It shows once again nothing can replace work in the field, in the clubs, teams and marinas. That's where it all begins. Even now coaches and trainers are working on the next generation of Olympic hopefuls. They are certainly no less important and arguably even more so than the committees and directors-general and chairmans presiding in air-conditioned offices. 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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