The swimming competition at the European Maccabi Games in Berlin has ended in which Lithuanian Makabi swimmers made a very good showing. The competition took place in an open swimming pool. Conditions for the athletes were quite complicated because of the low air temperature, varying from 11 degrees in the morning to 18 during the day. The Lithuanian team withstood all the challenges and came away with 16 medals. Each of the four members of Lithuanian Makabi competed in from 4 to 8 swimming styles over the length of the pool. Andrej Fadajev reaped a heavy harvest taking 3 gold and 5 silver medals. Veteran swimmer Ela Pavinskienė won three bronze, as did the young Ekaterina Gampe, while young Artiom Perepelica took two bronze. The home team won another three medals in one-on-one swim-offs with swimmers from other countries, Ekaterina Gamper taking a gold medal and Artiom Perepelica a silver.

Badminton player Alanas Plavinas won two European championship gold medals, one by himself and the other together with Estonian badminton player Semion Bremer.

The Lithuanian Makabi football team faced a tougher course. The team includes Gercas  Žakas as coach, Matvejus Fišmanas as head of the team and Arturas Sobolis as team captain. Within the division the Lithuanian Makabi team won against the Netherlands 6:3, against Turkey 7:3 and tied with Spain’s Macabbeans at 3:3, to take first place within the division. There are a total of 15 teams competing, divided into 4 subgroups. Lithuanian Makabi are to face the powerful Israeli team Sunday, August 2, in the semichampionship.

Tennis whiz Valentina Finkelšteinienė won matches against strong US and German players and enters the championship to vie for the Macabbi Games medal.

Also on Sunday the young and powerful table tennis player Vanesa Ražinskytė is to make her initial showing at the games.

About 2,340 athletes from 38 countries competing in 19 kinds of sport are participating at the 2015 European Macabbi Games at the Olympic Park built in 1936 in Berlin.

The head of the Lithuanian Makabi delegation is Semionas Finkelšteinas, who is also the president of the Makabi Lithuanian Jewish Sports Club.