Tommy Kafri

Tommy Kafri (born Tamás Kaffry on 3 October 1976) is a retired Hungarian-Israeli sprinter who specialized in the 100 and 200 metres.

He was born in in Budapest, Hungary,[1] but emigrated to Israel from Hungary in 1986 and became one of the country's top sprinters. He was nicknamed Tommy Turbo, and broke the national record in the 100 metres six times in a span of three years.

He competed at the 1997 World Championships (100 metres),[2] the 1998 European Indoor Championships (both 60 and 200 metres),[3][4] the 1998 European Championships (in both 100 and 200 metres),[5][6] the 1999 World Championships (both 100 and 200 metres)[2] and the 2000 Olympic Games (100 metres).[1] He won a single Israeli national title: in the 200 metres in 1996.[7]

In the 4 x 100 metres relay he competed at the 1999 World Championships,[8] the 2000 Olympic Games[1] and the 2001 World Championships without reaching the final.[9] He was also a member of the Israeli relay team at the 2002 European Championships, but they did not finish their preliminary race.

His personal best times were 10.23 seconds in the 100 metres, achieved in July 1999 in Tel Aviv; and 20.89 seconds in the 200 metres, achieved at the 1999 World Championships in Seville.[2] He still holds the Israeli record in the 200 metres, tied with Gideon Jablonka.

In 2007 Kafri changed his nationality back to Hungarian.[10]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Tommy Kafri". Sports-Reference.com. http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ka/tommy-kafri-1.html. Retrieved 27 March 2010. 
  2. ^ a b c IAAF profile for Tommy Kafri
  3. ^ "1998 European Indoor Championships, men's 60 metres first round". Die Leichtatletik-Statistik-Seite. http://www.maik-richter.de/results/indoor/europe/1998/m98_01.html. Retrieved 27 March 2010. 
  4. ^ "1998 European Indoor Championships, men's 200 metres semi-final". Die Leichtatletik-Statistik-Seite. http://www.maik-richter.de/results/indoor/europe/1998/m98_05.html. Retrieved 27 March 2010. 
  5. ^ "Men 100m European Championships 1998 Budapest (HUN)". Todor Krastev. http://www.todor66.com/athletics/europe/1998/Men_100m.html. Retrieved 27 March 2010. 
  6. ^ "Men 200m European Championships 1998 Budapest (HUN)". Todor Krastev. http://www.todor66.com/athletics/europe/1998/Men_200m.html. Retrieved 27 March 2010. 
  7. ^ "Israeli Championships". GBR Athletics. Athletics Weekly. http://www.gbrathletics.com/nc/isr.htm. Retrieved 27 March 2010. 
  8. ^ "Men 4x100m Relay World Championship 1999 Sevilla (ESP)". Todor Krastev. http://www.todor66.com/athletics/world/1999/Men_4x100m_Relay.html. Retrieved 27 March 2010. 
  9. ^ "Men 4x100m Relay World Championship 2001 Edmonton (CAN)". Todor Krastev. http://www.todor66.com/athletics/world/2001/Men_4x100m_Relay.html. Retrieved 27 March 2010. 
  10. ^ "Transfers of Allegiance: 2006 / 2007" (pdf). IAAF. http://www.iaaf.org/mm/Document/Athletes/Athletes/TransfersofAllegiance_06_07_1866.pdf. Retrieved 27 March 2010.