Influential Jewish Athletes

Each year, the Forward, a Jewish weekly, publishes a list of the most influential Jews called the Forward 50. The list, which came out on Thursday, is heavy on politicians (Rahm Emanuel, Barney Frank, Joe Lieberman). There was only one athlete on the list, swimmer Dara Torres.

Torres is the 41-year-old mom who became the first U.S. swimmer to compete in five Olympics this past summer. In Beijing, two years after the birth of her daughter, she became the oldest swimming medalist in Olympics history. She has won 12 Olympic medals, dating back to 1984.

Torres, whose father was Jewish, didn't convert to Judaism until her second marriage to Israeli surgeon Itzhak Shasha. She was inducted into the Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 2005.

Though Torres's accomplishments merit a spot on the list, are there other Jewish athletes that Forward should have included?

By Kathy Orton  |  November 14, 2008; 11:18 AM ET  | Category:  Praying Fields
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