Twenty countries sent 980 athletes to compete in the 1957 5th Maccabiah, an international Jewish athletics competition similar to the Olympics. The presence of a large number of world-class Jewish athletes elevated the quality of competition. The athletes had been housed in the newly built Maccabiah Village. Mexico sent its first contingent of athletes. Rosenberg fighting for France lived to that time in Germany, but Germany didn't have a team in that maccabiah, so Rosenberg fought for France. In fencing, British Olympian and world champion Allan Jay won three gold medals.