At the 8th Maccabiah Games in 1969, 1,450 athletes from 27 countries competed in 22 sports. Germany and Greece sent teams for the first time since the 1935 Games. A new swimming pool was dedicated at Yad Eliyahu. American swimmer Mark Spitz won 6 gold medals. Tal Brody, having moved from the U.S. to Israel, captained the Israeli basketball team to a gold medal over the United States. Israeli Olympian Shaul Ladany won gold medals in the 3-km walk (13.35.4), the 10-km walk, and the 50-km walk. Esther Roth of Israel won the long jump with a 19-foot, 3/4 inch (5.81 meter) jump.