Throughout history, Jews have not been known for athletic prowess. But the London 2012 Olympic Games, which opened on Friday night, have revealed one sport where a Jewish player has at least a chance of excelling.

Josh Binstock, who helped his team beat Great Britain at Saturday's first round match, is one of Canada's top beach volleyball players.

The 31-year-old sportsman, who has been playing the sandy sport since he was 16, is competing in his first Olympic Games.

Initially a hockey player, the six foot five sportsman once coached a volleyball team at a Jewish Community Centre in his home area of Ontario. He is also a trained chiropractor.

He also competed in the volleyball in the 2009 Maccabiah Games in Israel.

Whether or not Mr Binstock is the only Jewish beach volleyball player going for gold at London 2012 is unclear; the US team includes a Sean Rosenthal, while the South African team features a Grant Goldschmidt.

Mr Binstock now faces Norway, Italy and Brazil in its group matches. Whatever the result at London 2012, he will be back in action in Israel next summer for Maccabiah Games.

Blogging on arrival in London for the Games, he wrote: "[This] was what I had been dreaming about since I started playing this sport and what I put my chiropractic career on hold to pursue."