BEIJING, Aug. 7 (UPI) -- Israeli Olympic swimmer Alon Mandel is staying in Beijing to compete in the Games despite the death of his father in a fall Wednesday night.

"I intend to continue to compete for my father," the 20-year-old athlete said. "People think that I need to return home, but there are another two girls and a boy (at home) and I will support my family when I return. My mother repeatedly stressed my father's wish for me to continue to compete and fulfill the dream."

Mandel makes his first appearance in the 200-meter butterfly competition that starts Monday, the Jerusalem Post said.

Costa Mandel, 51, died instantly after falling from a ladder while doing some repair work in the back yard of his Netanya home.