Nov/Dec 2005 | The Olympian

LETTER FROM WILLIE BANKS

U.S. Olympians Pre s ident

I found a time machine; it is called "Masters Competition' ' In early September I competed in the World Masters Athletics Championship in San Sebastian, Spain and I felt like I had been transpo1ied back 20 years to the peak ofmy competitive career. I had a press conference with international media, including TV cameras. I had a large crowd cheering my every step. I signed autographs for kids and adults and all I had to do was jump! Yes , I took second to a young 45 year old Geiman but it was the best competition I had been in since I was in my twenties. Now, at 49 years old, I was able to put on my show again I found the time machine , and it was great.

At the competition I heard from many people that they want more Olympians to dust off their competition attire and join in the fun. Everyone asked if I was going to start encouraging more Olympians to pmticipate and my answer was, of course , YES! Not only will I encourage people but it has been one of several initiatives that the U.S. Olympians have proposed for this quadrennial. "Sports for Life " is a major theme that we as Olympians must encourage and foster. We owe much to our sport besides fame and honor. We have felt the benefit of physical fitness and we now the benefits of an active lifestyle. We must strive to set an example for the rest of the society by staying fit and being advocates of health and fitness. The officers of the U.S. Olympians have started developing a model for us all to embrace as we go forward I hope that this will be the beginning of a trend among more organizations besides the U.S. Olympians

The fact is that our countiy is out of shape and needs a "fitness makeover". Dr. S. Jay Olshansky, a longevity researcher at the University of Illinois at Chicago. suggests that within 50 years obesity likely will shmien the average life span of77 6 years by at least two to five years. (Source: MSNBC.com). Two-thirds of U.S. adults are overweight or obese ; one -third of adults qualify as obese. Up to 30 percent of U.S. children are overweight, and childhood obesity has more than doubled in the past 25 years. Childhood diabetes has increased 10-fold in the past 20 years. The prevalence of overweight and obesity were also related to the level of educational attainment among U.S. adults , especially among women. The prevalence of overweight ranged from approximately 60% among women who had not finished high school, 49% of high school graduates, down to about 29% of women who had earned post -graduate college degrees. (Source: National Center for Health Statistics). So , any program that we promote must also include a component that emphasizes both physical fitness and staying in school.

The U.S. Olympians hope to work with the USOC in promoting fitness and education. Using Olympians as spokespeople, we hope to encournge kids to stay active throughout their life. Anne Cribbs , Gary Hall , Sr. and Dick Fosbury have taken a special interest in this field and have developed some ideas to press forward

Gaiy HalL Sr. is so dedicated to the idea of"Spmts for Life" that he is moving to Florida to pursue his dreams with his son Gaty Hall , Jr. to train people in swimming at "' The Race Club ' ' in Islamorada, Florida. Other Olympians have staited programs around the countiy including , Mmy Osborne Andrews, who is promoting Kids' Health Initiative in San Diego , California. With our network and energy, we can create a network of programs that will help tum around the epidemic of obesity in the US.

hope all of you will take a special interest in this area and will join us in showing the real meaning of Olympism 1

Willie Banks

Katrina Survivors Relocate To Oakland

By : Quynh Tran

In the 1976 Olympics in Montreal , Pamela Jiles anchored the women's 4-by-400-meter relay team and won a silver medal. She gave it to her sister, Giselle.

Some 30 years later, Pamela Jiles found herself reunited with her medal , and her sister, in a way she could never had predicted. She and her 15-year-old son, Donnovan, moved into her sister's Oakland home, having survived Hurricane Katrina.

The fam..ily had lived in Gentilly, a neighborhood north of downtown New Orleans. They always evacuated when hunicanes swept through their area.

But this time Pamela Jiles' brotherin -law was recuperating from hip

surge1y at the local veterans hospital. Pamela's sister, Denise, didn't want to leave her husband, and

Pamela refused to leave Denise Everyone stayed, much to the chagrin of Giselle, vvho tracked the news of the approaching hmricane from afar.

IN THE 1976 OLYMPICS IN MONTREAL, PAMELA JILES (FAR RIGHT) ANCHORED

THE WOMEN'S

4-BY-400-METER RELAY TEAM AND WON ASILVER MEDAL

When the storm hit on Aug. 27 , the house shook and shingles flew off the roof. The power went out and the streets were dark.

As children, the sisters lived through Hurricane Betsy in 1965 and remembered seeing alligators and eels on their street. The sisters who stayed in New Orleans thought they could handle Katrina.

The family went to a friend's two-stmy house and prepared for what they thought would just be rough, howling winds. They had gallons of water, a case of Ritz crackers, apples , bananas, clean towels and wet wipes, and even filled the upstairs bathroom with water.

Although told to evacuate to the N ew Orleans Superdome , Pamela Jiles , 50 , refused.

"There were l 0,000 people there. I knew I didn't want to be there," said Jiles , who ran a day care center in New Orleans.

"I was scared," Pamela Jiles said.

No one expected the flooding the next day, she said.

By 11 a.m. Sunday, water seeped under the doors of the house . They furiously worked to move belongings to higher ground. An hour later, the water was ankle-deep

"Forget the stuff," cried Donnovan when water reached his knees. "Get upstairs."

By 2 p.m. the water was neck deep. There were 13 steps to the second floor. The water had already reached the seventh. Upstairs, the sisters, their children and the homeowner settled in They had two battery-operated televisions. The house was trapped between two levees. \.Vhen they

learned the levees broke, they decided to have an eating and drinking plan, Each person was allowed one bottle of water, four or five crackers , and one piece of fruit a day.

Donnovan watched as each step slowly disappeared into the flood waters.

At night , they heard gunshots and a nearby neighbor c1ying for help The family prayed, played cards and tried to keep their spirits up for the next two days . They held a concert for each other singing along with the tunes on Donnovan's MP3 player.

"We lost track of days and time," Pamela Jiles said .

One night , the kitchen refrigerator tipped over, floated and banged up against the wall , creating a frightening thud.

The family awoke Tuesday morning to s ee the American Red Cross rescuers cruise by on boats but priority went to the sick , elder-

; and families with young children. The house's carport outside the second -story window had become a boat dock.

By Wednesday, the family said it had to be their turn. N o one remained on their street. Donnovan saw only a dog stranded on a rooftop.

Their rescuers were two fishennen from Lafayette, La., who brought them to an overpass on Interstate 610, which had become a landing dock for nearby evacuees

While the family was dry on the highway overpass, there were hundreds of desperate people waiting to board departing helicopters. They wanted to go to Baton Rouge to join an aunt who had evacuated earlier in the week to a hotel. They knew nothing was left for them at their house.

"It was freaky seeing New Orleans underwater," Donnovan said. "You couldn't recognize the main streets."

The Lafayette fishermen would be their way ut. After another rescue rnn, the men said

Fellow Olympians:

they would take the family to Baton Rouge if they were still on the interstate when they returned.

Fearing the men wouldn't find them on their return , Pamela Jiles refused to move from the drop-off point and join the helicopter lines "When I heard them calling my name , " she said , "I thought it was Jesus calling me."

The men took them by boat to Metairie, a suburb six miles west of N ew Orleans, and then by van to Baton Rouge. That night the family contacted Giselle Jiles in Oakland and made preparations for resettlement.

"We were really blessed," said Pamela Jiles. "So many people didn't have options."

For Giselle Jiles , 47, a financial planner, her world was changing rapidly. This time the family wasn't just coming for a visit. They would be here to stay.

A single woman, she didn't have much experience with schools but had to find a school for Donnovan immediately She had

worked with St. Joseph N otre Dame High School in Alameda and asked for assistance . The school gave the 10th-grader new books and supplies and is exploring financing options

Last Friday, on his first day to school , Donnovan was the center of attention.

"I miss the little things, like my personalized pillow and the Christmas tree w e've had since Donnovan was born," Pamela Jiles said

The closeness of the sisters meant that Giselle Jiles has almost every photo of the family and Donnovan's early childhood, as well as Pamela's silver Olympic medal.

"Katrina happened just to get you guys here," Giselle Jiles said to her sister and nephew. "Since it happened and they've been here, everything is falling into place. "

This year, we have a unique opportunity to support the next generation of American Olympic and Paralympic athletes and hopefuls. We all know from firsthand experience that the journey to the Olympic Games is full of obstacles, especially financial challenges. All ofus reached our dreams of competing in the Olympic Games thanks to the support of our families, friends, communities and sponsors. But not

Everyone who makes a donation will receive a commemorative pin designed by Visa and 15 Torino Olympic and Paralympic hopefuls. One-hundred percent of all donations will be used in direct support of America's athletes, to help pay for the cost of training, equipment, travel and more. everyone is so lucky.

That's why we've teamed with Visa USA and the USOC for the Dollar for the Dream program to enable the American public to directly support the journey of U S. Olympic and Paralympic hopefuls. Donations can be made online at www.visa com/journey. The minimum donation is $1.00 and there is no maximum. Visa will ,,..--... ,atch every dollar donated up to $2 million, therefore, creating the potential to raise a total of $4 million .

Please help us spread the word about this program. Order pins for you and your family to wear as badges of support. Join us in telling as many people as possible about this program friends, neighbors, employers /employees, customers and local schools.

We were fortunate enough to have our Olympic moment. Now we have the opportunity to supp01i and inspire the next generation of hopefuls to pursue their dreams.

Donate today at www.visa.com/journey.

Sincerely,

Bonnie Blair and Summer Sanders

2006 U.S . Olympic Hall Of Fame Class Announced

PRESENTED BY

Allstate @

You're in nood hands

The 1984 Men ' s Gymnastics Team that earned the USA its first Olympic team gold medal in the spo1i is among the newest selections to the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame Presented by

Allstate. The United States Olympic Committee announced the Class of 2006 inductees, including Olympians Evelyn Ashford , Rowdy Gaines, Bob Hayes , Shannon Miller and Kristi Yamaguchi; Paralympian Diana Golden-Brosnihan; Coach Herb Brooks; Jack Shea in the Veterans categmy; and Special Contributor Dick Ebersol. The Class of 2006 will be honored during the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame Presented by Allstate Induction Ceremony, December 8, 2005 in Chicago , Illinois at the HmTis Theatre.

To date , 182 athletes (including six U.S. teams) and special contributors to the U.S. Olympic Movement have been enshrined From the Charter Class of 1983 to the 2004 inductees Hall members represent an American honor roll of athletic ambassadors to the ideals of brotherhood and fair play. The Class of 2006 inductees each continue that tradition .

/~ SHANNON MILLER

DHL Calls On Olympic And Paralympic Alumni To Help Recommend The Winners Of The 2006 U.S. Olympic And Paralympic Spirit Awards

OHL is proud to deliver the 2006 U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Spirit Awards , honoring Team USA athletes that best represent the "Olympic Spirit" during their pursuit of their Olympic dream. OHL and the USOC encourage all U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Alumni to recommend athletes for the 2006 U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Spirit Awards Delivered by OHL. As past competitors in Olympic and Paralympic Games , almnni serve as the best judge of characteristics that trnly make a candidate worthy of the 2006 Olympic and Paralympic Spirit Award Delivered by OHL. These insights will help ensure that voters can make their decision based on more than camera appeal and that wo1ihy candidates are not overlooked.

AW ARD CRITERIA

The 2006 U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Spirit Award Delivered By OHL vill recognize U.S. Olympians, U.S. Paralympians. and U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Teams who best represent the Olympic Spirit through their courage , commitment, performance, perseverance and vision, both in competition and ir1 pursuit of their Olympic dream.

Toe Olympic Spirit is described as a demonstration of the Olympic Ideals of discipline, vision, persistence , commihnent and focus; and the Olympic values of inspiration , friendship, fair play, perseverance , mutual respect , sacrifice, team work and joy in effort.

Previous winners of the award have demonstrated their Olympic Spirit by succeeding in sport despite significant obstacles or adversity, inspiring a nation with exemplary behavior, or carrying out an accomplishment , deed, perfo1mance or action that changes the face of an Olympic sport.

RECOMMENDATION PROCESS

The recommendation phase for the Olympic Winter Games begins on October 12, 2005 and ruris through February 26, 2006 , closing at the conclusion of the Gold Medal final hockey game The recommendation phase for the Paralympic Winter also begins on October 12 and ruris thru March 19, 2006, closing at the conclusion of the Alpine Skiing Slalom.

To submit recommendations for the 2006 U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Spirit Award recipients, alumni are asked to log on to www.usocspiritawards.com , where they will be asked to provide a short rationale for your recommended athlete or team that exemplifies the Olympic Spirit and is de serving of a 2006 U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Spirit Award )elivered by OHL.

Almnni can also fax their recommendations to Cindy Stinger, Manager of U.S. Olympian s Association, at 719-866-4728.

Instructions: Describe how the selected athlete or team exemplifies the Olympic Spirit and is deservirlg of a 2006 U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Spirit Award Delivered by DHL. (1200 character limit; approximately 200 words)

VO TI NG PROCESS

The winners of 2006 U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Spirit Awards will be selected by consumers , media, Olympic alumni and fellow Team USA athletes through an online voting process and will be announced at the conclusion of the 2006 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

In 2006 , the following will be implemented to ensure the fairness and integrity of the voting process:

- All consumer voters must register to complete a ballot.

- Voting will take place during the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

- All voters will be allowed a single vote per category per day.

- Voting will be weighted, with the votes of members of Olympic and Paralympic alumni , weighing more than consumer votes.

- Toe USOC and DHL will verify affiliation as an Olympic or Paralympic alumni.

- To receive the benefit of weighted votes, all Olympic and Paralympic alumni must vote for award winners through the www usocspiritawards.com site.

DHL will present a total of six Spirit Awards to one U.S . Olympic and Paralympic male athlete , female athlete and Team that best represent the Olympic Spirit through their courage, commihnent , performance , perseverance and vision. Additionally, DHL will provide a grant of$5 ,000 in the name of each athlete or team to a qualified, Olympic-related nonprofit organization of their choice.

As an Official Provider of the U.S. Olympic Team , DHL will fulfill the express shipping needs of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic teams , including the delivery of sporting and medical equipment and team apparel as well as provide express delivery and logistics services to and from Torino for staff of the USOC and NGB, U.S. athletes , volunteers, and attending Olympic and Paralympic sponsors. OHL will have on-site express shipping assistance in Torino for all goods that U .S athletes need to ship home or to their next competition, as well as shipping centers at USA House and the Olympic Athlete Village. For more infonnation about DHL's new marketing program for the 2006 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games , visit www.dhl-usa.com/olympicspirit/

The Alan Webb Story

By ELLIOTT DEN.MA N, Athletics '56

Call Alan Webb a world-class learner.

The nation's fastest miler in over two decades , the 2004 Athens Olympian is learning that it's going to take a lot more than raw talent to snare a place on the medals stand at a major international event.

A finalist in the 1,500 meters at the IAAF World Championships of August 2005 in Helsinki, Finland, he's learning that it's going to take a lot more than one dynamic mid-race spmt to nm away from the pack and then stay there by the finish line.

The nation's most celebrated high school miler since Jim Ryun's high school days in Kansas in the 1960's . He's learning that life away from a college campus and a collegiate supp01t system (he'd withdrawn from the University of Michigan to sign a professional contract) isn 't always the cup of tea some have portrayed it.

But such is life in his sport's fastest lane and Webb wouldn't trade his current position in it for the world. The 22-year-old Olympian out of Reston , Va closed out his 2005 season by running a close second to Australia's Craig Mottram in the Continental Airlines Fifth Avenue Mile, staged by the N ew York Road Runners and run on NYC's famed Fifth Avenue, on Saturday afternoon, Sept. 24th.

Webb bolted out to an early lead , rnnning a 54 -second first quarter -mi le, over the world -class pack and stayed in front until the final 150 meters, where Mottram surgedpasttowinit, 3: 49 9to 3:51.4

A $10.000 bonus would have gone to the winner if he'd broken the event record of 3:47 .52 set by Sydney Maree in 1981. Mottram just missed and runner-up Webb again chalked it up as a learning experience. "I was just thinking I'd get a big enough lead so that they wouldn't catch me , " said Webb after it was over. "It's not that I underestimated anybody else in the race, or that I didn't stay focused enough.'Those last 400 meters, I thought I was alone. I hadn't seen anyone else since the start of the race, except the rabbit (the pacesetting runner who dropped out midway.) "I s01t of lulled myself to sleep , so to speak, so that Craig came by me , he timed it really, really well, and I just didn't have the momentum to stay with him."

Mottram was among the many praising Webb for "making" the race. "Give Alan credit," said the Aussie, who'd won the bronze medal in the 5,000 meters at the 2005 He l sinki Worlds. "Alan ran it the toughest way possible. Running from the front like that is never easy. Even (Hicham) El-Gue1Touj (of Algeria, the world one -mile record holder and Olympic 1,500 and 5,000 meter) has been passed in the home straight." The race was held on a straightaway course but the second 440 is slightly uphill and the third 440 slightly downhill . "I tried to hold my form the best I could, and maintain the momenhun that I'd built: I thought I was going as fast as I could. But I still should have been going the next gear higher, and you saw what happened. "I sh1ck with Craig as long as I could but I knew with 50 to go I had lost it." "All in all , I'm happy." said Webb, looking at the bigger picture; I'd had a pretty good ~"

Did he ever.

He set an American record of 8: 11.48 for two miles at the Prefontaine Classic in Oregon in early June. He won the USA 1,500-meter title three weeks later in 3 :41.04 at Carson , California He lowered his 5,000-meter best to 13 : 10 86 in Berlin He ran a 3 :48.92 mile at Oslo, second fastest by an American in 19 years. And he battled his way into the 1,500-meter final at the World Championships in Helsinki, where another lesson awaited . Dissatisfied with the slow early pace set by the global field, he blazed to the front at the 800-meter mark with a 12.4-second next 100 meters. But it came at a huge cost. He soon began paying the price on legs wearied by the sudden burst and wound up an outclassed ninth place in 3 :41.04 , time that would have been routine for him under other conditions. Championship races these days , however, are invariably decided by last -lap sprint finishes after strategically-run early laps. The 2004 Athens Olympic 1,500 final went that way - El Gue1Touj won in 3:34: 18: the still-learning Webb was caught napping in his first-round trial, got jammed in heavy traffic, and failed to advance.

The 2005 Helsinki 1,500 final went that way, too. This time, Webb 1voided his previous mistakes and fought his way into the 12 -man

CHAPTER NEWS

final. But his burst at the 800 -meter mark spelled disaster. Rashid Ramzi of Bahrain went on to win in 3:37.88: Webb labored on home , ninth in a sub-par 3:41.34

After the Fifth Avenue race , Webb said "my plans are now to take a break: I probab ly won't race again until next year, the only race I have on my calendar is the National Cross Country Championships (early in February at New York's Van C01tlandt Park.) "B etween now and then, I'm going to rest up a little bit and then sta1t training again . "

Webb refuses to get involved in the could a-woulda s of his spo1i. "Yeah, if I had to run that Helsinki final all over again, I wouldn't have changed it. That's the way it is these days. We all know the guy who's leading at the beginning isn't usually the guy who's leading at the end. The man who wins has to be the all-around great runner, he has to know how to run at a fast pace or a slow pace. It was something I needed to do, to see how things worked at that level. It's part ofmy learning as an athlete. Sure it was hard for me, I was running backwa rds as they were running forwards. It was hard for me. Absolutely. But it's part of my education."

Colorado Olympians Attend The Unveiling Of The 2006 Olympic Winter Games Poster

ALUMNI

IN MEMORY

Eugene C. Lenz (swimming , 1960) passed away on October 10 , 2005. Ge ne was born in San Luis Obispo iu 1937 and was rais ed in Santa Maria. He graduated from Cal Poly in 1960 with an Architectural Engineering degree An avid swimmer, Gene was a dominant force in the California State College Swimming Championship s , winning titles in three different events in four consecutive years . While at Cal Poly, Gene held 14 individual records and was the university's first All-Ame1ican swimmer. In 1959 , he competed on the National team in the Pan American Games , and in 1960 repr ese nted the United States in the Olympic Games in Rome.

After the Olympics , Gene did thr ee tour s of duty in Vietnam in the late 1960 's In 1972 , he joined the Fluor Corporation working in constrnction management in Saudi Ara b ia, Indonesia, and the United States In 1988 he retired from construct io n and since then had been a pa1t -time stockbroker with Maguire Investments in Santa Maiia

Settled in Anoyo Grande since 1986 , he took immeasurable joy in spending time w ith his family. Gene had a real zest for life and selfless ly devoted himself to his family church , youth organizations and his alma m ater. He was a kind and loving person with a heait of pur e gold.

He is sm-vived by his loving wife of tw enty five years : Ethel (Simonfy) Lenz.

John H. Slade (field hockey, 1948) a former star athlete in Germany who fled the country in the 1930's and over the next seven decades established a career as a prominent investment banker on Wall Street died on September 14 , 2005 at his home in Manhattan. He was 97 and was believ ed to be the old est active member of the New York Stock Exchange.

In 1948 , at the age of 40 , John competed in th e Olympics as the goalie of the United State s men 's field hockey team. Though the team lost all its games and was eliminated early, Mr. Slade often said that playing there was one of the signal events of his life

IN HONOR

Popovich Named Individual Sports Woman Of The Year

Erin Popovich was chosen from a group of eight of the best female athletes in the world as the winner of the Women's Sports Foundation's Individual Sportswoman of the Year.

Popovich, who won seven gold medals (out of seven events) at the 2004 Paralympic Games in Athens, Greece , received the honor at the 26th Annual Salute to Women in Spmts Award Gala and Auction at the Waldorf-Astmia in New York City on October 17 , 2005.

The other finalist for the award were hmdler Joanna Hayes , snowboarder Lindsey Jacobellis , race car dliver Danica Patrick , skeleton athlete N oelle Pikus-Pace , speedskater Jennifer Rodriguez , figme skater Irina Slutskaya and golfer Annika Sorenstam.

Sports Hall Of Fame Of New Jersey Inducts Wittenberg And Stringer

The Sports Hall of Fame of New Jersey in partnership with the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority and the Meadowlands Regional Chamber of Commerce held their Thiiteenth Annual Induction Reception on Satmday, October 1, 2005 .

Among the inductees were Olympian Henry Wittenberg (wrestling, 1948 (gold) , 1952 (silver) and 2004 U.S Women's Olympic Team assistant coach, C. Vivian Stringer, head coach at Rutgers University.

IN THE NEWS

Olympians, Paralympian Visit Walter Payton High School

United States Olympic Committee Chief Executive Officer Jim Scherr and his twin brother, Bill Scherr , both members of the 1988 U.S. Olympic Wrestling Team; Chicago native and 2002 Olympian Shani Davis; 2004 Paralympic Games bronze medalist April Holmes and Jack O'Callahan, a member of the gold medal -winning 1980 U.S. Olympic Hockey Team visited Walter Payton College Preparatory High Schoo l in Chicago , Illinois on Wednesday October 26th. The session was planned as a component of the USOC's new National Olympic Education Program.

Olympic Values, including inspiration , friendship , fair play, perseverance , mutual respect , sacrifice , hope , dreams , patriotism, unity and joy in effort , serve as the platfo1m for the USOC's National Olympic Education Program Through a multi-year campaign, the USOC seeks to positively impact Americans by show casing and championing the principles associated with the Olympic Movement. In year one (2006), the focus of the USOC initiative will be on the Value of Fair Play, which includes drug -free competition.

Andre Ward Gives The Keynote Address

Olympic gold medalist Andre Ward (boxing , 2004) served as the keynote speaker for the annual Amateur Athletic Union Convention on October 22 at the Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center in Detroit, Michigan. This was the first keynote address for Ward. Ward addressed an audience of over 500 sports administrators and delegates as well as AAU officers. The 21 -year old spoke about his rise from a nineyear-old amateur boxer to an Olympic gold medalist and the people and events that have fmmed him along his journey.

Lance Armstrong Brings Inspiration To Town

Olympic Gold Medalist To Speak At WWU

United State s Equestrian Federation (USEF) President and Olympic Gold medalist

David O'Connor (equestrian , 1996 , ' 00) was the featmed speaker and clinician at William Wood's University 's equestrian academic showcase in Fulton , Missomi on October 29th and 30th

O'Connor is best known for bringing home the first Eventing Olympic Gold Medal for the United States in more than a quarter of a century when he clinched the individual Eventing championship at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney with the best score in Olympic history.

O'Connor spoke about the Equine Industry and also conducted a riding and jumping clinic.

Three-time Olympian Joaquim Cruz Named U.S. Paralympic Track & Field National Team Coach

The U.S. Paralympics, a division of the U.S. Olympic Committee announced that Joaquim Cruz has been named the U.S. Paralympic Track & Field National Team Coach for Ambulatory Athletes.

In his new role , Cruz will serve as the National Team Coach as well as head up the first Paralympic resident program for track and field athletes at the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, California.

A member of the Brazilian Track & Field National Team from 1978 to 1996 , Cruz

won an Olympic gold medal (800m) in Los Angeles , in 1984. He also won an Olympic silver medal (800m) in Seoul , in 1988. Cruz also competed in the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta , where he served as both Track Team Captain and flag bearer for Brazil.

Dawn Allinger Lewis Retires

After more than a decade , and over 100 international matches, Dawn Allinger Lewis (team handball, 1996) announced her official retirement as a player for the USA Team Handball Women's National Team. "Handball has been a life changing experience,"' explains Lewis. "I've traveled all over the world, became familiar with other cultmes , and met amazing people because of sport. Being a paii of this team, I've made a lot of memories that will stay with me forever. That's what I'm really going to miss , creating memories."

Janet Evans Charms Senior Swimmers

Chaiming was the word most often heard after Olympic swimming champion Janet Evans (swimming, 1988, '92, '96) exited the Sand Hollow Aquatics center after staging a brief between-heats clinic for Huntsman World Senior Games swimmers and guests on October 5, 2005.

Other phrases like "bubbly, delightful, down-to -eaiih, absolutely wonderful, unique and refreshing" were among the raves that followed the petite world -record holder's presentation.

"This was fun," said Evans, who just turned 34 a couple of months ago, but looks for all the world like she could make the next Olympic team.

"I really enjoy giving clinics like this," she said as she demonstrated her technique in all fom strokes freestyle , backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly. "Most clinics I do are for the kids I go all over the country doing demonstrations. "It's a nice change to do one for the seniors."

dlRTHS

Manied pairs figure skating Olympia ns Jenni Meno (figur e skating , 1992 . ' 94 '98) and Todd Sand (figure skating 1992 ' 94 , ' 98) would like to announc e the bi1ih of their fir st child , Jack Herny born on Dec ember L 2004.

JENNI MENO AND TODD SAND

OLYMPIC

ALUMNI NEWS

I have some news to share with or announce to my fellow Olympian Alumni:

Please fax or email your latest achievement , promotion, significant life event, maniage , biith, etc; to the U.S. Olympians Association c/ o Cynthia E. Stinger, Manager

fax: 719-866-4728 or email: cindy.stinger@usoc.org

Co lorado Olympians

U.S. OLYMPIAN CHAPTERS

Did y ou !mow that tlz e US O~vmpians have regional chapters thmughout the country? Look for updates on chapt er happenings in future issues of Th e Of;vmpian ! Ify ou would like to find out wh at is happening in y our area, contact:

Pre sid ent : Gene Kotlarek (s kiin g, 1960, '64) (303) -807- 3911

Florida Olympians

Pres ident: Jim Millns (figure skating , 1976) (813) 979 -5608

Georgia Olympians

Pres ident: TBD

Hawaii Olympians

Pre s id ent: Richard " Sonny'' Tanabe (sw imming, 1956) (808) 735-1088

[ndiana Olympians

President : Ollan Cassell (athleti cs , 1964) (317) 466-0444

Midwest Olymp ians

President : Willye White (athletics, 1956, '60 , '64, '68, '72) (773) 651-8267

National Capital Area Olympians

Pre sident: Arlene Limas (ta ek wondo , 1992, '96) (540) 720-1988

New Eng land Area Olympians

Pres ident : TBD

Nortl1em California Olympians

President: Arme Warner Cribbs (swimming , 1960) (650) 856-3200

Oregon Olympians

Pre sident: C lem Eischen (athletics , 1948) (503) 492 -2232

Southern Ca Lifornia Olympians

Pres ident: Cafuy Marino Br adford (ca noe/kayak, 1988, '9:3) (714) 847 -5596

Southwest Olympians

P res ident: Sammy Walker (w eig htlifting , 19 76) (469) 964 -8824

Tri - States O lym pians

President: Otis Davis (athleti cs, 1960) (201) 392 -8448

Utah Olympians

Presid ent: Henry Marsh (at hl et ics, 19 76 , '8 0, '84, '88) (801) 560-8698

Washington State Olympians

P re sident: John Stilling s (rowi ng, 1984) (206) 440 -0708

No chapter in yom area? Interested in starting a chapter? Contact the U.S. Olympians Association office for details at (8 00) 7 17-7555

U.S.

1 OLYMPIC PLAZA

COLORADO SPRINGS COLORADO 80909 -5 760

UNITED STATES OLYMPIC COMMITTEE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

USOC CHAIRMAN

Peter Uebenoth

Bob Ctvrtlik

Erroll Davis

Anita DeFrantz

Jim Easton

.fair Lynch

MatyMcCagg

Jim McCatthy

Mike Plant

Dr. Harold Shapiro

Stephanie Streeter

USOC CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Jim Scherr

U.S. OLYMPIANS OFFICERS

2005-2008

PRESIDENT

Willie Banks (athletics, 1980 , '84. ' 88)

VICE PRESIDENTS

Anne Warner Cribbs (swimming. 1960)

Connie Paraskevin-Young (speedskating, 1980 , '84 / cycling. 1988 , '92, '96)

Carol Lewis (athletics . 1980 , '84 , '88)

Dick Fosbury (athletics , 1968)

Mick i King (diving , 1968 , '72)

Gaty W. Hall Sr. (swimming , 1968, '72, '76)

HONORARY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Dorothy Franey Langkop (speedskating. 1932)

IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT

John Naber (swimming, 1976)

PAST PRESIDENT

Bill Toomey (athletics . 1968)

EDITORIAL STAFF

SENIOR EDITOR

Cynthia E. Stinger (team handball, 1984, '8 8, '92)

PRODUCTION DIRECTOR

Denise O'Shea - O'Shea Design

Photos by; Getty Images & The USOC Library

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