[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 21 (Wednesday, March 2, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: March 2, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
 CONGRATULATIONS TO THE ATHLETES COMPETING IN THE 1994 WINTER OLYMPIC 
                                 GAMES

  Mr. FEINGOLD. Madam President, I would like to take a brief moment to 
congratulate all of the athletes who competed in Lillehammer, Norway, 
the last several weeks who have made this year's winter Olympic games 
such a success and pleasure to watch.
  The Olympic games provide the world a friendly forum in which nations 
can showcase their people's athletic talents and compete with each 
other in a noncombative and productive manner. Over the years the 
Olympics have symbolized that at least for a few weeks every 4 years 
the nations of the world can come together and forget their differences 
and compete in a spirited and peaceful fashion.
  We know that the American team made a strong showing in this year's 
winter games, and I was proud to see that athletes from the State of 
Wisconsin were again able to make significant contributions to the 
team. I am honored to represent the State of Wisconsin which produced 
close to 20 Olympic team athletes who either grew up in the Badger 
State or adopted it as their home in order to train for the 
competition. In particular, I would like to commend two of these 
athletes who were the true American heroes of this year's winter 
Olympics--Bonnie Blair and Dan Jansen--who combined to win half of 
America's gold medals.
  Bonnie Blair's two gold medals in the women's 500 and 1000 meter 
speed skating competitions made her the first American woman to capture 
five gold medals. Although Bonnie hails from Wisconsin's neighbor to 
the south, Illinois, she has made the Milwaukee area her home and has 
practiced at the training rink located in West Allis, WI--the same 
facility which helped produce previous Wisconsin skating greats such as 
Eric and Beth Heiden of Madison, WI.
  Bonnie's achievement was matched only by the emotional triumph of 
another American speed skater--Dan Jansen--who grew up in West Allis 
and now makes Greenfield, WI his home. The entire world was moved with 
Dan's persistent efforts at achieving his goal of winning a gold medal. 
After 10 years and four winter Olympic games, Dan met this goal by 
setting a world record in the men's 1000-meter speed skating 
competition. By now we all know what Dan had to overcome to achieve 
this victory and we shared in Dan's and the Jansen family's grief 
resulting from the tragic loss of his sister Jane during the 1988 
winter games at Calgary.
  But Dan never gave up and rose to the occasion during his final 
Olympic race, skating to a long awaited gold medal while setting an 
example that we can all learn from as well. Who could not share in the 
joy of watching him skate his long deserved victory lap with his 9-
month-old daughter Jane in one hand and the American flag in the other. 
That victory lap made me realize once again how lucky I am to be able 
to represent individuals such as Dan Jansen who possess the warmth, 
courage and spirit that so many Wisconsinites share. Together Dan, 
Bonnie and the rest of the Wisconsin athletes carried the proud 
Wisconsin athletic tradition of excellence forward. I look forward to 
seeing this tradition and success continued in the years ahead.
  I thank the Chair, and I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Montana.

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