[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 7 (Thursday, February 5, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Page S458]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                           VERMONT OLYMPIANS

 Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, I would like to take a moment to 
honor the twenty-two Vermonters who will be representing our country 
this week at the XVIIIth Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan. Perhaps 
Chris Graff of the Associated Press said it best when he noted in an 
article that appeared in the Rutland Herald that Vermont produces more 
than its share of Olympians, ``. . . a fact that should surprise no 
one. There is something about Vermonters and the Vermont spirit that is 
so keenly associated with the Olympic spirit.'' Maybe it is the mix of 
severe weather, Yankee stubbornness, and that New England work ethic 
that instills in Vermonters an appreciation for hard work and 
perseverance.
  Representing Vermont on the U.S. Men's Ice Hockey Team is the now 
famous John LeClair from St. Albans. LeClair may play professional 
hockey for the Philadelphia Flyers, but he has never forgotten his 
roots in the small city of St. Albans. John donates his time and 
expertise to the people of Franklin County throughout the year. His 
skill and All-American image have brought civility and a touch of New 
England neighborliness to the most unlikely of sports. For the first 
time ever, the National Hockey League is competing in the Olympics. 
Vermonters are rooting for John LeClair to leave a lasting impression.
  If there is one thing Vermonters excel at it is getting through snow, 
so it makes sense that Vermont is well represented on the U.S. Olympic 
Cross Country Ski Teams. Four Vermonters will be on the team; Marc 
Gilbertson and Laura Wilson of Montpelier, Kerrin Petty from Townshend, 
and Suzanne King of East Warren. This is Marc's first time as a member 
of a U.S. national team and I admire his grit in going after his 
Olympic dream. Laura, Kerrin and Suzanne will bring experience to the 
women's team and are aiming to show the world what Vermont women are 
made of.
  The Nordic Combined event has Norwich native Tim Tetreault competing. 
Tim's parents Tom and Anne will be going to Japan this week to watch 
their son, who has been skiing since he was five, compete in his third 
Olympic games. The Freestyle U.S. Ski teams also include four skiers 
and a head coach from Vermont. Ann Battelle from Williston got hooked 
on skiing during her years at Champlain Valley Union High School and 
has never looked back. Jim Moran of Stowe and Evan Dybvig of Turnbridge 
who have both spent many cold hours conquering the slopes of Stowe, 
will also be competing. Donna Weinbrecht, another team member, knows 
well all the steep trails and sharp twists at Killington mountain. The 
four will be joined by coach Jeff Good from Williston.
  Skiing comes naturally for Vermonters, but add a rifle and you have a 
sport Vermonters can really get behind! Seven Vermonters will be doing 
just that on the U.S. Biathlon teams--Dan Westover from Colchester, 
Robert Rosser of Underhill, Kristina Viljanen-Sabasteanski of Richmond, 
Deborah Nordyke from Jericho, Kara Salmela of Bolton Valley, Algis 
Shalna (head coach) from Williston, and Timothy Derrick (assistant 
Coach) of Jericho. Head Coach Shalna brings with him Olympic experience 
having competed for the Soviet Union's Gold Medal winning team in the 
1984 Winter Olympics. The group has been training at a state-of-the-art 
Vermont National Guard facility in Jericho--which will be hosting the 
World Junior Biathlon Championships just after the Olympics.
  New to the Olympics but familiar to Vermont is snowboarding. As the 
birth place of this sport and home to Jake Burton's renowned snowboard 
company, it is appropriate that Vermont will be sending three talented 
competitors as part of the first U.S. Snowboarding Team. Ross Powers 
from South Londonderry, Ron Chiodi of Rochester, and Betsy Shaw of East 
Dorset will be traveling to Nagano this week. Ross knows all about 
travel since snowboarding has taken him all over the world. He will 
celebrate his nineteenth birthday on February 10th and be joined by his 
mother, Nancy, in Japan. East Dorset will be cheering for their 
neighbor, Betsy, who has ``surfed'' mountains all over the globe but 
knows the ones in Southern Vermont best. Ron too will bring his Vermont 
experience at Stratton Mountain with him to the Olympics.
  Also going to Nagano, Japan is Vermonter Kathryn Vigesna Lipke of 
Belvidere. She will be serving as one of five international jurors who 
will judge the snow-sculpting competitions. Having lived in the 
mountains of Belvidere with its snowy peaks and dense woods, Kathryn 
will make an excellent judge of cold weather beauty.
  I am truly proud of the athletes Vermont is sending to the Olympics. 
I commend them for their hard work and the example they set for 
Vermonters and for athletes everywhere, and join all Vermonters in 
wishing them the best in the 1998 Winter Olympics.

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