[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 21 (Thursday, March 5, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1477-S1478]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              NEW HAMPSHIRE'S 1998 OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALISTS

 Mr. SMITH of New Hampshire. Mr. President, I rise today to 
congratulate Sarah Tueting, Gretchen Ulion, Katie King, Tarah Mounsey, 
Tricia Dunn, Sue Merz, Colleen Coyne and Karyn Bye, all distinguished 
athletes, for bringing home an Olympic gold medal in women's hockey. 
This gold medal symbolizes their dedication to excellence, relentless 
drive for greatness and unfailing crusade to become the best of the 
best.
  It is a special honor to have these Granite Staters represent our 
country and the State of New Hampshire while competing in Nagano, 
Japan. Concord's Tara Mounsey and Salem's Katie King both went to Brown 
University in Rhode Island. Tricia Dunn, a resident of Derry graduated 
from the University of New Hampshire.
  I also feel New Hampshire has a special claim to the Olympiads that 
attended Granite State Universities. Sarah Tueting and Gretchen Ulion 
both went to Dartmouth College. Sarah is from Winnetka, Illinois, and 
Gretchen is from Marlborough, Connecticut. Also, Colleen Coyne, Sue 
Merz, and Karyn Bye all went to the University of New Hampshire. 
Colleen is from East Falmouth, Massachusetts, Sue is from Greenwich, 
Connecticut, and Karyn is from River Falls, Wisconsin.
  The team was a strong medal contender coming into the Games, however, 
the Canadian team had a stronger pre-Olympic record. Nonetheless, they 
beat the odds and prevailed. Team USA went undefeated, winning the 
final gold medal game against Team Canada, 3 to 1.
  Their triumph created an immediate boom to women's hockey. Like 
pioneers, they have forged ahead in a sport historically not common for 
women and have proven to the world that it is no longer a sport just 
for men. As a result, they have become a catalyst for significant 
change in the interest of women's hockey. Already, local skating rinks 
across the country are reporting huge increases in lesson sign-ups.
  These young Americans have reached the pinnacle of success, achieved 
what most only dream about, and have proven once again that Americans 
continue to achieve great feats. They are very much like diplomats, 
proudly representing America and delivering a superb performance in the 
world arena of Olympiads.
  This Olympic team best exemplifies the qualities of a winning team. 
Four words come to mind that best represent the tools they used to 
bring home the gold: teamwork, dedication, hard work, and perseverance. 
Their attributes are an example for all that inspire others to succeed 
and reach that dream of dreams.
  As a participant in the Olympics, they have joined an elite group of 
athletes who have continued a tradition rooted since the days of the 
ancient Greeks. The Olympics are a time when countries come together 
and put aside their differences to celebrate not only competition but 
humanity. It is a gathering of diverse cultures, beliefs and

[[Page S1478]]

traditions which are brought together for a common cause. This event, 
for which these women have worked so hard is one of the few times the 
world can concur this way. To not only attend the Olympics but to win a 
gold medal is an honor of which they should all be proud.
  Mr. President, I want to congratulate Sarah Tueting, Tarah Mounsey, 
Tricia Dunn, Sue Merz, Colleen Coyne and Karyn Bye for their 
outstanding accomplishments and I am proud to represent them in the 
U.S. Senate.

                          ____________________