[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 150 (Tuesday, October 20, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Page S12733]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                             ERIN POPOVICH

 Mr. BAUCUS. Mr. President, Butte, Montana has a long history 
of excellence in sports and the cultivation of champions. On Sunday, 
October 11, 1998 in Christchurch, New Zealand, a young champion from 
Butte won a gold medal in the 200-meter individual medley at the 
Paralympic World Swimming Championships. At age 13, Erin Popovich 
obtained a gold medal with her personal best time of 3:32.45, 
shattering her previous mark of 3:37.18 which had been a world record.
  On Thursday, October 15 Erin significantly added to her trophy case 
by winning gold medals in the 50-meter freestyle and 50-meter butterfly 
races. The Butte Central Junior High 8th Grader improved on her United 
States record time in the 50-meter butterfly with a time of 45.63. She 
also recorded a personal best in her 50-meter freestyle with a time of 
37.54. In the freestyle Erin was in second place until the final 4 
meters when she went on to win the gold. Erin also won a bronze medal 
in the 100-meter freestyle and helped win a gold for the women's 200-
meter team freestyle relay.
  The most amazing aspect of this is that Erin only started 
competitively swimming 10 months ago when she joined the Butte Tarpons 
Swim Club, under the direction of Swim Coach Marie Cook and Assistant 
Coach Bill Sever. She is a natural athlete, but her true strength lies 
in her dedication. ``Her determination is her strength,'' Coach Cook 
says. ``Her mental attitude is just tough.'' Erin's focus provides an 
excellent example for her teammates, Coach Cook says. ``The kids on 
this team don't think of her as disabled . . . when she gets on the 
blocks with taller kids you can see it--she's such an inspiration to 
everyone.''
  Erin, who is the daughter of Dr. Keith and Barbara Popovich, is only 
one of 30 swimmers to qualify for the United States Disabled Team. The 
Paralympics features 585 swimmers from 55 countries.
  I want to join with her family and friends and all the Butte Tarpon 
Swimmers in congratulating Erin on her tremendous success. Erin has 
proven herself as a World Champion and as one of Butte, Montana's 
finest.

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