[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 149 (Thursday, October 28, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Pages S13486-S13487]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     IN RECOGNITION OF CAMIE OGREN

 Mr. HOLLINGS. Mr. President, it is my pleasure today to 
recognize an outstanding South Carolina athlete, Camie Ogren. In 
August, Camie brought home gold medals in the tricks event, the jump 
event and the team overall competition in the 1999 World Disabled Water 
Ski Championships in Windsor, England. This was her fifth trip to the 
international competition representing the U.S. Disabled Water Ski 
Team. In 1998, Camie broke the women's world record for slalom at the 
National Disabled Championships in Birmingham, Ala., where she also won 
four gold medals in the leg amputee division.
  Skiing has been an important part of Camie's life since her childhood 
in Windermere, Florida near Orlando, and in the finest athletic spirit, 
she continued to pursue the sport after bone cancer claimed her right 
leg more than 10 years ago when she was 15. Two weeks after her leg was 
amputated, Camie was back in the water and a few months later she 
competed in her first world championship in Australia where she earned 
second and third place honors.
  She moved to Charleston, S.C. a year and a half ago to work with the 
Medical University of South Carolina's Anchors Away program. Operated 
through the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Anchors 
Away allows people with disabilities and their families access to boats 
and other recreational activities, mostly on the water. With her 
expertise, Camie helped Anchors Away form a disabled water ski team 
that competes in national competitions and has also conducted out-of-
town ski clinics in South and North Carolina.

[[Page S13487]]

  Camie is a remarkable person and athlete whose warmth and dedication 
to the sport of water-skiing has endeared her to the Charleston 
community. She serves as a powerful example to persons with 
disabilities of what they can achieve in the realm of competition. 
South Carolina is lucky to have Camie Ogren and her limitless energy in 
advancing her sport and its athletes.

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