[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 130 (Tuesday, October 17, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1804-E1805]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         PAUL HAMM'S 2000 SUMMER OLYMPIC PERFORMANCE APPLAUDED

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. GERALD D. KLECZKA

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, October 17, 2000

  Mr. KLECZKA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor an outstanding young 
man from my district who has recently returned from Sydney, Australia, 
where he represented his country proudly in Olympic competition. In 
August Paul Hamm, along with his brother Morgan, became the first set 
of twins to ever qualify for the United States' men's gymnastics team. 
At 18, the young men from Waukesha, Wisconsin, are also the second 
youngest male gymnasts in U.S. Olympic history.
  Paul's overall performance earned him a 14th place finish in the all 
around competition. The Olympics are always a time of pride in our 
nation's athletes, however this was especially true for the people of 
southeastern Wisconsin this summer. Paul and Morgan's story gave us all 
another reason to watch and cheer for two of our own.
  Paul has put years of hard work and dedication into perfecting the 
skills that have taken him to the pinnacle of his sport. He has worked 
with his coach, Stacy Maloney, since the age of six to earn the right 
to compete with the best in the world. To reach the Olympic stature at 
such a young age and with relatively little experience in major events 
is truly amazing.
  Of course Paul would not have been able to reach the heights that he 
has attained without a strong support system. The natural competition 
he had with his brother Morgan pushed them both to be their best. Their 
parents, Sandy and Cecily, are to be commended for the sacrifices that 
they have made to help their sons reach their goals. From the time 
Sandy convinced Stacy Maloney to coach his six year old sons to the 
trip to Sydney, the Hamms have provided their sons with the opportunity 
to excel.
  Paul is not only an exceptional athlete, he is also a role model for 
the young people of America. Despite squeezing two daily practices in 
between his classes, he is an honor student at Waukesha South High 
School. Even though he has missed the entire fall semester, he intends 
to graduate with the rest of his class next spring. Paul's successes, 
both in the gym and in the classroom, prove just how much can be 
accomplished through hard work and dedication.
  And so it is with great pleasure that I congratulate Paul Hamm on his 
Olympic accomplishments, and wish him all the best as he looks forward 
to a long career leading the U.S. men's gymnastics team into the new 
century.

[[Page E1805]]



                          ____________________