[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 150 (Thursday, December 7, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2149]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




IN RECOGNITION OF JACOB HEILVEIL, TONY VOLPONTEST AND JENNIFER BUTCHER, 
                     U.S. PARALYMPIC TEAM ATHLETES

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JAY INSLEE

                             of washington

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, December 7, 2000

  Mr. INSLEE. Mr. Speaker, it is with great admiration that I recognize 
these members of the U.S. Paralympic team. These extraordinary athletes 
have overcome great barriers to achieve athletic feats among their 
peers.
  These athletes have recently competed at the Paralympic Games in 
Sydney, Australia, one of the most elite multi-disability sports 
competitions. They have contended with a record setting 3,824 athletes 
from over 120 countries.
  Jacob Heilveil, from Bothell, has competed in several sports 
including basketball and notably as a marathoner. Born in Korea, Jacob 
contracted polio and was left with residual paralysis and the 
determination to succeed. In Sydney, he raced as part of the men's 
wheelchair relay and in the marathon. racing in the paraplegic 
classification, he finished the marathon course in 1 hour, 36 minutes 
and 6 seconds.
  Tony Volpentest, from Mountlake Terrace, is the current world record 
holder in the 200-meter sprint with a time of 23.07 seconds. He 
competed in his first Paralympics in 1992 and has been returning 
successfully since then. In 1996, he won two gold medals and broke both 
world and Paralympic records. His time for the 100-meters, 11.36 
seconds, is barely behind the time for able-bodied athletes, 9.86 
seconds. Tony was born without hands or feet, but that has not stopped 
him from setting new records and frequently beating able-bodied 
athletes at numerous other races. Tony's grandfather, Sam Volpentest, a 
Tri-Cities leader, justifiably expresses his pride in Tony's 
accomplishments.
  Jennifer Butcher came to these games as her first international 
competition. She participated in several swimming events: the 200-meter 
individual medley, 100-meter breaststroke and 50-meter freestyle. 
Jennifer, an Issaquah native, left Sydney with a bronze medal in the 
women's visually impaired class of the 100-meter freestyle. At home in 
Portland, she works at a school for the blind.
  Mr. Speaker, I commend these athletes for their determination, hard 
work and incredible success. I ask my colleagues to join me in saluting 
their fine example of sportsmanship and success on the international 
stage.

                          ____________________