[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 10 (Friday, February 8, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Page S543]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         MINNESOTAN TO LEAD THE NATION INTO THE WINTER OLYMPICS

 Mr. DAYTON. Mr. President, as all of America knows, the XIX 
Olympic Winter Games begin tonight in Salt Lake City. For an athlete, 
making the Olympic team is one of the highest possible accomplishments. 
To be chosen by one's teammates to carry the American flag and to lead 
the American team into tonight's opening ceremony is an absolutely 
stratospheric achievement!
  That great honor has been bestowed by the American team on 
Minnesota's Amy Peterson. I wish to pay tribute to her extraordinary 
athletic skills and leadership abilities, and to all the other 
Minnesota athletes competing in this year's Games.
  Amy is a speed skater from Maplewood, MN, who at the age of 30 is 
competing in her fifth Olympics! She has already won a silver medal and 
two bronze medals for the United States, and this year she hopes to cap 
her career with a gold medal. Amy, I hope you achieve your goal. Yet, 
you have already surpassed that high achievement by the honor you 
earned tonight.
  Amy has been called, in recent press reports, ``arguably the greatest 
Winter Olympian in Minnesota history.'' That is quite a distinction, 
since Minnesota has always been one of the best-represented states in 
the Winter Games. Both the 1960 and 1980 gold medal-winning U.S. men's 
hockey teams were spearheaded by Minnesota players and coaches. In the 
most recent Winter Games, Minnesota players led the U.S. women's hockey 
team to win the gold medal. In so many other winter sports, Minnesota 
athletes have excelled. Now, to that roster of great Minnesota athletes 
and leaders, we proudly add the name of Amy Peterson.
  To honor Amy's many accomplishments and her selection by her American 
teammates to lead them, I am having an American flag flown today over 
the U.S. Capitol. When the Games are concluded, I will present this 
flag to Amy. I hope she will fly it proudly for her lifetime, and that 
it will always remind her of this most special night.

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