[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 17 (Tuesday, February 26, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E189]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    IN HONOR OF VONETTA FLOWERS, RECIPIENT OF AN OLYMPIC GOLD MEDAL

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                         HON. EARL F. HILLIARD

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 26, 2002

  Mr. HILLIARD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to 
Vonetta Flowers, a gold medalist in the women's bobsled event during 
the nineteenth Winter Olympiad in Park City Utah. On Tuesday, February 
19, 2002, Ms. Flowers became the first African American to win a Winter 
Olympic Gold Medal.
  Vonetta's journey to Olympic triumph is one that is analogous to that 
of many other famous tract stars who have come before her. While 
competing at the 2000 Olympic track and field trials in the long jump 
event, she saw a flyer for the bobsled team. As a lark she decided to 
try out and quickly mastered the six-event test that includes 
sprinting, jumping, and throwing a shot thus earning her a trial on the 
Olympic bobsled track. With only 2 weeks of training on how to push a 
bobsled, Vonetta and her teammate broke the world start record in 
October 2000. Later that season the team won four World medals and 
finished the year ranked third in the world.
  A 4-year letter winner at the University of Alabama at Birmingham 
(UAB), Ms. Flowers is a seven time NCAA All American. During her 
college career she competed in long jump, triple jump, 100 meters, 200 
meters and relay teams. She competed in the 2000 Olympic trials in long 
jump, where she finished 12th. She also won a Gold Medal at the 1994 
Olympic festival in the long jump. Currently, Vonetta is an assistant 
track coach at UAB.
  A native of Birmingham, AL, Vonetta attended Jackson-Olin High School 
where she was an All-State basketball player and member of the 
Birmingham Striders Track Club. She is married to Mr. Johnny Mack 
Flowers and is the daughter of Jimmie and Barbara Jeffrey.
  Today, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Vonetta Flowers for 
her monumental achievement and superior athletic performance.

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