[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 25 (Friday, March 8, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1703-S1704]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    FLORIDA'S 2002 OLYMPIC MEDALISTS

  Mr. NELSON of Florida. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize five 
athletes who recently represented our Nation at the 19th Winter Olympic 
Games in Salt Lake City.
  While the accomplishments of these competitors are exceptional by any 
measure, this group deserves special recognition; that's because 
Garrett Hines, Derek Parra, Jennifer Rodriguez, Brian Shimer and Chris 
Thorpe are Floridians. For the record, Florida sees snow a little more 
often than once every ice age, and the State's highest mountain is but 
a bunny hill compared to the terrain these athletes saw in Utah.
  Nevertheless, these five Floridians won seven medals in the luge, the 
bobsled and on the speed skating oval.
  Garrett Hines, along with teammate Randy Jones, became the first 
black American males to win a medal in the Winter Olympics, as the 
United States took silver in the four-man bobsled. Garrett is the pride 
of Sanford, FL, and I'd like to wish him luck in his future endeavors.
  Similarly, Derek Parra achieved a barrier-breaking milestone, 
becoming the first Hispanic American to medal in the Winter Olympics as 
he won both a gold and silver in speed skating.
  These two pioneers have left a lasting mark on their sports, and I am 
proud to call them Floridians.
  Also, Jennifer Rodriguez, known as ``Miami Ice,'' showed the world 
that South Florida has a place on the Winter Olympic map. After 
becoming the first Hispanic American to compete for the United States 
Winter Olympic Team during the 1998 Games in Japan, Rodriguez not only 
competed in Salt Lake City, she won two speed skating bronze medals.
  Brian Shimer continued the South Florida success, as the Naples 
native took home a bronze in the four-man bobsled. This five-time 
Olympian had never before won a medal, but as the driver in this year's 
bronze medal winning sled, he has realized a career-long goal.
  Finally, Daytona Beach resident Chris Thorpe, added a bronze medal in 
doubles luge to the silver he won four years ago in the Nagano Games. 
Chris has said this will be his last Olympics, and I'd like to wish him 
luck as he finishes his undergraduate degree at the University of 
Florida, Gainesville.
  I applaud the commitment these athletes have shown in reaching the 
pinnacle of their respective sports, and I hope their willingness to 
sacrifice and their determination to succeed motivates all Americans to 
exceed expectations and achieve the extraordinary.
  I would ask to have printed in the Record the names and hometowns of

[[Page S1704]]

these five athletes, along with the events they competed in and the 
medals they won. This group is a portrait of diversity, and as 
representatives of Florida and America, they have made us all very 
proud.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

           Florida Medalists at the 19th Winter Olympic Games

       Garrett Hines, Orlando, FL, Silver, Bobsled, Four-man; 
     Derek Parra, Orlando, FL, Gold, Speed skating, 1,500 meters, 
     Silver, Speed skating, 5,000 meters; Jennifer Rodriguez, 
     Miami, FL, Bronze, Speed skating, 1,000 meters, Bronze, Speed 
     skating, 1,500 meters; Brian Shimer, Naples, FL, Bronze, 
     Bobsled, Four-man; Chris Thorpe, Daytona Beach, FL, Bronze, 
     Luge, Doubles.

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