[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 110 (Wednesday, September 15, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Pages S9321-S9322]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 COMMENDING MARYLAND'S OLYMPIANS ON THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENTS AT THE 2004 
                 SUMMER OLYMPIC GAMES IN ATHENS, GREECE

  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Res. 426, submitted 
earlier today by Senators Sarbanes and Mikulski.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 426) commending Maryland's Olympians 
     on their accomplishments at the 2004 Summer Olympic Games in 
     Athens, Greece.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. SARBANES. Mr. President, I rise today to commend the American 
athletes for their participation in the 2004 Olympic Games. These 
athletes made us proud not only of their victories, but also of their 
sportsmanship. The heart, focus and perseverance exhibited by these men 
and women offered us an opportunity to reflect on the values and 
characteristics that embody the very best of the American Spirit.
  All of our athletes should be commended, but because they played a 
very prominent role in these games, I want to take a moment to 
acknowledge the hard work and dedication of Maryland's Olympic 
athletes. This year, we were very fortunate to have fourteen 
Marylanders compete. This group of athletes, which included both the 
youngest and the oldest members of the U.S. team, represented Maryland 
and the United States with honor and dignity and excelled in their 
various competitions. Marylanders participated in a variety of sports 
ranging from swimming and track and field, to whitewater slalom 
canoeing and table tennis. Our State boasted household names like 
Michael Phelps and Carmelo Anthony as well as rising stars like Bernard 
Williams and Courtney Kupets. The delegation included individuals from 
all over the State, from the City of Annapolis to Howard County, from 
Bethesda to Gaithersburg to Baltimore City, and from Upper Marlboro to 
Towson and Abingdon.

[[Page S9322]]

  And although they come from a diversity of backgrounds, each 
demonstrated the common spirit of what it means to be a true Olympian. 
We saw that spirit in Carmelo Anthony's refusal to quit after the men's 
basketball team suffered a series of difficult and surprising losses. 
We saw it in the decisions of Liz Filter and Nancy Haberland to compete 
in the face of challenging life circumstances. It was reflected in the 
wisdom and experience of Libby Callahan as well as the youthful 
exuberance of 15 year-old swimmer Katie Hoff. It shined through Jun Gao 
when on day four of the table tennis competition, as the only member of 
the U.S. team still in competition, she shouldered the hopes of her 
teammates.
  The Olympic spirit was further reflected in paddlers Joe Jacobi and 
Scott Parsons, who focused on the experience and joy of the 
performance. Courtney Kupets and Rhadi Ferguson showed enormous bravery 
by overcoming serious injuries to make the U.S. team and compete for 
their country. Ms. Kupets brought home two medals, a silver in the team 
competition and a bronze in the individual uneven bars. And Michael 
Phelps, who won six gold and two bronze medals, showed that the team is 
more important than individual accomplishment when he yielded his spot 
on the 4 x 100 medley relay squad and an opportunity for further glory 
to teammate Ian Crocker.
  Finally, Maryland's track and field athletes should be commended for 
their heart and concentration. Tiombe Hurd, who is legally blind, 
overcame her vision obstacles to finish 22nd in a crowded triple jump 
field. Bernard Williams and James Carter, who hail from Baltimore 
public schools, Carver Vocational-Technical High School and 
Mergenthaler Vocational-Technical High School, showed the world the 
kind of talent and poise Baltimore City's public schools can produce, 
taking home a silver in the 200 meter sprint and a fourth place finish 
in the 400 meter hurdles.
  Maryland, and America, should be proud of their Olympic athletes. 
Through their actions both on and off the field of competition, they 
exhibited the grace, sportsmanship, and determination that signify a 
true Olympian. Congratulations are due to all of our athletes both for 
their individual successes and for the way they, as a team, showed the 
world the best our nation has to offer.
  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution 
and preamble be agreed to en bloc, the motion to reconsider be laid 
upon the table, and that any statements relating thereto be printed in 
the Record, without intervening action or debate.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 426) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 426

       Whereas the 2004 Summer Olympic Games, which recently 
     concluded in Athens, Greece, was a resounding success;
       Whereas the athletes of the United States who participated 
     in the 2004 Summer Olympic Games reflected the ideals of the 
     Olympic movement by exhibiting determination, honor, 
     sportsmanship, and excellence throughout the competitions;
       Whereas Maryland's athletes played a prominent role in the 
     2004 Summer Olympic Games and represented the talent and 
     diversity of the athletes of the United States;
       Whereas markswoman Libby Callahan of Upper Marlboro, 
     through her wisdom and experience, and swimmer Katie Hoff of 
     Abingdon, through her youthful exuberance, both displayed the 
     spirit of Olympic competition;
       Whereas Liz Filter, from Stevensonville, and Nancy 
     Haberland, who coaches the Naval Academy sailing team, both 
     displayed the Olympic spirit in their decisions to 
     participate in the sailing competitions in the face of 
     challenging life circumstances;
       Whereas Jun Gao of Gaithersburg shone with Olympic spirit 
     when, on day 4 of the table tennis competition, as the only 
     remaining member of the United States table tennis team left 
     in competition, she shouldered the hopes of her teammates;
       Whereas paddlers Joe Jacobi and Scott Parsons, both from 
     Bethesda, reflected the Olympic spirit by focusing on the 
     experience and joy of their performances and the opportunity 
     to compete on the world stage;
       Whereas Baltimore's Carmelo Anthony displayed the Olympic 
     spirit in his refusal to quit after the men's basketball team 
     suffered a series of difficult and surprising losses;
       Whereas gymnast Courtney Kupets of Gaithersburg and Judo 
     competitor Rhadi Ferguson of Columbia demonstrated enormous 
     bravery by overcoming serious injuries to make the United 
     States team and compete for their country and, in the case of 
     Ms. Kupets, to medal in 2 events;
       Whereas Towson swimmer Michael Phelps, who won 6 gold and 2 
     bronze medals, showed that the team is more important than 
     individual accomplishment when he yielded his spot on the 4 x 
     100 medley relay squad and an opportunity for further glory 
     to allow teammate Ian Crocker to compete and be part of a 
     winning effort in the finals;
       Whereas Tiombe Hurd of Upper Marlboro, who is legally 
     blind, showed tremendous heart and courage by overcoming her 
     vision impairment to finish 22nd in a crowded triple jump 
     field;
       Whereas Bernard Williams, who brought home a silver in the 
     200 meter sprint, and James Carter, who finished fourth in 
     the 400 meter hurdles, did their Baltimore alma maters, 
     Carver Vocational-Technical High School and Mergenthaler 
     Vocational-Technical High School, proud by showing enormous 
     poise and grit in the face of stiff competition;
       Whereas the people of Maryland take great pride in these 
     athletes and the communities that helped to nurture and 
     support them through their years of training, and celebrate 
     their successes and achievements; and
       Whereas the people of Maryland send their best wishes for 
     success to Maryland's 6 Paralympic athletes--Antoinette 
     Davis, Jessica Long, Joseph Aukward, Larry Hughes, Tatyana 
     McFadden, and Susan Katz--as they head to Athens for the 
     Paralympic Games, which are set to begin on September 17, 
     2004: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate commends the athletes of Maryland 
     for the grace, sportsmanship, and determination they 
     exhibited throughout the 2004 Summer Olympic Games and for 
     the accomplishments that flowed from maintaining that Olympic 
     spirit on and off the field of competition.

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