[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 22 (Monday, February 27, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Page S1502]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO ERIC NAMESNIK

 Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, I, along with my colleague Senator 
Stabenow, would like to take this opportunity to bring our colleagues' 
attention to a tragic event that took place last month in Pittsfield 
Township, MI. On January 11, 2006, Eric Namesnik, a two-time Olympic 
silver medalist and University of Michigan swimming standout, died from 
injuries sustained during a traffic accident on January 7. Eric was 
best known in the swimming community for his discipline, toughness, 
tremendous dedication, and many accomplishments, most notably in the 
1992 and 1996 Olympic Games. During his career, Eric broke the American 
400-meter Individual medley, IM, record four times. Eric, 
affectionately known by many as ``Snik,'' was remembered by his family, 
friends and the community in a celebration of his life at Canham 
Natatorium at the University of Michigan on January 17.
  Eric was born in Butler, PA, on August 7, 1970, and enrolled at the 
University of Michigan in 1988. As a Wolverine, Snik helped lead the 
men's swim team to four straight Big Ten Championships and enjoyed the 
distinction of finishing in the top six nationally during all 4 of his 
years at Michigan. In 1991 and 1993, Eric earned the No. 1 world 
ranking in the 400-meter IM. Eric won silver in the 400-meter IM in the 
1992 Olympics in Barcelona and in the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta. Eric 
also won two silver medals at the 1991 world championships and a bronze 
medal at the 1994 world championships.
  To give you a sense of Eric as a person, Chuck Wielgus, executive 
director of USA Swimming, offered these words. ``The loss of Eric 
Namesnik is shocking for the entire swimming community. Snik 
represented everything great about the Olympic movement. His work 
ethic, toughness and dedication were the embodiment of an Olympian, and 
they made him one of the most admired competitors the sport of swimming 
has seen.'' His long-time coach at Michigan, Jon Urbanchek, said of 
Eric, ``What he did for Michigan is immeasurable. It's not just how 
fast he swam, but the good person he was, the character. He had his 
life in perspective and knew that his family was at the center of his 
life. Eric was an unbelievable human being.''
  After Eric's competitive swimming career ended, he accepted a 
position as an assistant swim coach at the University of Michigan. From 
1997 to 2004, he helped coach 11 Olympians, and the Wolverines won 
three Big Ten titles. After coaching at Michigan for 7 years, Eric 
became the head coach of the Wolverine Aquatics Swim Club in Ann Arbor 
and an assistant men's swimming coach at Eastern Michigan University.
  Eric's love for swimming was evidenced not only by his many 
accomplishments throughout his long and distinguished career in the 
pool, but also by his efforts to help shape the lives of many young 
people learning the sport. At Wolverine Aquatics, Eric served as an 
inspirational role model for hundreds of up-and-coming swimmers. Today, 
his swimmers are wearing blue wristbands inscribed ``Swim 4 Snik'' in 
his honor and swim caps with the words ``Snik'' and one of Eric's 
mantras: ``D3,'' which stands for desire, determination and dedication.
  In keeping with the kind of person Eric was, his last act was to give 
life to others through the gift of organ donation. He is survived by 
his wife Kirsten, their two young children, Austin and Madison, his 
mother and father, Kay and John, and his sister Leesa. Mr. President, 
Eric Namesnik's medals may have been silver but his heart was pure 
gold. He will be deeply missed.

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