[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 29 (Thursday, February 12, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E256-E257]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 CONGRATULATING ERIN HAMLIN ON WINNING THE 41ST LUGE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. MICHAEL A. ARCURI

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, February 12, 2009

  Mr. ARCURI. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize an outstanding 
young athlete, Erin Hamlin, on her victory in the 41st Luge World 
Championship in Lake Placid, New York on February 6th, 2009.
  Erin snapped a twelve-year German winning streak by posting times of 
44.113 and 43.985 seconds, a new Lake Placid track record, for a 
combined time of one minute, 28.098 seconds. She is one of only two 
U.S. athletes ever to win a luge world crown.

[[Page E257]]

  Madam Speaker, I am proud to represent Erin, who was born in New 
Hartford and raised in Remsen, both in New York's 24th Congressional 
District. In 1999, at the age of 12, Erin was introduced to the sport 
of luge through a Verizon/USA Luge Slider Search in Syracuse, New York. 
After being selected to a development team, she began training in Lake 
Placid.
  Erin earned two Junior National Championship titles and a collection 
of Junior World Cup medals as a member of the U.S. Junior National Team 
from 2003 to 2006 and as a competitor on the Junior World Cup Circuit 
from 2002 to 2005. After making the World Cup Team in the fall of 2005, 
Erin earned a spot on the 2006 Olympic Team. At the Winter Games in 
Torino, Italy she slid to a 12th place finish, and was named to the 
Senior National Team the following season. Erin is also the reigning 
2008 Verizon U.S. National Champion.
  The accomplishments of Erin and the entire USA Luge team cannot be 
applauded without commending the efforts of their coaching staff. 
Senior National Team Head Coach Wolfgang Schaedler, Assistant Coach 
Klim Gatker, and Team Manager Fred Zimny guided the USA Luge team to 
victory this year. On behalf of my colleagues in Congress and all of 
Upstate New York, I wish to congratulate this team on their success and 
recognition.
  Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues join me in congratulating Erin 
Hamlin and the entire USA Luge Team, and to support them in their 
future endeavors as they continue to inspire athletes across the 
country.

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