[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 53 (Wednesday, April 2, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E493]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  HONORING LAURYN WILLIAMS OF HOUSTON, TEXAS: 3-TIME OLYMPIAN, RECORD-
SETTING ATHLETE, AND MENTOR AND ROLE MODEL FOR YOUNG PERSONS THE WORLD 
                                  OVER

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. SHEILA JACKSON LEE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, April 2, 2014

  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in order to not only recognize 
but also honor Ms. Lauryn Williams for her extraordinary Olympic 
achievements and leadership.
  Lauryn Williams is one of the greatest athletes in the history of 
track and field; a three-time Olympian, the Silver Medalist in the 100 
meters at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens and a member of the team 
that won the Gold Medal in the 4 100 meters relay at 2012 Olympic Games 
in London.
  As a collegian at the University of Miami from which she graduated 
with a B.A. in Finance, Lauryn Williams won the 100 meters at the 2004 
NCAA Championship and followed that performance the next year by 
winning the Gold Medal in the 100 meters at the 2005 World Championship 
Games in Helsinki, Finland.
  She solidified her place at the top of her sport in 2006 by winning 
Silver medals in the 6o meters at both the World Indoor Championships 
and the U.S. Championship.
  In 2004, Lauryn Williams ran the fastest legal-wind time and the 
second fastest time in the world that year. She was named the 2004 Big 
East Most Outstanding Performer and honored as the 2004 Athlete of the 
Year by the Sports Council.
  In 2007, at the World Championships in Osaka, Lauryn Williams once 
again showed that she is one the best. Using great form and her will to 
succeed, she took the Silver medal in one of the closest finishes ever 
seen in the history of track and field.
  Lauryn Williams is one of only five persons in history to medal in 
both the Summer and Winter Olympic Games.
  In December 2013, Lauryn Williams embarked upon the World Cup Race 
Circuit and won 2 silver and 1 gold medal in the four races.
  In January 2014, she was named to the USA Olympic Bobsled Team 
representing the United States with just six (6) total months of 
participation in the sport.
  Paired with Elana Meyers in the BMW USA-1 sled, Lauryn Williams won 
the Silver medal at the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia, 
missing out on winning the Gold Medal by a mere 0.10 second.
  As a three-time Olympian, Lauryn Williams knows the hard work and 
dedication required to take bobsled to the next level and bring home a 
medal; she has a work ethic matched by few.
  From an early age, her parents stressed the importance of education 
and the message stuck. While succeeding on the track, she also 
succeeded and excelled in the classroom.
  She received her Bachelor of Science in Finance from the University 
of Miami in 2004, and even gave the commencement address at her own 
graduation. She also obtained a Florida Real Estate Sale Associate 
license in 2006.
  Additionally, during the 2008 Olympic year, while training full time 
to make the Olympic team, she also managed to simultaneously work on a 
Master of Business Administration degree, which she received from the 
University of Phoenix, AZ in 2009.
  Recently, Lauryn Williams was struck with a passion for empowering 
athletes with financial literacy and stability so she completed the 
course work for Certified Financial Planning and will soon take the 
exam for CFP certification.
  After Lauryn Williams returned home from the Sochi Olympic Games, she 
turned her focus to working with Olympians and other athletes to 
improve their financial literacy and stability in an effort to continue 
making a difference in the sporting world.
  Lauryn's inspiring story of hard work, dedication and perseverance 
will motivate and inspire people of all ages.
  Mr. Speaker, Lauryn Williams has been the recipient of many honors, 
including: Pennsylvania Sportswoman of the Decade 2009; member Iron 
Arrow Honor Society, highest honor attainable at The University of 
Miami; Jefferson Award for Public Service Dream Team 2009; Miami Alumni 
Association William R. Butler Community Service Award 2008; Women in 
Sports Foundation honoree 2007; Visa Humanitarian 2006; Dapper Dan 
Sports woman of the year 2005; Runner's World-Hero of Running 2005; 
University of Miami Athletic Department Community Service Award 2002-
2003.
  Mr. Speaker, as an athlete Lauryn Williams represented our country 
with skill and grace and excellence and has earned the respect and 
affection of millions around the world. I take pride in saluting the 
remarkable achievements of this remarkable woman and world class 
athlete.

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