[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 37 (Thursday, March 1, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1306-S1307]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



       Congratulating Team USA and the Minnesota Olympic Athletes

  Ms. KLOBUCHAR. Mr. President, I rise today to congratulate Team USA 
and to recognize the contributions of so many Minnesotans at the 2018 
Olympic Winter Games in South Korea.
  I am happy to be joined here by my Senate colleague from Minnesota, 
Senator Smith. Why are Senator Smith and I here today? We are here 
because we had an incredible Olympics, with Minnesota really leading 
the way when it came to the gold medals.
  Of course, our State is no stranger to the Olympics. We have sent 
athletes to compete in women's basketball and cycling. But it shouldn't 
be a surprise that it is the Winter Olympics where the bold northern 
State really shines. We have a couple of things going for us. The 
weather is kind of cold. There is snow, so people are able to practice. 
We also have a great athletic program at our high schools, and we have 
a lot of team spirit, which is especially helpful in the teams we were 
a part of that won the gold, including men's curling and women's 
hockey.
  Of the 243 athletes who were on Team USA, 23 have ties to Minnesota, 
making it the third highest represented State. These athletes competed 
at the highest level and showed the world just what our State could do. 
If Minnesota were competing as a country, it would be tied for 12th, 
globally in the number of gold medals won. But we are not a country; we 
are a proud State. This success is something all Minnesotans can 
celebrate.
  Mr. President, here are some examples for you. Winning a gold medal 
was a first for Afton native Jessie Diggings and a first for the United 
States. Her road to the Olympics started on the cross-country skiing 
trails that cover Minnesota. Jessie worked to keep spirits high in 
training and during the Olympic competition. She put glitter on her 
cheeks as a reminder of what made her fall in love with cross-country 
skiing as a little girl. Her relentless energy and drive were on full 
display. She and her teammate, Kikkan Randall, became the first 
Americans to bring home a gold in cross-country team history. It is no 
surprise that they voted Jessie to be the flag-bearer for the closing 
ceremony.
  Jessie and Kikkan weren't the only American women to bring home gold. 
The women's hockey team won their first gold medal since 1998.
  It is no coincidence that the ``State of Hockey'' sent some serious 
talent. The American team included six current or former Gopher College 
players and two current or former Minnesota Duluth players. From 
Warroad to Minnetonka, the Minnesotans on Team USA brought pond hockey 
toughness and the experience that comes from growing up on the ice. 
This gold medal will help inspire the next generation of hockey players 
in Minnesota.
  I want to make a special note of our incredible goalie, Maddie 
Rooney. If anyone stayed up--which I did--to watch that shootout at the 
end, she showed such poise and such grace under pressure.
  I also want to make a little note of Warroad, MN, which produced the 
incredible Gigi Marvin, along with many other gold medalists from the 
past.
  While Americans were fans of hockey well before the 2018 games, these 
Olympics helped introduce the country to a sport already loved by so 
many Minnesotans--curling. I will note that Senator Cornyn of Texas 
sent out a tweet saying that curling was an obscure sport. I don't 
think anyone thinks that anymore. They might think it is kind of an 
interesting sport, but it has gone from obscure to cool. A lot of that 
has to do with the men's curling team. Four out of five of the members 
of that team were from our home State of Minnesota. In that game, the 
match went from 1 to 4 in the morning or midnight to 3. I can't tell 
you how many Minnesotans were up all night watching that and 
celebrating the gold medal.
  The success of Minnesotans has been inspiring, and I know Senator 
Smith agrees. From frozen ponds to backyard hills, Minnesota helps 
bring the winter athlete out in everyone.
  I congratulate Team USA and all Minnesota athletes who made these 
games such a success.
  Senator Smith.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Minnesota.
  Ms. SMITH. Thank you, Mr. President.
  Thank you, Senator Klobuchar, for organizing this colloquy on the 
Olympic contributions of Minnesotans. I was proud to work with you on 
this resolution honoring our Olympians. While I have not yet given my 
first floor speech--which I plan to do in a couple of weeks--I couldn't 
pass up the opportunity to come down and talk about our State's amazing 
athletes.
  As I am sure Senator Klobuchar knows, as you have just heard from 
her, once a Minnesotan can walk, you can bet that his or her parents 
will try to get them on skis, skates, a sled, or maybe even on the 
curling rink. That early start--not to mention the fact that 
Minnesotans are the hardest working and most resilient people I know--
helps explain why 23 of our athletes took part in this year's Winter 
Games. As Senator Klobuchar said, that is the third most of any State 
in the country. And, boy, did they steal the show. Minnesotans brought 
home gold medals in women's hockey, women's cross-country skiing, men's 
curling, and a bronze medal in women's downhill skiing.
  I want to talk about Afton, Minnesota's own Jessie Diggins, who 
carried the Olympic torch for Team USA at the closing ceremony. As 
Senator Klobuchar said, Jessie began skiing at 4 years old and started 
racing against high schoolers at age 11. She earned her spot on the 
Olympic cross-country team and was the only woman to compete in all six 
women's cross-country events--and compete she did.
  Along with her teammate, Kikkan Randall, Jessie won the first Olympic 
Gold Medal ever for the United States in cross-country skiing--and in 
dramatic fashion. Jessie came from behind during the final stretch of 
the race, inching out her competitor as they crossed the finish line.

  I am amazed, but not all that surprised, by the accomplishments of my 
fellow Minnesotans. I am so happy to be able to join Senator Klobuchar 
in

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saying we are glad the whole world had the chance to witness what we 
see every day in our jobs as Senators from Minnesota--Minnesotans doing 
amazing things.
  I yield the floor.
  Ms. KLOBUCHAR. Mr. President, I know Minnesotans will look forward to 
Senator Smith's actual first speech, but I think it is a tribute to our 
State that her first appearance on the Senate floor was about all of 
these Gold Medals in hockey and curling and skiing.
  Thank you.

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