[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 146 (Thursday, September 19, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Page S6209]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            CONGRATULATING IDAHO OLYMPIANS AND PARALYMPIANS

  Mr. CRAPO. Mr. President, along with my colleagues Senator Jim Risch 
and Representatives  Mike Simpson and Russ Fulcher, I congratulate 
Idaho athletes who competed in the Olympic and Paralympic Games Paris 
2024. This includes Annie Carey, Chari Hawkins, Marisa Howard, Matteo 
Jorgenson, Alyssa Mendoza, and Kate Shoemaker, who we commend for their 
extraordinary perseverance that resulted in them competing on this 
world stage.
  Catherine ``Annie'' Carey, of Boise, ID, competed in track and field 
events in the Paralympic Games Paris 2024, where she earned sixth-place 
finishes in both the 200-meter dash and long jump. Her career 
highlights leading to her debut participation in the Olympics include 
her earning bronze medals in the 100-meter dash, 200-meter dash, and 
long jump at the ParaPan American Games Santiago 2023. She also 
competed in the ParaPan American Games Lima 2019.
  First-time Olympian Chari Hawkins, of Rexburg, ID, competed in track 
and field for the U.S. team and earned 21st place in the women's 
heptathlon. Chari earned eighth in the heptathlon at the 2023 World 
Championships, an event in which she also competed in 2019. She also 
competed in the indoor pentathlon at the 2022 World Championships, and 
some of her career highlights include 2022 U.S. National Pentathlon 
Champion at the USA Track & Field (USATF) Indoor Championships; USATF 
Athlete of the Week in 2022 after winning the pentathlon; and the 
bronze medal at the 2019 USATF Outdoor Championships.
  Marisa Howard, a Boise State University graduate who joined the Boise 
State track and field and cross-country staff as an assistant coach, 
competed for the first time in track and field in the Olympic Games 
Paris 2024. In the Paris Olympics, she placed 24th in the 3,000-meter 
steeplechase. Prior to competing in the Olympics, Marisa Howard placed 
fourth in the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the 2023 Pan American Games, 
and she was a silver medalist in the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the 
2019 Pan American Games.
  Matteo Jorgenson, a first-time Olympian and graduate of Boise High 
School, represented the U.S. in cycling in the Paris Olympics, where he 
earned ninth place in the road race. Matteo's Olympics participation 
follows his distinction in a number of international cycling 
competitions. This includes his first-place finishes in Paris-Nice and 
Dwars door Vlaanderen in 2024. He also placed second overall in the 
Criterium du Dauphine and eighth overall in the Tour de France also in 
2024, following a first-place overall finish in the Tour of Oman and 
second place overall finish in the Tour de Romandie, both in 2023.
  Alyssa Mendoza, of Caldwell, ID, placed ninth in featherweight boxing 
at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. Her debut Olympics competition 
followed her earning a number of medals at U.S. and international 
competitions that include earning medals at three international 
competitions last year: bronze at the 2023 Gee Bee International 
Tournament; silver at the 2023 Czech Republic Grand Prix; and bronze at 
the 2023 Strandja International Tournament. She also earned gold medals 
at the 2022 USA Boxing Elite National Championships, 2022 USA Boxing 
Summer Festival, and the 2022 National Golden Gloves. USA Boxing notes 
Alyssa Mendoza is the first qualified Olympic boxer from Idaho.
  Kate Shoemaker, of Eagle, ID, is a two-time Paralympian and two-time 
Paralympic medalist. She earned a bronze in the individual freestyle at 
the Paralympic Games Paris 2024, where she also earned fifth in the 
individual championship test. Kate helped her U.S. equestrian team earn 
a bronze medal at the Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020 where she also earned 
a fourth-place finish in the individual freestyle and a seventh-place 
finish in the individual championship test.
  Idaho Olympians and Paralympians show us all what is possible as they 
turn their hard work into achievements by facing challenges with 
perseverance. Thank you, Olympians and Paralympians, for representing 
our great State and country so well in this extraordinary arena. We 
thank you for your outstanding examples as we commend you for your 
remarkable hard work and commitment.

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