[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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