[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 13]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 17812]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




           RECOGNIZING THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF OLYMPIAN PAUL HAMM

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. DEBORAH PRYCE

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, September 8, 2004

  Ms. PRYCE of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate Paul 
Hamm for his historic 2004 Olympic gold medal in the individual All-
Around exercise, for his silver medal on the high bar exercise, and for 
being a member of the silver medal-winning U.S. men's Olympic 
gymnastics team.
  Paul showed to the entire world courage, fortitude, and the American 
spirit of determination in overcoming adversity during his all-around 
competition. After the fourth of six rotations, Paul was a distant 
12th, but he did not give up. He willed his way through flawless 
executions on the parallel bars and the high bars to retake first, 
claim the gold medal, and make history.
  However, this was not the first time that Paul has made history. Paul 
also became the first American man to win the individual all-around 
world title last year at the 2003 World Championships in Anaheim, 
California. Hamm completed a clutch performance on the difficult high 
bar routine during the final rotation to secure the title. He was only 
the second American to win a medal in the all-around world competition. 
Paul also secured a gold medal for the floor exercise, helping to lead 
his team to a silver medal.
  In 2003, Paul was named by the International Gymnastics Federation as 
the Gymnast of the Year. Without question, gymnastics has no better 
representative.
  Paul was born in Wisconsin, but chose to train for the Olympics at 
The Ohio State University. Paul is now a distinguished resident of 
Columbus, and his community is proud of all that he has accomplished.
  Again, I congratulate Paul for the dedication and hard work he has 
demonstrated over the years, and for the incredible achievements that 
he has made both personally and with his team while representing our 
great nation on the world stage in Athens.

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