[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 2]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 2288]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO ALEX IZYKOWSKI

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DALE E. KILDEE

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 28, 2006

  Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker, I ask the House of Representatives to join 
me today in honoring Alex Izykowski of Bay City, Michigan. Alex is a 
member of the Men's 5,000 Meter Short Track Relay Team that won the 
Bronze Medal at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy on February 
25th.
  Alex, nicknamed ``Izy,'' started speed skating at the age of eleven 
after watching the 1994 Winter Olympics from Lillehammer, Norway. His 
first foray onto the ice was on borrowed skates. Determined to succeed 
and one day become an Olympian he continued to practice and entered his 
first competition in 1995. One year later he placed fifth at the junior 
nationals. Always striving to do better, he set three state juvenile 
outdoor records in 1997 and in 2001, Alex was named to the U.S. Junior 
Short Track team at the U.S. Championship held in Walpole, 
Massachusetts. Competing with the team in Italy that year, Alex won the 
1,000 meter race.
  The following year he became the Junior American record holder in the 
1,500 meter and 3,000 meter competitions in Calgary. As a member of the 
U.S. Junior World Cup team Izy won a Silver Medal as a participant on 
the relay team in 2003. Two years later he won a Bronze Medal in 
Beijing as a member of the U.S. World Championships Relay Team. After 
finishing second overall in the lap time trials at the Marquette 
Training Center, Alex was given a slot on the U.S. Olympic Team 
fulfilling his 1994 dream to become an Olympian.
  He competed twice in the 2006 Olympics, first in the Men's 1,500 
meter race and the second time in the Men's Relay. As an integral part 
of the relay team, Alex was able to pull the team from fourth place to 
third place during one of his laps around the track. Along with fellow 
teammates, J.P. Kepka, Rusty Smith, and Apolo Anton Ohno, Alex was able 
to maintain momentum during the fast paced relay and win the Bronze 
Medal with a time of 6:47.990.
  A 2002 graduate of Bay City Western High School, Alex credits his 
entire family as his strongest influence and support. Many of his 
relatives were able to travel to Turin to watch him compete. In tribute 
to his parents, Alan and JoAnn Izykowski, Alex presented the bouquet 
given to him during the medal ceremony to his mother. He remarked, 
``Just showing some respect.''
  Mr. Speaker, I ask the House of Representatives to rise to their feet 
and join me, the Bay City community, and the State of Michigan in 
welcoming home a tremendous athlete, an inspirational role model, and a 
fierce competitor, Alex Izykowski. Please join me in applauding his 
achievements as he takes his place in the history of our Nation.

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