[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 2]
[Senate]
[Page 2699]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




            RECOGNITION OF MICHIGAN'S ALEX ``IZY'' IZYKOWSKI

 Ms. STABENOW. Mr. President, I rise today in recognition of 
Michigan's own Alex ``Izy'' Izykowski and to pay tribute to his recent 
accomplishment in winning a bronze medal in the 5,000-meter short track 
relay at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy.
  I join my colleagues and everyone across the great State of Michigan 
in honoring Izy's outstanding representation of his team, his State, 
and his country. Izy's medal winning performance on behalf of Team USA 
was the culminating achievement of an athlete's career that has 
embodied the finest in both the American spirit and the Olympic ideal.
  From his earliest days as a member of the Bay County Speedskating 
Club, Izy's career has stood as an example of excellence. His hard 
work, dedication, and focus have resulted in success at every level of 
his sport, leading to Izy's stellar performance last week in the 
pinnacle of athletic contests, the Olympic Games.
  It is not just Izy's success on the speedskating track, though, that 
I stand to pay tribute to today. Izy's journey to the Olympic medal 
podium has been one that makes us all proud. The manner in which this 
fine young man has conducted himself should stand as an example to all 
of us and as a tribute to the support and love of his family. The 
Izykowski family, and the extended family of Bay City, should take 
special pride in knowing that they played an essential role in molding 
a young man who truly embodies the Olympic creed: ``The most important 
thing in the Olympic Games is not to win but to take part, just as the 
most important thing in life is not the triumph, but the struggle.''
  I rise today in honor of Alex Izykowski's bronze medal winning 
performance at the 2006 Winter Olympics. Success in a sport as 
physically and mentally demanding as short track speedskating requires 
years of dedicated and regimented training focused into intense bursts 
of incredible effort. The personal sacrifice, self discipline, and 
competitive spirit required to earn an Olympic Medal are attributes to 
which we should all aspire and Izy clearly embodies all of these 
qualities. It is because of young men and women like Izy that I remain 
confident in the continued success of our great State and Nation. I 
honor Izy for representing the values that are so essential to our 
Michigan way of life on the world stage.

                          ____________________