[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 2]
[Senate]
[Pages 2129-2130]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                            MORNING BUSINESS

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             CONGRATULATIONS TO MINNESOTA'S 2010 OLYMPIANS

  Mr. FRANKEN. Madam President, 50 years ago this month, a group of 
athletes gathered in Squaw Valley, CA, for the Winter Olympics. A part 
of the U.S. contingent--the 1960 men's ice hockey team--unexpectedly 
surprised the world and brought home the Olympic gold medal by 
defeating the Soviet Union, Czechoslovakia, and Canada. Of these 17 
remarkable men, 8 were from my home State, the great State of 
Minnesota. As anyone could see from watching this year's games, this 
outsized contribution from Minnesotans continues to this day.
  Twenty years after this ``forgotten miracle,'' Team USA again shocked 
the world by miraculously defeating Finland and the vaunted Soviet 
Union to again win the gold medal. Thirteen Minnesotans played for the 
1980 ``Miracle on Ice'' team, and a 14th was their coach.
  This year's Olympic men's ice hockey team was considered by many not 
to have a chance for a medal. They were too young, too inexperienced; 
they had not played together before. And the U.S. men had not defeated 
Canada in Olympic play in 50 years. Yet a week ago, despite being the 
underdog, Team USA upset the favored Canadians in their own arena.
  After defeating Switzerland and soundly beating Finland in the semi-
finals, Team USA played Canada a second time last night for the gold 
medal. Although we fell behind early, Zach Parise--a Prior Lake, MN, 
native--tied the game with under a minute to play. Sadly for us, Canada 
would end up scoring in overtime to win the gold medal. But that cannot 
take away from what was truly a golden performance by the Americans. 
Jamie Langenbrunner, from Cloquet, did a stand-up job as captain, 
leading and pulling together a team that also included Minnesotans Erik 
Johnson, from Bloomington, and David Backes, from Blaine.
  The American women's ice hockey team was expected to be great. And 
they were. Before falling to Canada, they had outscored their opponents 
40-2. With Edina native Natalie Darwitz as captain, as well as Jenny 
Potter from Edina and Gigi Marvin from Warroad, they brought home a 
well-earned silver medal.
  And of the 12 members of the U.S. Olympic curling team, 8 are from 
Minnesota. Natalie Nicholson of Bemidji and Allison Pottinger of Eden 
Prairie were on the women's team. The men's team was an all-Minnesota 
affair with John Shuster and Jason Smith of Chisholm, Chris Plys and 
Jeff Isaacson of Duluth and John Benton of St. Michael. Even their 
coach, Phil Drobnick is from Eveleth, MN.
  Tony Benshoof of White Bear Lake is an Olympic luger. Kaylin 
Richardson of Edina was in her second Olympics, competing in alpine 
skiing. Wynn Roberts of Battle Lake was a competitor in the biathlon. 
Rebekah Bradford of Apple Valley is an Olympic speedskater. And Caitlin 
Compton and Garrott Kuzzy, each of Minneapolis, competed in cross-
country skiing.
  And there are many other Olympic athletes, like Lindsey Vonn, who 
have strong Minnesota ties but reside now in other States--which have 
mountains.
  Yesterday marked the end of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in 
Vancouver. I

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am so proud to see that there were more athletes in this year's 
Olympics from Minnesota than from any other State. Twenty-one 
Minnesotans took part in these games. Most were in their first 
Olympics. A few others were in their second Games. Natalie Darwitz has 
been to three. Jenny Potter has now been to four, winning a medal every 
time. Isn't that something--four-time medal-winning Olympian and mother 
of two.
  Twenty-one athletes from all over Minnesota who now will be going 
back to tending a bar or being a teacher or being an engineer or a mom. 
Natalie Nicholson will return to Red Lake Indian Reservation as a nurse 
practitioner. The men's ice hockey players will be going back to finish 
the National Hockey League season. John Shuster will be getting 
married. All will continue to inspire us.
  I congratulate every single one of these competitors. Each has shown 
tremendous grit and determination to earn a place representing our 
Nation at these Winter Olympics. Whether you won a medal, or simply 
gave it your all and competed, each of you is a champion.
  Olympians make the children of our State and Nation dream of what 
they might do, and grownups like me dream of what we wish we could do, 
all while fulfilling their dreams on the world's stage and representing 
our Nation admirably. We owe them thanks for their hard work, their 
perseverance, and most of all their heart. And I hope I have the chance 
in the coming weeks to meet with each of these Minnesota athletes so I 
can congratulate them in person.

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