[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 10]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 14200]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      LEONEL MANZANO OLYMPIC MEDAL

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. K. MICHAEL CONAWAY

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 13, 2012

  Mr. CONAWAY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate a local hero 
in the 11th District of Texas, Leonel Manzano. Leo won the Silver medal 
in the Men's 1500 Meter race in the 2012 Olympic games, sealing his 
place in Olympic history and becoming an iconic figure in our district.
  An Olympian is more than just an athlete--they are a representative 
of our nation. For the last four years, our athletes have invested 
blood, sweat, tears, and an extraordinary amount of time in the journey 
to become the best they can be. In a greater notion, this journey is 
what America is all about: the opportunity for all to achieve the 
highest echelons of success. And Leo, as a Silver Medalist, has proven 
an excellent representative of our District, state, and what our nation 
represents.
  Leo rose from humble beginnings and from an early age, he 
demonstrated his athletic prowess. This did not go unnoticed. Soon, he 
was winning track and field titles, nine in total, while attending 
Marble Falls High School. After building an unparalleled resume on the 
track at the University of Texas, Leo began to compete professionally 
where, again, he continued to receive awards and special recognition. 
In 2008, all of Leo's hard work paid off when he earned a spot on the 
U.S. Olympic team. While Leo did not win a medal in 2008, when the 2012 
Games came around, Leo was ready to make history. He became the first 
U.S. man to win a medal in the men's middle distance in 44 years.
  We are proud of Leo. While we are excited about his medal and awards, 
we are proud of Leo because he is one of us and he represented the best 
of America. His story is an inspiration to our children and proves that 
even though you may be from a small town, no dream is too big. Again, I 
congratulate Leo on this amazing accomplishment, his dedication and 
hard work, and an outstanding career.

                          ____________________