[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 42, Number 20 (Monday, May 22, 2006)]
[Pages 942-943]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks Honoring the United States Winter Olympic and Paralympic Teams

May 17, 2006

    Thank you all very much. Please be seated. Laura and I are so 
honored to welcome the 2006 Winter Olympic and Paralympic teams to the 
White House. It is such a joy to have you all here, and congratulations 
for being champs.
    I appreciate the Members of the Congress who are here: Senator 
Thomas and Congressmen Shays, Buyer, Hastings, and Ryun. Thank you all 
for coming. Thanks for honoring these great Olympians--Congressman Ted 
Poe from Texas as well.
    I want to thank all the athletes who've taken time to come. We 
really appreciate your giving us a chance to pay respects to your 
athleticism and your character. I want to thank the coaches and the team 
leaders and the U.S. Olympic staff. I particularly want to thank the 
members of the Texas A&M Singing Cadets for joining us today; thanks for 
coming to provide the--[applause].
    I wish I could have been at the games there in Turin, but 
fortunately we do have TVs here in the White House. [Laughter] It was 
such a thrill to watch you all compete. Laura represented our country 
and really enjoyed getting to know you all. She came back and talked 
about the kindness and the integrity of our athletes. I appreciate the 
fact that you treated her with such respect. More importantly, I 
appreciate the fact that you represented our country with such nobility 
and dignity.
    I thank you for the example you set. I don't know if you know this 
or not, but there's all kinds of people watching our Olympic and 
Paralympic athletes, wondering whether or not it's possible for them to 
be able to achieve the same level of accomplishments that you all 
achieved. The fact that you compete hard and train hard and set high 
goals and succeed is a really important part of encouraging others to 
follow in your footsteps. Being a champ means that you've got enormous 
responsibilities, and I thank you for upholding those responsibilities 
with the class that you've showed as athletes in Turin.
    Thanks for creating so many lasting memories for the American 
people. We love our athletes. We follow your successes. We love it when 
the ``Star Spangled Banner'' is played. We also understand that not 
everybody is going to win the gold, but we appreciate so much the fact 
that you competed so hard and in such a way that brought honor to our 
country.
    The memories are such that we remember the--America's first medal in 
ice dancing in 30 years with Tanith and Ben. Congratulations to you 
both. We appreciate the courage of Lindsey Kildow, who overcame a 
terrible crash in the training run and then decided to continue to 
compete. That kind of courage stirs our hearts. It's such a great 
example for people.
    We appreciate Joey Cheek, who won the gold and then turned around 
and donated

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$40,000 to help the refugee children of Sudan. What a wonderful example 
for all of us here in America to know that with our personal victories 
comes the responsibility of helping those who suffer and those who need 
help.
    We're honored that the ``Flying Tomato'' represented our country, 
and we want to thank all the dudes and dudesses of the snowboarders who 
are here. [Laughter]
    America's Paralympians overcame incredible odds to earn 12 medals 
for our Nation. Laurie Stephens was born with spina bifida; she won two 
golds and the silver medal in Alpine skiing. What a strong example for 
people to look at Laurie and realize that ``I can achieve dreams too.''
    Steve Cook, he lost part of his right leg in a tractor accident, but 
that didn't stop him. He's gone on to earn seven medals in cross-country 
skiing, including two golds and a bronze in this year's Paralympics. 
Steve, I appreciate your courage, and I appreciate the example you have 
shown for others.
    Lonnie Hannah is with us; she had breast [he had skin] * cancer last 
year and came back to help the U.S. sled hockey team win the bronze in a 
really thrilling game against Germany.
    * White House correction.
    All of our successes in the Olympics and Paralympics required 
unbelievable skill and determination, and they also required the support 
of a lot of people in your lives. The honors you've won are a tribute 
to, of course, your coaches and trainers but also to your parents and to 
your brothers and sisters and your friends and supporters who continue 
to cheer you. I know all of you join me in thanking those who supported 
you.
    At the games you showed the best values of our country. You were 
humble in victory and gracious in defeat. You made us proud. And so here 
on the White House South Lawn, I want to thank you for being such great 
ambassadors to our country. Welcome, and may God bless you all.

Note: The President spoke at 10:16 a.m. on the South Lawn at the White 
House. In his remarks, he referred to Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto, ice 
dancers, Lindsey Kildow, Alpine skier, Joey Cheek, speed skater, and 
Shaun ``The Flying Tomato'' White, snowboarder, U.S. Olympic Team.