U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame Class of 2009 - vote today - Olympic Champion Picabo Street - Paralympic Champions Greg Mannino & Sarah Will
After you have voted or if you have already voted, post in this thread to indicate that you have voted. Also feel free to share your thoughts about any of the finalists.
http://www.teamusa.org/halloffame
Be Part of Olympic History
The U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame presented by Allstate exists to recognize the stellar achievements of United States Olympic and Paralympic athletes, teams and coaches.
On April 16, 2009, the United States Olympic Committee and Allstate proudly announced the finalists for the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame Class of 2009. Distinguished members from previous classes include Olympic legends Muhammad Ali, Peggy Fleming, Jesse Owens, Wilma Rudolph, Bonnie Blair, Eric Heiden, Mark Spitz, Janet Evans and the 1980 U.S. Men’s Olympic Ice Hockey Team.
The 2009 class of the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame presented by Allstate will include five individuals, one team and one Paralympian, as well as three additional individuals: a coach, veteran and special contributor. The inductees will be revealed in early July and will be honored at a black-tie induction ceremony on August 12 at McCormick Place in Chicago. The U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame presented by Allstate is the only national sports Hall of Fame that includes fan voting.
The 2009 induction ceremony will introduce a new international award – the Olive Branch Award – given to an individual or individuals who best represent the international ideals of the Olympic Games by working to build a peaceful and better world through sport. Also new to 2009, the induction ceremony will feature a special fundraising banquet to benefit Chicago 2016, Chicago’s bid to host the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Cast your vote now and be a part of Olympic history!
To see photos & video, visit the links below for each U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame finalist.
INDIVIDUAL CATEGORY
http://www.teamusa.org/halloffame/1/hof_answers/38
Picabo Street
Alpine Skiing
A three-time Olympian, Picabo Street first joined the U.S. Ski Team in 1989 and earned a silver medal at the 1994 Olympic Winter Games in the downhill. The Sun Valley native left her mark in Olympic history in 1998, taking gold in the Nagano super G by a mere hundredth of a second.
- Street medaled in three World Championships, earning combined silver in 1993, super G bronze and downhill gold in 1996. Winning six of nine World Cup competitions in 1995, Street became the first American to win a World Cup season title in a speed event. After a leg injury and two years of rehabilitation, Street returned to compete in 2002 in Salt Lake City before retiring. With nine career victories, she was inducted into the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame in 2005.
- A three-time Olympian, she earned a silver medal in 1994 and a gold in 1998
- Became the first American to win a World Cup season title in a speed event
- Won six of nine World Cup downhill competitions in 1995
- Holder of nine career World Cup downhill victories
- Inducted in the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame in 2005
PARALYMPIAN CATEGORY
http://www.teamusa.org/halloffame/3/hof_answers/14
Greg Mannino
Paralympic Alpine Skiing
Five-time Paralympian Greg Mannino (Eagle, Colo.) won six gold, four silver and two bronze Paralympic medals during his skiing career. In his first Paralympic Winter Games in 1988, Mannino brought home silver medals in the downhill and super-G. He would become an unstoppable force in the downhill and super-G after that, winning gold in each event at the next three Paralympic Winter Games.
Mannino was involved in an electrical accident at the age of 17 resulting in the amputation of his left leg above the knee. His last Paralympic Games was in 2002 in Salt Lake City at the age of 39.
- At 17, involved in an electrical accident that resulted in the amputation of his left leg above the knee
- Five-time Paralympian, winning six gold, four silver and two bronze medals
- Competed in his first Paralympic Winter Games in 1988, winning two silver medals in the downhill and super-G.
- At the next three Paralympic Winter Games, brought home gold in the downhill and super-G each time
- First Paralympic skier to be featured on the cover of Skiing magazine
http://www.teamusa.org/halloffame/3/hof_answers/16
Sarah Will
Paralympic Alpine Skiing
Sarah Will (Vail, Colo.) had her first run of the mountain at the age of four. From that moment on she was hooked on the sport. In 1988, the Olympic skiing hopeful was in a serious skiing accident that paralyzed her from the waist down. Rather than give up the sport she loved, she took up mono skiing and was back on the slopes just one year later. And just four years after her start in the mono-ski, she competed in her first Paralympic Games, winning gold in downhill and super G.
Will won a total of 12 Paralympic gold medals and one silver medal throughout her four Paralympic experiences, making her the most decorated female mono skier in U.S. Ski Team history. In 2002, Will took the Paralympic alpine skiing gold medal sweep, winning all four races, along with the U.S. Paralympic Spirit Award.
- Paralyzed from the waist down after a skiing accident in 1988
- The most decorated female mono skier in U.S. Ski Team history
- As a four-time Paralympian, won 12 Paralympic gold medals and one silver medal throughout her career
- Won her first skiing title in 1991, just three years after her accident
- At the 2002 Paralympic Winter Games, took the Paralympic alpine skiing gold medal sweep, winning all four races
