U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame Announces Nominees; Johnson Wins Sullivan

The U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame induction banquet Aug. 12 in Chicago will celebrate the country's past Olympic triumphs while raising money for its 2016 Olympic dreams.

The nominees announced Thursday in Chicago include some of the brightest U.S. Olympic stars of the past 30 years: basketball player Teresa Edwards, sprinter Michael Johnson, swimmer Mary T. Meagher, skier Picabo Street and the first U.S. basketball Dream Team.

The black-tie banquet at Chicago's McCormick Place will double as a fundraiser to benefit the Chicago 2016 bid.

USOC Acting CEO Stephanie Streeter said the Hall of Fame induction ceremony, presented by Allstate, "comes at a pivotal moment," about seven weeks before the 2016 host city will be selected Oct. 2 in Copenhagen, Denmark.

"With that date as our guide," Streeter said, "we continue our determined efforts in partnership with Chicago 2016 to bring the Games back to the U.S."

Added Chicago 2016 chairman Patrick Ryan, "We are so pleased that we could finish up our bid funding through this tremendous event. Our bid is privately funded. We need the support of our private citizens, corporations, individuals and private foundations."

Tickets are available at www.chicago2016.org.

The other nominated individuals are Greg Barton, canoe/kayak; Jeff Blatnick, wrestling; Valerie Brisco-Hooks, athletics; Tracie Ruiz-Conforto, synchronized swimming; Gary Hall Sr., swimming; Sheila Young Ochowicz, speedskating; Darrell Pace, archery; Terry Schroeder, water polo; John Smith, wrestling; Peter Westbrook, fencing; and Willye White, athletics.

Paralympic nominees are Jean Driscoll, David Larson and Tony Volpentest, athletics and Greg Mannino and Sarah Will, alpine skiing.

The other nominated teams are the 1976 women's swimming 4x100-meter freestyle relay, the 1996 synchronized swimming team, 1998 women's hockey team and 2002 women's bobsled team.

Five individuals, one team, one Paralympian and three additional selections - a coach, a veteran and a special contributor - will be announced in early July.

Allstate and the USOC launched fan voting at www.teamusa.org and at locations across Chicago. This is the only national hall of fame that includes fan voting. Voting continues through June 16, 2009. The U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame selection committee will also determine the inductees.

A new international honor, the Olive Branch Award, also will be introduced at the ceremony. Tom Wilson, chairman, president and CEO of Allstate, said the award will "honor a citizen of the world" who is dedicated to improving our lives in sport. He added that the award recognizes that other countries are important to the United States and its success.

USOC spokesman Darryl Seibel told Around the Rings that Allstate approached the USOC with the idea for the award. 

"They recognized, in particular since 2006, we've placed a greater emphasis on international Olympics and asked if we'd be open to creating an award within the constructs of the Hall of Fame," Seibel said.

Although the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame has previously honored only U.S. athletes and contributors since it began in 1983, Seibel said, "We're a part of a larger family. We're a part of the International Olympic family. We think it's appropriate to recognize the contributions and efforts of individuals around the world who through their actions further the Olympic ideals."

The honoree will be chosen by a selection committee that includes Hall of Fame alumni, USOC officials and representatives from Allstate and will not be subject to fan voting.

This is the fourth time Chicago will be the host for the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame induction banquet. 

"Chicago's a city that has been embracing the Olympic movement," Chicago spokesman Patrick Sandusky tells Around the Rings. "It's a wonderful opportunity to showcase Chicago's Olympic spirit."

Johnson Adds Sullivan Award to List of Honors

U.S. Olympic gymnast Shawn Johnson took a break from competing on the reality television show "Dancing With the Stars" to waltz away with the 79th Annual AAU Sullivan Award on Wednesday.

Johnson, 17, of West Des Moines, Iowa, won the gold medal on the balance beam in Beijing and silver medals in team, all-around and floor exercise. 

In balloting for the Sullivan Award, she defeated U.S. gymnastics teammate Nastia Liukin, the 2008 all-around gold medalist; the U.S. Olympic men's 4 x 400m freestyle relay team, which included Michael Phelps; volleyball player Cynthia Barboza of Stanford University and basketball player Tyler Hansbrough of the University of North Carolina.

AAU officials, U.S. Olympic Committee members, college sports information directors and fans voted for the award, with the online fan votes counting one-third toward the final result.

Johnson is the third gymnast to capture the prestigious honor, joining Kurt Thomas (1979) and Paul Hamm (2004).

"Being up there with all the other athletes and just hearing all the titles they kept listing off, I was like, 'There's no way.'" Johnson said. "Then when they called my name, it's the biggest honor there is. To be the first female gymnast, it's just amazing. I'm so excited."

The Sullivan Award is known as the "Oscar" of sports awards and honors the outstanding amateur athlete in the United States. It is based on qualities of leadership, character, sportsmanship, the ideals of amateurism and strong moral character.

Johnson, who is also the reigning world champion, is one of the favorites to win the "Mirror Ball" on "Dancing with the Stars," where her gymnastics ability helped her earn high marks in the Lindy Hop.

Kiraly Joins U.S. Women's Volleyball Coaching Staff

Karch Kiraly, the most decorated player in the history of volleyball, has been named an assistant coach for the U.S. women's national volleyball team. The U.S. won the silver medal in Beijing.

"Karch had many strengths on the court, one of which was his ability to make those around him better," said U.S. head coach Hugh McCutcheon, who led the U.S. men's team to the gold medal in Beijing. "This skill is clearly a core competency of successful coaches. I also believe Karch's playing abilities in the non-point scoring aspects of the game - serve reception, floor defense, coverage and setting - make him a great fit for our program."

The Federation Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB) named Kiraly, 48, as the greatest men's volleyball player of the sport's first century. Kiraly is the only volleyball player - male or female - to win Olympic gold medals in both the indoor and beach volleyball disciplines.

"Two things intrigue me most about this position; the first is the opportunity to work under Coach McCutcheon, one of - if not THE - best coaching minds on the planet," Kiraly said. "The second is the phenomenal potential that exists on the women's side of American volleyball. High school and club volleyball for women are so advanced in popularity and skill level here in the United States."

McCutcheon and Kiraly are both new to coaching elite women's volleyball at the international level. 

USA Volleyball is negotiating with the city of Anaheim to have the U.S. women's national team train at the American Sports Centers. The men's team already trains there. When the deal is finalized, Anaheim will be designated as the Official Host City for the U.S. men's and women's national volleyball teams through the 2016 Olympic Games. 

Written by Karen RosenFor general comments or questions, click here