This weekend the world tunes in – or if they’re lucky, flies in – for the Olympic Games. Our eyes will be glued to the screen as 41-year-old American Swimmer Dara Torres competes against athletes half her age. And our hopes will be high that this time perennial medal favorite Team USA basketball will capture the gold after falling short in 2004.
The Queen City is well represented in Beijing, with seven area athletes vying for gold medals. St. Ursula graduate and Athens 2004 gold medalist Heather Mitts will serve as a veteran presence for the U.S. women’s soccer team. Though both Athens alums, St. Xavier graduate Pat Todd, will row for his first medal, while teammate and Kings High School grad Brian Volpenhein will be working for his second gold. On dry land, 100-meter hurdler David Payne and 400-meter sprinter Mary Wineberg, both U.C. alumni, will get their shot at a position on the medal stand. Meanwhile, college rivalries will take a backseat when former Xavier Musketeer Jason Parker tries to add to the USA’s medal tally in shooting. Rounding out the local group is boxer Rau’Shee Warren, who heads from Cheviot to Olympic Village to try to capture Cincinnati’s first boxing gold.
I know all of Cincinnati joins me in wishing them good luck in Beijing!
