active network espn
Active Home | Directory | Community | eteamz | Results | Support Support | Event Directors & Organizers
This community only   all active.com

Active.com 2008 Olympics

4 Posts authored by: mvalenti
mvalenti

America for Gold

Posted by mvalenti Aug 20, 2008

 

It is all about the numbers.  Just ask any athlete in Beijing.  Whether it is the final score in a tennis match, the winning time in a triathlon or the perfect 10 on the balance beam the smallest units of measurement separate athletes from the joy of victory and the agony of defeat. 

 

 

There are numbers in the world of international athletic competition, however, that few of us know about. These numbers reflect the financial costs associated with representing our nation abroad on the international field of play.  America for Gold (AFG), which launched eight days before the start of the Beijing games, has set out to provide financial support to U.S. athletes.  Along with its launch, AFG began "$8 per month starting 08-08-08." 

 

AFG is committed to supporting athletes by taking the financial numbers game out of the equation and allowing athletes to focus on physically preparing to represent our nation in international competition. 

 

"We are going to apply the same determined focus and energy you will see on the field of play this summer to helping athletes succeed," said Montford. 

 

To support AFG, one-time or monthly contributions are accepted.  Donations can be made online, by phone at (877) 477-4488 or by U.S. mail. To learn more about America for Gold or to make a donation, please visit www.AmericaForGold.org .

 

 

 

 

571 Views 0 Comments Permalink Tags: olympics, 2008_olympic_games, 2008_olympics, olympic_games, 2008_beijing_olympics, americans
mvalenti

BMX Olympic Debut

Posted by mvalenti Aug 19, 2008

BMX makes its Olympic debut this week in Beijing. Here are the four U.S. riders who hope to make history by winning the first BMX Olympic gold medal.

 

Mike Day Day earned his nomination to the Olympics at the Olympic Trials event in Chula Vista, California. He took first place in three out of the four events and second place in the remaining race.

 

Because he is so tall (6'3") Day uses a unique handlebar style with an upsweep on it. The handlebar, named after Day, is called The Fly Racing Mike Day BMX Handlbar.

 

 

Donny Robinson Currently ranked number one in world ranking points, Robinson “credits his drive and determination for his success on the dirt.”

 

Aside from dreaming about Olympic gold, Robinson is a singer/performer and hopes to one day star on Broadway.

 

 

Kyle Bennett Bennet was the first American to secure a spot on the Olympic BMX team. He has two second place finishes at the X Games and he won the 2007 world championship in Vancouver after recovering from ACL surgery and only having three and a half months to prepare. He is often referred to as “butter” because of his smooth riding style.

 

 

Jill Kintner Kintner started her career in BMX at only 8 years old then jumped between successful runs in both BMX and mountain biking. She finally shifted her full attention to BMX when she decided to push for the Olympics.

 

In a journey that came down to the final race, Kintner out-biked friend, roommate and teammate Arielle Martin for the sole spot on the women’s U.S. BMX team. Martin returned home to Utah after loosing to Kintner only to return to the Chula Vista training center four days later on a decision to help Kintner get ready for the games.

 

 

BMX Beijing Course The Track

The U.S. Olympic Committee and USA Cycling built a replica of the Beijing course in Chula Vista, California at the Olympic Training center where the U.S. athletes have been riding for the last several months.  (AP Photo/Greg Baker)

 

The Event

Seeding starts on Wednesday August 20 with both men’s and women’s semifinals and finals taking place on Thursday August 21 in Beijing. Event coverage will be on NBC from 6 to 9 pm on Wednesday the 20th East Coast Time.

772 Views 1 Comments Permalink Tags: olympics, bmx, usa, beijing, 2008_olympic_games, 2008_olympics, united_states, team_usa, americans
mvalenti

 

Adam Craig: Craig got into the sport because his mom sold his dirt bike after he went on a "crashing spree." A mountain bike was more respectable. When he has nothing else to do, Craig likes to go kayaking in China down Tibetan rivers and enter South African Red Bull adventure races.

 

Todd Wells: Wells finished 19th in Athens. This will be his 2nd Olympic appearance.

 

Georgia Gould: Gould won every race in the 2007 National Mountain Bike series making her the cross country champion. Gould's other talents including playing the banjo and riding a unicycle

 

Mary McConneloug: McConneloug lives in a van with her boyfriend (fellow mountain biker Mike Broderick) for 10 months of the year. She drives herself to all of her races and eats meals off her camp stove. In 2004, she was the lone woman mountain biker on the team in Athens. She didn't start riding competitively until age 27. McConneloug studied voice at Santa Clara University and performed classical and opera music, but now she sings for fun with her boyfriend who plays the guitar. She placed third in cross country at this year's national championships.

 

 

The women's cross country mountain bike race will take place on Friday August 22 at 3:00 p.m. in Beijing. the Men's race will be on Saturday August 23 at 3:00 p.m. You can check out the mountain bike course and venue here.

 

 

1,201 Views 0 Comments Permalink Tags: olympics, beijing, 2008_olympic_games, 2008_olympics, 2008_beijing_olympics, adam-craig, todd-wells, mary-mcconneloug, georgia-gould
mvalenti

BMX Olympic Trials

Posted by mvalenti Jun 30, 2008

Mike Day dominated the Olympic Trials held in Chula Vista June 14. Day won three out of four events and secured a nomination to the first U.S. Olympic BMX team.

 

Kyle Bennett and Jill Kintner automatically qualified when they ended the 2008 season as the top-ranked athletes in USA Cycling's BMX Rankings.

Mike Day practices at the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista.

AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi

</div>

</div>

Final Scores From the Olympic Trials

1. Mike Day (Santa Clarita, Calif.) 32

2. Donny Robinson (Napa, Calif.) 21

3. David Herman (Wheat Ridge, Colo.) 13

4. Kristopher Fox (Phelan, Calif.) 7

5. Steven Cisar (Altadena, Calif.) 6

6. Danny Caluag (Chino, Calif.) 5

7.Tyler Brown (San Clemente, Calif.) 0

287 Views 0 Comments Permalink Tags: olympics, bmx, beijing, olympic_trials


Actions

Popular Blog Posts