The total medal count would be as follows; which would put us 16th in the Olympics as a nation for total medals and 8th in golds.
1 Gold
Brett Sickler (United States) Rowing • Women's Eight
1 Gold
1 Bronze
Peter Vanderkaay (United States) Swimming
8 Gold
Michael Phelps (United States) Swimming
1 Bronze
Nick Willis (New Zealand) Track and Field • 1,500m
1 Silver
Betsey Armstrong (United States) Water Polo • Goalkeeper
THE USA STILL REMAINS A PLACE OF UNLIMITED OPPORTUNITY!
I've read some articles during the Olympics about how far China has come as a nation and how well they are doing in the medals race - and particularly in achieving gold medals. And I want to be the first to say "Well Done" and offer them well deserved congratulations.
That being said.. the flip side of the comments I have read seem to imply doom and gloom about the US in terms of Olympic prowess.
I just want to make one brief observation about that. Take a look at the roster that I printed below of the participants in the Olympics that attend or attended the UofM. You'll find there are 22 names in the list. Of those 22 names.. how many are actually competing for the USA? Less than half. Only 10. That means that 12 other athletes participating in the Olympics for 7 other countries got their opportunity to train and become all they could be in athletics by coming to America.
So - here's an interesting question.. and one I don't actually have an answer to.. but how many total medals do you think were won by people that primarily live and train athletically in the US? It's got to be a really big number. Many of those medals were won by people born and raised as US citizens in America. I bet a few more were won by recent immigrants from other countries that are naturalized citizens and live in and compete for the US (like our flag bearer - Sudanese-born Lopez Lomong). But a host more are won by people like Nick Willis that have come to the UofM (and thus, America), trained here and benefited from getting an education here.. only to go back and compete for their native countries (in his case.. New Zealand).
It would be interesting to see how many other countries attract, train and send back to their native countries the number of athletes that the USA does. I'm sure there are a few countries that have a few. But do you think anyone has even close to the number that thus US does? I seriously doubt it.
So - when you scan down the Medal Table - I hope you will recognize along with me just how proud we can really be at all the many people this country has enabled to be in the Olympics this Summer - whether they have come in first.. or last. With all our foibles - this is still the greatest nation in the world.. and you can see it in one small way by discovering the diversity of people we have accepted, trained and sent back to compete this summer in Beijing. This is still the greatest land of opportunity on the planet! Think of that, too, when you are chanting USA.. USA!!
Baseball
Clayton Richard USA Pitcher U-M letterwinner 2005
Women's Rowing
Ellen Tomek USA Double sculls U-M letterwinner 2004-06
Heather Mandoli Canada Women's eight U-M letterwinner 2001-04
Janine Hanson Canada Quadruple sculls U-M letterwinner 2003-06
Brett Sickler USA Women's eight U-M letterwinner 2002-05
Men's Rowing
Matt Hughes USA Quadruple sculls Men's club team alumnus ('04)
Ken Jurkowski USA Single sculls U-M volunteer coach 2008
Men's Swimming
Alon Mandel Israel 200m butterfly U-M 2007-present
Michael Phelps USA Multiple events U-M volunteer coach 2005-08
Peter Vanderkaay USA Multiple events U-M letterwinner 2003-06
Scott Spann USA 200m breaststroke U-M letterwinner 2007-08
Andrew Hurd Canada 4x200m freestyle relay U-M letterwinner 2002-05
Women's Swimming
Natasha Moodie Jamaica 50m freestyle U-M 2008-present
Valeria Silva Peru 100m breaststroke U-M letterwinner 2005-08
Men's Track and Field
Adam Harris Guyana 200m U-M 2006-present
Stann Waithe Trinidad and Tobago 4x400m relay U-M letterwinner 2004-06, '08
Nate Brannen Canada 1,500m U-M letterwinner 2002-05
Kevin Sullivan Canada 1,500m U-M letterwinner 1994-98
Nick Willis New Zealand 1,500m U-M letterwinner 2003-05
Women's Track and Field
Anna Willard USA 3,000m steeplechase U-M letterwinner 2007
Nicole Forrester Canada High jump U-M letterwinner 1996-99
Water Polo
Betsey Armstrong USA Goalie U-M letterwinner 2002-05
Wrestling (Freestyle)
Andy Hrovat USA 84 kg/185 pounds U-M letterwinner 1999-2002
1 comment:
We are a land of opportunity! Go USA!
I was glad when Michael Phelps finished his races, so I could go to bed at a descent hour!
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