Special induction ceremony to serve as Sprint to the Finish Chicago 2016 fundraiser; Inaugural Olive Branch Achievement Award winner to also be announced

The fans have weighed in, the votes have been counted and the results are final. Today, the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) and Allstate Insurance Company announced the members of the Class of 2009 who will be inducted into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame presented by Allstate. The U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame is the only national sports hall of fame that uses fan voting as part of its selection process. This year’s class is comprised of five Olympians, one Paralympian, one team, as well as three additional individuals: a coach, veteran and a special contributor.

The star-studded inductee list includes Michael Johnson (athletics), Picabo Street (alpine skiing), Teresa Edwards (basketball), Willye White (athletics), Mary T. Meagher (swimming), Sarah Will (Paralympic alpine skiing), the 1992 U.S. Men’s Olympic Basketball Team, longtime Men’s Gymnastics coach Abie Grossfeld, skiing veteran Andrea Mead-Lawrence, and special contributor Peter Ueberroth. Amazingly, members of this talented group of athletes, teams and coaches have been a part of a combined 21 Olympic and Paralympic Games and brought home a total of 46 medals.

“Olympians are champions, role models and leaders that inspire us to pursue our passions,” said Tom Wilson, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Allstate. “The Class of 2009 continues this tradition and embodies the commitment to excellence and drive to succeed. They make us proud to be Americans. Allstate is proud to honor them as members of the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame.”

The U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame Class of 2009 will be formally introduced and honored August 12 at a banquet-style induction ceremony at McCormick Place in Chicago. Through a partnership with Chicago 2016, the ceremony will also serve as a final fundraiser for the organizing committee’s bid to bring the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games to the city. The International Olympic Committee will announce the host city on October 2. The induction ceremony, hosted by Dan Hicks and Summer Sanders, will air in a nationally-televised broadcast on NBC on September 5 at 2 p.m. ET.

In addition, a new international award – the Olive Branch Achievement Award – will be introduced and presented at the Induction Ceremony. The award was created to honor an individual who best represents the international ideals of the Olympic Movement by working to build a peaceful and better world through sport. The Olive Branch Achievement Award recipient will be announced in the coming weeks.

“The USOC is very excited to honor this year’s U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame legends who have inspired many generations in this country with their courage and thrilling Olympic performances,” said USOC Acting Chief Executive Officer Stephanie Streeter. “Each of these Olympians is a worthy addition to the Hall of Fame and an overall symbol of the U.S. Olympic Movement. We’re also pleased to continue to partner with Allstate, a company that shares our commitment to America’s Olympians.”

Nominees for the Class of 2009 were selected by a seven-person nominating committee consisting of Olympians, members of the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame, an NGB executive director, and a USOC representative. Fan votes submitted at www.teamusa.org also played an important role in the selection process, with more than 112,000 votes cast during the voting period.

Tables and tickets for the induction ceremony may be purchased online at support.chicago2016.org/halloffame.

About the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame Class of 2009 Induction Presented by Allstate:

Teresa Edwards, Basketball

Teresa Edwards is the most decorated Olympic basketball player in the world, male or female, with four gold medals and one bronze medal in five Olympic Games. She is the USA’s only five-time Olympic basketball player and one of only three five-time Olympic basketball players (male or female) in the world. She is also one of only three U.S. Olympians to win gold in four different Olympic Games, joining former teammate Lisa Leslie and sprinter Carl Lewis. Only five other non-U.S. athletes have accomplished the feat.

Edwards played on the 1984, 1988, 1992, 1996 and 2000 U.S. Olympic Teams. Those teams combined to achieve a 31-1 record and the 1984, 1988, 1996 and 2000 U.S. teams each went undefeated to claim Olympic gold. All told, Edwards was a member of 20 USA Basketball teams, including two World Championship gold medal teams, and overall, teams with Edwards as a member compiled a 189-13 win-loss record.

Michael Johnson, Athletics

Michael Johnson will forever be known as the golden man of track & field. Wearing his trademark golden Nike shoes, he oftentimes left the rest of the field in his dust with his upright running posture. Johnson won four Olympic medals – all gold – while competing in three Olympic Games. He made his Olympic debut at the Barcelona 1992 Olympic Games and was a part of the World Record-breaking 4×400-meter relay team. His signature moments came at the Atlanta Games, when he became the only man to accomplish the 200-400 double, winning both races with ease and breaking the World Record in the 200 meters. He defended his title in the 400 meters at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney.

Johnson, a Baylor University graduate, won eight World Championship titles. His World Records in the 400 and the 4×400 relay still stand, and his 200 record of 19.32 held up for 12 years until Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt broke it at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.

Mary T. Meagher, Swimming

Mary T. Meagher, nicknamed “Madame Butterfly,” won three gold medals in swimming at the 1984 Olympic Games, highlighting a decade of dominance that included World Record swims throughout the 1980s. She qualified and was expected to medal at the Moscow 1980 Olympic Games but was unable to compete due to the U.S. boycott. She made her Olympic debut at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles and won triple gold, taking both the 100- and 200-meter butterfly and swimming the butterfly leg on the 4×100 medley relay. At the Seoul 1988 Olympic Games, she finished her Olympic career with silver in the 4×100 medley relay and a bronze in the 200 fly. Meagher was one of eight U.S. Olympians selected to carry the Olympic Flag into the Opening Ceremony of the Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games

Her success was not limited to the Olympic stage. Meagher captured several medals at the World Championships in 1982 and 1986, including a pair of individual titles. She won 24 National Titles and she also owns two more golds apiece competing at the Pan American Games and the Pan Pacific Championships.

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, Idaho, 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, and 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 Olympic Winter Games 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.

Willye White, Athletics

The first woman to compete for the U.S. Team in five Olympic Games, Willye White’s Olympic career spanned 16 years, from 1956 to 1972. Specializing in the long jump and 100 meters, she earned a silver medal in long jump at the 1956 Olympic Games in Melbourne at the age of 16, marking the first time an American woman medaled in the event. She won her second silver medal in 1964 as a member of the 4×100 meter relay team in Tokyo.

White was a member of more than 30 international and national track teams and won 12 Amateur Athletic Union long jump titles during her career. She set seven American records and won 13 national indoor and outdoor titles. She has been inducted into 11 sports hall of fames, including her 1981 induction into the USATF National Track & Field Hall of Fame.

White passed away in February 2007.

Sarah Will, Paralympic Alpine Skiing

Sarah Will 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. Four years after her start in the mono-ski, she competed in her first Paralympic Games, winning gold in downhill and super G in 1992 in Albertville, France.

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.

1992 U.S. Men’s Olympic Basketball Team

Simply put, the 1992 U.S. Men’s Olympic Basketball Team dominated. In the first Olympic Games to allow NBA players, the Dream Team steamrolled the rest of the world on its way to gold. In eight games, they outscored opponents by an average margin of 44 points, including a 121-76 blowout of Lithuania in the semifinals. In the gold medal game, they faced a Croatian squad featuring a few fellow NBA names and culminated in a 117-85 victory.

The star-studded American roster was comprised of NBA player legends: Charles Barkley, Larry Bird, Clyde Drexler, Patrick Ewing, Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Christian Laettner, Karl Malone, Chris Mullin, Scottie Pippen, David Robinson and John Stockton, and a legendary coaching staff consisting of the late Chuck Daly, and assistants P.J. Carlesimo, Mike Krzyzewski and Lenny Wilkens. How famous was the group? In addition to fans, players representing opposing teams from all over the world asked for the Americans’ autographs and pictures before each tipoff.

Abie Grossfeld, Coach

Abie Grossfeld served as head coach for the 1984 U.S. Olympic Men’s Gymnastics Team that earned eight medals, including the U.S. men’s only Olympic team gold medal. He was also the head coach of the men’s gymnastics team at the 1972 and 1988 Olympic Games, as well as assistant coach for the men’s team in 1964 and the women’s team in 1968. He was the personal coach of Peter Kormann, who became the first U.S. man to win an Olympic medal in 44 years with a bronze medal on floor exercise in 1976. Grossfeld also served as head coach for the U.S. men’s gymnastics team at five World Championships and two Pan American Games, including the 1987 Pan Am Games when the men won the team gold medal. The U.S. national coach for men’s gymnastics from 1981-88, Grossfeld coached the first U.S. men’s team that defeated the USSR in 1982. He also served as a collegiate gymnastics head coach for 42 years, spending one year at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy and 41 years at Southern Connecticut State University.

As an athlete, Grossfeld represented the USA internationally from 1952-67. He competed in two Olympic Games (1956, 1960), two World Championships (1958, 1962) and three Pan American Games (1955, 1959, 1963: the U.S. won the team gold all three years). At the University of Illinois, he won four NCAA titles and seven Big Ten Championships, as well as the Big Ten Medal of Honor. Additional honors include: National Coach of the Year for USA Gymnastics (1984) and the NCAA (1973, 1975 and 1976); USA Gymnastics Hall of Fame (as an athlete, coach and contributor); and the first and only American to achieve the status of FIG Master Coach (2000).

Andrea Mead-Lawrence, Veteran (Skiing)

Andrea Mead-Lawrence skied at three Olympic Winter Games, including the 1952 Oslo Games where she won gold medals in slalom and giant slalom. Before America became the skiing force it is today, she helped build the U.S. ski program from the ground up to compete with the traditional European powers. Mead-Lawrence became the youngest athlete to be chosen for the U.S. Women’s Olympic Alpine Ski Team when, at age 14, she made the 1948 squad. In her Olympic debut, she finished eighth in the slalom at St. Moritz. Four years later, her double gold performance was lauded by Hall of Fame Olympic film producer Bud Greenspan, who called her his No. 1 Winter Olympian. She concluded her Olympic career in three races at the Cortina 1956 Olympic Winter Games, finishing fourth in the giant slalom. Mead-Lawrence, the only U.S. woman to win two skiing gold medals at one Olympic Winter Games succumbed to cancer on March 30, 2009 at age 76. She is survived by her five children and four grandchildren.

Peter Ueberroth, Special Contributor

Over the last three decades, Peter Ueberroth may have been the most influential figure to the Olympic Movement in the United States. From 1980-84, he was President of the Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee, heading the first private non-profit organization responsible for staging and operating an Olympic Games. Under Ueberroth’s leadership, the Los Angeles Games came away with a surplus of $238 million that continues to support youth and sports programs throughout the United States. Ueberroth was the first Chair of the restructured USOC Board of Directors from 2004-08. He stabilized the leadership of the USOC during a turbulent time, and his leadership created momentum and credibility for the Olympic Movement in the United States. Olympic TV ratings shot up during his tenure, which ended with a record 110 U.S. Team medal tally at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. Ueberroth continues to aid the USOC as President in an honorary capacity. He has received the Olympic Order-Gold from the International Olympic Committee, the IOC’s highest honor.

For more information on the 2009 inductees, including bios and photos, and a comprehensive list of existing U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame members, please visit www.teamusa.org.

U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame

The charter class of the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame was enshrined in 1983, with such Olympic legends as Cassius Clay, Peggy Fleming, Jesse Owens, Wilma Rudolph, Mark Spitz, and the 1980 “Miracle on Ice” U.S. Olympic Men’s Hockey Team. Annual additions continued through 1992, adding Olympic legends such as Bart Conner, Dorothy Hamill, “Sugar Ray” Leonard, Carl Lewis, Greg Louganis, and Mary Lou Retton.

In becoming the presenting sponsor of the induction ceremony, Allstate sparked the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame’s revitalization in 2004. During the company’s five-year tenure as a partner, the Hall of Fame has inducted numerous decorated Olympic athletes including: Bonnie Blair, Janet Evans, Florence Griffith Joyner, Dan Jansen, Kristi Yamaguchi, and the 1996 “Magnificent Seven” U.S. Women’s Gymnastics Team. Following last June’s induction of the Class of 2008, the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame currently consists of 213 distinguished athletes and 13 special contributors.

Source: Allstate

Hall of Fame Induction ceremony to support Chicago bid for 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games

The United States Olympic Committee (USOC) and Allstate Insurance Company announced the finalists for the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame Class of 2009 at a press event at the Palmer House Hilton in Chicago. The star-studded nominee list of 15 individuals, five teams and five Paralympians includes Olympic legends such as Teresa Edwards, Gary Hall, Sr., Michael Johnson, Picabo Street, the 1992 Men’s Olympic Basketball Team, and more.

The finalists were unveiled at an event headlined by Allstate chairman, president and chief executive officer, Tom Wilson, along with USOC acting CEO Stephanie Streeter, Chicago 2016 chairman and CEO Patrick Ryan, and U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame member John Naber.

“The U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame celebrates our honorees’ commitment to excellence and recognizes Americans who are role models and heroes,” Wilson said. “Each of us can find strength, passion and inspiration in these ordinary people who achieved extraordinary success in the Olympics. They help make us proud to be Americans.”

From now through June 16, fans can cast their votes for the 2009 class of the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame online at www.teamusa.org. The inducted class 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 U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame honors Olympic and Paralympic legends who have inspired our country for generations, uniting us behind Team USA and giving us role models who epitomize the Olympic ideals,” Streeter said. “Allstate’s generous support of the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame and dedication to celebrating the accomplishments of America’s Olympic and Paralympic greats further illustrates their commitment to the Olympic Movement and America’s athletes.”

The August 12 induction ceremony will honor the 2009 U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame class and 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.

“We are very excited for the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame, presented by Allstate, to return to Chicago for the fourth time,” Ryan said. “Chicago is a city that truly embraces the Olympic Movement, and to have a Chicago company like Allstate involved in celebrating historic Olympic and Paralympic achievements showcases the broad support our city has for the movement.”

Nominees for the induction class of 2009 were selected by a 10-person nominating committee consisting of athletes, members of the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame, historians, and USOC representatives. Fans can vote by visiting www.teamusa.org.

The nominees are:

INDIVIDUALS
Greg Barton, canoe/kayak
Jeff Blatnick, wrestling
Valerie Brisco-Hooks, athletics
Tracie Ruiz-Conforto, swimming
Teresa Edwards, basketball
Gary Hall, Sr., swimming
Michael Johnson, athletics
Mary T. Meagher, swimming
Sheila Young Ochowicz, speedskating
Darrell Pace, archery
Terry Schroeder, water polo
John Smith, wrestling
Picabo Street, alpine skiing
Peter Westbrook, fencing
Willye White, athletics

PARALYMPIANS
Jean Driscoll, athletics
David Larson, athletics
Greg Mannino, alpine skiing
Tony Volpentest, athletics
Sarah Will, alpine skiing

TEAMS
1976 U.S. Women’s 4×100 Freestyle Relay Team
1992 U.S. Men’s Basketball Team
1996 U.S. Synchronized Swimming Team
1998 U.S. Women’s Ice Hockey Team
2002 U.S. Women’s Bobsled Team

For more information on the 2009 nominees, including bios and photos, and a comprehensive list of existing U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame members, please visit www.teamusa.org.

U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame

The charter class of the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame was enshrined in 1983, with such Olympic legends as Cassius Clay, Peggy Fleming, Jesse Owens, Wilma Rudolph, Mark Spitz, and the 1980 “Miracle on Ice” U.S. Olympic Men’s Hockey Team. Annual additions continued through 1992, adding Olympic legends such as Bart Conner, Dorothy Hamill, “Sugar Ray” Leonard, Carl Lewis, Greg Louganis, and Mary Lou Retton.

In becoming the presenting sponsor, Allstate sparked the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame’s revitalization in 2004. During the company’s five-year tenure as a partner, the Hall of Fame has inducted numerous decorated Olympic athletes including: Bonnie Blair, Janet Evans, Florence Griffith Joyner, Dan Jansen, Kristi Yamaguchi, and the 1996 “Magnificent Seven” U.S. Women’s Gymnastics Team. Following last June’s induction of the Class of 2008, the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame currently consists of 213 Distinguished Athletes and 13 special contributors.

Source: Allstate Insurance Company

Ben Wildman-Tobriner, 200,000th Taglit-Birthright Israel Participant, Finds Inspiration in Israel Despite Current Conflict

When three-time world champion and Olympic gold medal winning swimmer, Ben Wildman-Tobriner was selected as Taglit-Birthright Israel’s 200,000th participant, he expected that he would have a life-changing experience. What he did not anticipate, however, was having the opportunity to change other people’s lives by sharing his own experiences overcoming adversity.

“Taglit-Birthright Israel gave me the opportunity of a lifetime,” said Wildman-Tobriner, who recently returned from a 10-day trip to Israel. “Seeing Israel for the first time is an unforgettable experience, and despite the conflict I felt safe touring the country and met incredible people that are filled with strength, determination, and hope for the ability to live in peace. Israel is a great model of how each person can do their small part to accomplish the impossible, even make the desert bloom.”

“When we selected Ben Wildman-Tobriner to serve as our symbolic 200,000th participant, we did so, in part, because we felt that his story, which is one of overcoming obstacles and triumphing over seemingly insurmountable odds, was akin to the story of the State of Israel and that of our organization itself,” said Gidi Mark, CEO of Taglit-Birthright Israel. “He is a great role model to his peers, demonstrating how each one of us can do our part and use our own talents to contribute to the causes we care about.”

A world champion swimmer, Wildman-Tobriner suffered a potentially career-ending injury in December 2007, but was determined to overcome it. He devised methods of training with one-arm — including designing a wet suit with a sling, and went on a mere eight months later to win a gold medal at the Beijing Olympics, swimming in the heats of the 4×100 meter relay that broke a world record. His contributions in Beijing helped lead the U.S. team to its climactic victory.

Wildman-Tobriner was able to use his experiences to show support to the people of Israel. During his trip, he took some time off from touring to share his experience and knowhow with disabled Israeli soldiers at the Bet Halochem pool in Tel Aviv.

“Meeting and speaking with wounded Israeli soldiers who are fighting to improve their swimming abilities in spite of their injuries was extremely moving for me, particularly because they are young people my age,” Wildman-Tobriner said. “Their bravery is truly inspirational. I’d always felt comfortable with my Jewish identity, but I never felt especially connected to Israel. Now, after my Taglit-Birthright experience, I realize how important it is for us to keep the connections we established with the State of Israel and our culture strong. I’m grateful to Taglit-Birthright Israel for the opportunity they gave me, and I think every young Jewish adult should have this experience.”

Taglit-Birthright Israel was founded in 2000 by renowned philanthropists Michael Steinhardt and Charles Bronfman. Many were skeptical that their vision of sending every American young Jewish adult to Israel could ever become a reality. Yet less than ten years later, the organization has sent 200,000 people from around the world, ages 18-26, on all-expense paid trips to Israel.

The milestone was marked during Taglit-Birthright Israel’s “Mega-Event” in Jerusalem, which brought over 3,500 people together to celebrate. On behalf of all participants, Wildman-Tobriner greeted Israeli President Shimon Peres and presented philanthropists Dr. Miriam and Sheldon Adelson with a special gift in recognition of their support of Taglit-Birthright Israel and their help in reaching the 200,000 milestone.

Taglit-Birthright Israel

The Taglit-Birthright Israel gift is available to Jewish young adults, ages 18-26, who have never been to Israel on an organized educational trip. Taglit-Birthright Israel, launched in 2000, is a partnership between leading philanthropists, the State of Israel, and Jewish communities around the world. Its mission is to strengthen participants’ Jewish identities and connection to Israel and the Jewish people. The gift covers roundtrip airfare to Israel, transportation, most meals, lodging, guides and any additional ground expenses.

This feature is exclusively on Playboy.com. This pictorial is NOT a feature in Playboy magazine

Playboy.com today launched a new pictorial featuring Playboy models wearing the most technologically advanced swimsuits, in celebration of the 2008 Summer Olympics. The new feature (www.playboy.com/swimsuits) reveals a 12-image slideshow of Speedo’s official Olympic swimsuits over the past six games — dating back to 1988 — shot poolside at a fitness club in Chicago.

“Olympic swimmers are known for their beautiful, toned bodies which always are highlighted by their sleek suits,” said John Thomas, Editor for Playboy.com. “We are excited about this unique opportunity to showcase Speedo’s official Olympic swimsuits over the past decade, with the story behind the suits adding a new layer of interest about the victorious swimmers who wear them.”

In the pictorial, the Speedo swimsuits are worn by Greenville, Michigan native Cassie Keller, 18, and Sharae Spears, 24, from Knoxville, Tennessee. Cassie is a Playboy “Special Editions” model who will be featured on the “College Girls” cover released on December 2nd and Sharae is the August 2008 Cyber Girl of the Month. The buoyant beauties wear the following swimwear: the Speedo Star Axcel (1988), Speedo S2000 (1992), Speedo Aquablade (1996), Fastskin Speedo (2000), Fastskin FSII (2004), and Speedo LZR Racer (2008).

Although both Playboy models wear the one-pieces, Sharae — who sports the latest Speedo — took almost 30 minutes to squeeze into hers, as also is the case for professional swimmers. This year’s suit — the Speedo LZR Racer — which independent testing has shown to be the world’s fastest, is the brand’s most hydro-dynamically advanced swimsuit to date. The NASA-researched suit reduces drag while swimming and compresses the muscles to reduce fatigue. Since its February launch, 48 out of 50 world records set have been by swimmers wearing the LZR.

No stranger to the beauty of Olympic swimmers, Playboy magazine previously featured seven-time breaststroke medalist Amanda Beard who posed nude last July and 100-meter backstroke swimmer Haley Clark, also nude, in September 2004’s “Women of the Olympics” cover story. Additionally included in this special issue were seven other Olympic athletes including U.S. pole-vaulter Mary Sauer and high-jumper Amy Acuff.

Source: Playboy Enterprises, Inc.