Focus on the Olympics: Margaret Hoelzer (2008 Swimming Hopeful)

Welcome to our Focus on the Olympics articles that introduces you to our Olympic athletes and hopefuls that will be competing in Beijing this summer. Margaret cites her mother as the most influential person in her life, as both role model and friend. Meet Margaret Hoelzer Margaret Josephine Hoelzer is the younger daughter of Hans Hoelzer and Elizabeth Livingston. Before swimming, Margaret tried soccer, gymnastics, track and softball. Her older sister, Martha, ran track at both the University of Alabama and University of North Carolina. She is currently working towards earning a graduate degree in sociology from Auburn, where she … Continue reading →

Focus on the Olympics: Jessica Hardy (2008 Swimming Hopeful)

Welcome to our Focus on the Olympics articles that introduces you to our Olympic athletes and hopefuls that will be competing in Beijing this summer. Jessica is a great girl who may be relatively new to the world of competitive swimming, but she comes by it honestly: her mother was a swimmer, too. Meet Jessica Hardy Jessica Hardy is the daughter of George Hardy, a chemical engineer, and Denise Robinson, a clinical social worker who was a former swimmer at Indiana State University. She has a younger sister, Amanda, who swims and plays water polo. Her grandfather, John Tourtellot, was … Continue reading →

Focus on the Olympics: Kate Ziegler (2008 Swimming Hopeful)

Welcome to our Focus on the Olympics articles that introduces you to our Olympic athletes and hopefuls that will be competing in Beijing this summer. Kate swims 11,000 meters a day, 6 days a week. Meet Kate Ziegler Kate is the youngest of three children for parents Don and Cathy Ziegler. She grew up in Great Falls, Va., and attended Bishop O’Connell High School in Arlington, Va. where she was a four-time All-American. In 2005, Kate was honored by USA Swimming garnering the 2005 Female Performance of the Year for her performance in the 1500m freestyle at the 2005 World … Continue reading →

Focus on the Olympics: Brendan Hansen (2008 Swimming Hopeful)

Welcome to our Focus on the Olympics articles that introduces you to our Olympic athletes and hopefuls that will be competing in Beijing this summer. Brendan had the honor of being selected captain of the U.S.A. team captain at the Melbourne World Championships in 2007. A college graduate, swimming runs in Brenden’s blood. Meet Brendan Hansen Brendan has been swimming for the major part of his life earning a spot on the Junior Nationals team at the age of 12. He is one of three siblings that swim. His older brother Sean swam for Lafayette (Pa.) College and now coaches … Continue reading →

Focus on the Olympics: Eric Vendt (2008 Swimming Hopeful)

Welcome to our Focus on the Olympics articles that introduces you to our Olympic athletes and hopefuls that will be competing in Beijing this summer. Eric was the first American to break the 15 minute barrier in the 1500 Freestyle. Meet Eric Vendt Eric returned to the pool in April 2006 after retiring from competitive swimming after the 2004 Olympic Games. He spent four months backpacking in Europe after the 2004 Games before moving to New York, where he taught swimming lessons to beginners. His time spent working with kids gave him a new outlook on swimming. Eric majored in … Continue reading →

Focus on the Olympics: Ian Crocker (2008 Swimming Hopeful)

Welcome to our Focus on the Olympics articles that introduces you to our Olympic athletes and hopefuls that will be competing in Beijing this summer. Ian won Olympic gold in 2000 and 2004. His success has roots in overcoming personal adversity to reach for success in life and the Olympics. Meet Ian Crocker Ian Lowell Crocker was born to Richard and Gail Crocker. Richard is a lab technician and Gail manages a cardiac rehab facility. He has one sister, Amy, and three cats, Murphy, Hazel and Dinah. Ian started showing signs of depression in high school. Early in college, he … Continue reading →

Focus on the Olympics: Ben Wildman-Tobriner (2008 Swimming Hopeful)

Welcome to our Focus on the Olympics articles that introduces you to our Olympic athletes and hopefuls that will be competing in Beijing this summer. Ben decided to postpone his medical school in order to make his first-ever U.S. Olympic team this year. Meet Ben Wildman-Tobriner Ben majored in Biomechanical Engineering at Stanford. He boasted an incredible 3.68 GPA and earned 20 All-American honors over his four years at Stanford. As an advocate for the Boys & Girls Club of San Francisco, where he first began swimming at age 12, Ben remains involved with the chapter’s swim program. His sister, … Continue reading →

Focus on the Olympics: Natalie Coughlin (2008 Swimming Hopeful)

Welcome to our Focus on the Olympics articles that introduces you to our Olympic athletes and hopefuls that will be competing in Beijing this summer. Natalie is a fantastic role model for young women with her comeback from a shoulder injury and her focus on recovery and excellence. She found that excellence in 2004 and she’s looking forward to more in 2008. Meet Natalie Coughlin Natalie Anne Coughlin is the oldest daughter of James, a police officer, and Zennie, a paralegal. Her younger sister, Megan, attended UC Davis. She was awarded a full four-year scholarship to UC Berkeley, and volunteered … Continue reading →

Focus on the Olympics: Donny Robinson (2008 Cycling Hopeful)

Welcome to our Focus on the Olympics articles that introduces you to our Olympic athletes and hopefuls that will be competing in Beijing this summer. This is a great way to educate our kids and ourselves on the sports, the competitors and the dream of Olympic Gold that for many of these athletes began many years ago and will culminate this August in Beijing. Meet Donny Robinson Donny first competed in BMX at age 6. That same year, he started his eight-year training in gymnastics, and he credits the tumbling maneuvers he learned to being injured less when flying or … Continue reading →

Focus on the Olympics: Sarah Hammer (Cycling Hopeful)

Welcome to our first Focus on the Olympics article that introduces you to our Olympic athletes and hopefuls that will be competing in Beijing this summer. Up first, we’re going to look at cycling. This is a sport many of us are familiar with or as parents have taught to our kids. Meet Sarah Hammer Sarah’s pursuit for perfection seems to go well beyond the number 1 world ranking she owns within the sport of cycling. She strives to live an all-around life. Hammer spends time developing her off the bike gifts as she diligently works to excel in her … Continue reading →