Meet some of the guys of your 2004 U.S. Olympic Team. Everyone feel free to add more from other countries, sports, whatever. This is just to start things off.
Michael Phelps (swimming)
- Became the first American in history to qualify for the Olympic Games in six individual events at the 2004 U.S. Olympic Trials; after dropping the 200m backstroke, he will swim the 100m, 200m butterfly; 200m, 400m IM and 200m free, plus relays, in Athens
- In 2000, became the youngest American male swimmer (15) to compete in Olympic Games since 1932; finished fifth in the 200m butterfly.
- Current world-record holder in the 200m fly, 200m IM, and 400m IM; at the 2001 Spring Nationals, became the youngest man to break a world record (15 years, nine months)
- Became the first swimmer to set five world records at one meet at the 2003 World Championships; winning four golds and two silvers.
- Won the prestigious 2003 Sullivan Award as the top U.S. amateur athlete.
- "Michael is the closest to Mark Spitz that we have in this country, as far as across the rainbow of distances," said Jon Urbanchek, four-time U.S. Olympic team coach.
Cael Sanderson (wrestling)
- Iowa State wrestler Cael Sanderson is the first in his sport's history to finish undefeated in four seasons, and only the second NCAA Division I wrestler to win four NCAA championships. Sanderson will be deeply thrust into the media spotlight as he continues to set records never before achieved by a collegiate wrestler.
Andy Roddick (tennis)
- Finished 2001 ranked 14th in the world the youngest player in the top 20
- Won his fifth title by defeating Pete Sampras in the final of the 2002 U.S. Clay Court Championships
- In 2001, he reached the third round in his Wimbledon debut before losing to eventual champion Goran Ivanisevic
- Made it to the quarterfinals of the 2001 U.S. Open just one week after his 19th birthday, the youngest player to do so since 18-year-old Andre Agassi in 1988
- Won the junior singles title at the 2000 U.S. Open
- During the semifinals of the U.S. Clay Court Championships, Roddick bought tickets to the next days finals for all the fans who waited through a five hour rain delay. We started at about four oclock, Roddick explained of the semifinal match. I was a set and 5-4 up and it started raining. It rained for a good four hours and by the time we got back onto court it was a little after 11 oclock at night. There were about 5,000 people at the beginning and only about 250 at the end. When we went back on court they made as much noise as a packed stadium. They were really enthusiastic and pulling for me. I was signing autographs afterwards, and they were saying Thanks for coming back and playing. I said Thanks for coming back and supporting. I said that anybody who stayed out here through the rain delay, if they didnt have tickets for the finals the next day, it was on me. I told them to just take it out of my prize money.
Michael Phelps (swimming)
- Became the first American in history to qualify for the Olympic Games in six individual events at the 2004 U.S. Olympic Trials; after dropping the 200m backstroke, he will swim the 100m, 200m butterfly; 200m, 400m IM and 200m free, plus relays, in Athens
- In 2000, became the youngest American male swimmer (15) to compete in Olympic Games since 1932; finished fifth in the 200m butterfly.
- Current world-record holder in the 200m fly, 200m IM, and 400m IM; at the 2001 Spring Nationals, became the youngest man to break a world record (15 years, nine months)
- Became the first swimmer to set five world records at one meet at the 2003 World Championships; winning four golds and two silvers.
- Won the prestigious 2003 Sullivan Award as the top U.S. amateur athlete.
- "Michael is the closest to Mark Spitz that we have in this country, as far as across the rainbow of distances," said Jon Urbanchek, four-time U.S. Olympic team coach.
Cael Sanderson (wrestling)
- Iowa State wrestler Cael Sanderson is the first in his sport's history to finish undefeated in four seasons, and only the second NCAA Division I wrestler to win four NCAA championships. Sanderson will be deeply thrust into the media spotlight as he continues to set records never before achieved by a collegiate wrestler.
Andy Roddick (tennis)
- Finished 2001 ranked 14th in the world the youngest player in the top 20
- Won his fifth title by defeating Pete Sampras in the final of the 2002 U.S. Clay Court Championships
- In 2001, he reached the third round in his Wimbledon debut before losing to eventual champion Goran Ivanisevic
- Made it to the quarterfinals of the 2001 U.S. Open just one week after his 19th birthday, the youngest player to do so since 18-year-old Andre Agassi in 1988
- Won the junior singles title at the 2000 U.S. Open
- During the semifinals of the U.S. Clay Court Championships, Roddick bought tickets to the next days finals for all the fans who waited through a five hour rain delay. We started at about four oclock, Roddick explained of the semifinal match. I was a set and 5-4 up and it started raining. It rained for a good four hours and by the time we got back onto court it was a little after 11 oclock at night. There were about 5,000 people at the beginning and only about 250 at the end. When we went back on court they made as much noise as a packed stadium. They were really enthusiastic and pulling for me. I was signing autographs afterwards, and they were saying Thanks for coming back and playing. I said Thanks for coming back and supporting. I said that anybody who stayed out here through the rain delay, if they didnt have tickets for the finals the next day, it was on me. I told them to just take it out of my prize money.
