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SECTION OL | SUNDAY, AUGUST 8, 2004 .... THE ATHENS OLYMPICS

THE GOLDEN STATE PORTRAITS No one brings home Olympic medals VIEWERS’ GUIDE An up-close look What to watch at Bay Area Olympians like Californians. Here’s why. and when to watch it PAGES 2-16 STORIES, PAGES 3-7 SECTION T, BEHIND THIS SECTION ....

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2 WWW.MERCURYNEWS.COM SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS SUNDAY, AUGUST 8, 2004

The Athens Olympics Welcome to our coverage of the About the Olympic portraits 2004 Games Throughout these pages you will find a se- ‘‘Most Olympic athletes toil away in obscuri- ries of stunning portraits taken over the past ty with little compensation in the form of mon- The Summer Olympics are some- four months by the Mercury News’ Jim Gens- ey or acclaim. Why do they do it? Most will tell thing special to the Bay Area, where swimmers, runners and cyclists are heimer, who has photographed Olympians to you they do it for the love of their sport; for the as much a part of the culture as foot- ball, baseball and basketball players. preview four Summer Games and one Winter self-satisfaction of being good at something. That is why we have chosen the Games. Here is what Gensheimer, who has ‘‘I’ve seen athletes evolve. I photographed theme ‘‘The Golden State’’ for our sections previewing the 2004 Athens done these portraits since 1992, says about his swimmer Jenny Thompson for her Olympic Games. work and the athletes he has photographed: debut in 1992, and for every Olympics since. As Mark Emmons describes in our cover story, beginning on the next ‘‘We mostly see athletes in action, often un- This will be her fourth appearance. Her com- page, California is simply different der bad light with their faces obscured by gog- mitment and tenacity are remarkable. than the rest of the country. ‘‘Ath- THE PHOTOGRAPHER: letes are just drawn here,’’ Olympic gles or helmets. I want readers to be able to ‘‘I see these Olympic portraits as a tribute historian David Wallechinsky told The Mercury News’ Jim Emmons. Indeed, more than a quar- see their faces in a soul-revealing portrait. I to athletes like Thompson and the values they Gensheimer has ter of the athletes competing in Ath- hope to capture athletes’ competitive spirit, represent: honest hard work, passion and ens under the American flag have photographed Olympic significant ties to the state. Emmons’ their personality, their drive and passion. valor.’’ athletes since 1992. story explores the reasons why. Today’s section is just the begin- ning of our coverage of the Games, which will be broadcast almost around the clock and contested un- der a veil of terrorism fears and amid a drug scandal that threatens to over- JESSICA MENDOZA, LAUREN LAPPIN | Softball shadow the competition itself. Reporter Elliott Almond, one of the nation’s authorities on that drug scandal, will be joined in Greece by columnists Mark Purdy and Ann Kil- lion. Photographer Nhat V. Meyer, who has followed aspiring Olympians all year, will offer a glimpse of the happiness and heartbreak that are the Games. Charlie McCollum, writing from your viewpoint — in front of the TV — will dissect the best and worst of the 1,210 hours of coverage by NBC and its stable of networks. And don’t forget to check www.mercurynews.com for up- dates and coverage throughout each day.

TABLE OF CONTENTS Portraits and biographies ...... Pages 2-17 Cover story ...... Pages 3-4

FIVE INFLUENTIAL CALIFORNIANS Peter Ueberroth ...... Page 4 Cheryl Miller...... Page 5 Rafer Johnson...... Page 6 Mark Spitz...... Page 6 Florence Griffith Joyner...... Page 6 Other Californians in the Games ...... Page 17

IN DEPTH: LOCAL ATHLETES AND THEIR SPORTS Patricia Miranda, wrestling ...... Page 17 Andre Ward, boxing...... Page 17 Synchronized swimming team...... Page 18 Khoa Nguyen, table tennis...... Page 18 SECTION T BEHIND THIS SECTION What’s on TV every day...... Pages 2-8 Schedule of events ...... Pages 9-11

COVER PHOTOS Shown clockwise from top left

Andre Ward Tara and Boxing, Page 7 Dana Kirk JIM GENSHEIMER — MERCURY NEWS PHOTOGRAPHS Swimming, Page 5 Softball players Jessica Mendoza, left, a Stanford graduate, and Lauren Lappin, a Stanford student.

JESSICA MENDOZA LAUREN LAPPIN WHEN TO WATCH Aug. 14: vs. Italy Age: 23 Position: Left field Age: 20 Position: Catcher/infield (alternate) Aug. 15: vs. Australia Residence: Camarillo Residence: Anaheim Patricia Aug. 16: vs. Japan Christine Bay Area connection: Graduated from Stanford Bay Area connection: Attends Stanford Thorburn Miranda Aug. 17: vs. China Cycling, Page 7 Wrestling, Page 6 Aug. 18: vs. Canada Jessica Mendoza was a first-team All- Lauren Lappin is the youngest member of a Aug. 19: vs. Greece American in all four of her seasons at team that is the two-time defending Olym- Aug. 20: vs. Taiwan Stanford, and she helped the school to its pic gold medalist. As a freshman, she led Aug. 22: semifinals and bronze-medal game first appearance in the Women’s College Stanford with a .328 batting average. Last Aug. 23: gold-medal Eric Toby World Series, in 2001. She has been a season she was tops with a .358 mark and game Guerrero Stevenson Wrestling, Page 16 Pole vault, Page 9 standout with the national team ever helped the Cardinal advance to the Wom- since her debut at the 2002 world champi- en’s College World Series. Lappin hit .400 onships, where she batted .313 and drove there and was named to the all-tournament OLYMPICS PREVIEW SECTION STAFF in seven runs as the Americans won gold. team. Section editor Rachel Wettergreen Wilner Writers Mark Emmons, Chris Hutchison Photographer Jim Gensheimer NATALIE COUGHLIN | Swimming Copy Editors Chris Hutchison, Nicole Poell Events: 100-meter backstroke, 100-meter freestyle, 400-meter freestyle relay, 400-meter medley relay Picture editors Age: 21 Residence: Concord Bay Area connection: Grew up in Concord and graduated from Cal Wayne Begasse, Caroline Couig Directors of photography Geri Migielicz, Mark Damon It is difficult to decide what about Natalie WHEN TO WATCH Designers Coughlin to admire more: her versatility in Aug. 14: 400 freestyle relay heats and final HyunJu Chappell Hine, Jeff Hindenach Aug. 15: 100 backstroke heats and semifinals News design director the water (six world records, spanning the Aug. 16: 100 backstroke final Kevin Wendt four disciplines) or the fact she has Aug. 18: 100 freestyle heats and semifinals Graphics Aug. 19: 100 freestyle final Javier Zarracina, Karl Kahler, Doug Griswold achieved so much after a serious shoulder Aug. 20: 400 medley relay heats Art director injury nearly ended her career when she Pai Aug. 21: 400 medley relay final Creative director was 16. The backstroke is her best event; Kris Viesselman she was the first woman to swim the 100 in Executive Sports editor Mike Guersch less than a minute. See story, Page 1A. SJMN Operator: NN / Job name: XXXX0091-0003 / Description: Zone:MO Edition: Revised, date and time: 05/15/21, 11:40 Typeset, date and time: 08/04/04, 00:00 080804MOOL0U003 / Typesetter: IIIOUT / TCP: #1 / Queue entry: #0919 CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK 8/8/2004 MO 3

SUNDAY, AUGUST 8, 2004 SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS WWW.MERCURYNEWS.COM 3

The Athens Olympics Made in California Golden State has proven to be ideal setting for producing Olympians

By Mark Emmons Mercury News Graduating from tiny Graceland College in Iowa back in 1973, the athlete knew he needed just the right spot to train for a shot at Olympic glory. He went through the checklist of requirements. Good weather. Great facilities. A place brimming with other world-class athletes. ‘‘So as soon as I took off my cap and gown, I jumped into my ’63 Volkswagen bug,’’ Bruce Jenner said. ‘‘Pole vault strapped to the roof. Javelins sticking out the doors. Headed West.’’ To the land of athletes. California. When it comes to the Olympics, we are truly the Golden State. In a different time, fortune-seekers rushed here in search of gold. FIVE Today, athletes INFLUENTIAL here are hunt- CALIFORNIANS ing gold med- als. If they we- Profiles of five ren’t born here, people from they pack their the Golden bags and come State who here — like have left their Jenner, the 1976 mark on the decathlon gold Olympics. medalist. PAGES 4-7 We’re the home of run- ners, swim- mers, cyclists, boxers, rowers, fenc- ers and even trampoliners. Twenty-six percent of the 531 American athletes competing in the Athens Games, according to the U.S. Olympic Committee’s offi- cial roster, are from California. But if you include athletes who have other significant California ties — such as attending college here — the figure is more like 30 percent. And that ratio is typical of previous Olympics. ‘‘We once figured out, about the time of Seoul and Barcelona Games, that if California was a sep- arate nation, it would finish fifth in the medal count,’’ said USOC spokesman Bob Condron. Let’s just say we’re the MVP for the U.S. Olympic movement — Most Valuable Place. ‘‘Athletes are just drawn here,’’ said Olympic historian David Wal- lechinsky. ‘‘It’s like people who want to be movie stars or record- ing artists.’’ ‘Part of our social fabric’ The U.S. Olympic team should carry a Made in California tag on JIM GENSHEIMER — MERCURY NEWS PHOTOGRAPHS the back of its jersey. After all, with a population of more than 35 mil- lion, we make up about 12 percent of America’s population. If Califor- 2004 | JENNY THOMPSON, Swimming nia were a separate country, it would rank fifth in the world in Age: 31 Events: 100-meter butterfly, 50-meter freestyle, 400-meter freestyle relay Residence: New York gross national product. Producing athletes should be no Bay Area connection: Stanford graduate, trained there for years different than pumping out avoca- dos, high-tech gadgets and Holly- wood blockbusters, right? Turn on MTV and at any moment it seems someone’s talking about their ‘‘bling,’’ their flashy WHEN TO WATCH The weather — the source of the jewelry. If she so desired, Jenny Thompson could make those musicians look downright plain Aug. 14: 400 freestyle relay heats and fi- ‘‘endless summer’’ mystique — is nal; 100 butterfly heats and semifinals perfect for outdoor sports. We have by putting on her 10 Olympic medals (eight gold, one silver, one bronze). With two more in Aug. 15: 100 butterfly final universities — Stanford, Cal, Aug. 20: 50 freestyle heats UCLA, USC — that attract ath- these, her fourth Games, she would be the most decorated American Olympian ever. If there letes not just from around the is a knock on Thompson, however, it is that she has never won an individual gold. This will be and semifinals country, but around the globe. Aug. 21: 50 freestyle final ‘‘Sport holds a high place in our her final chance. culture in this state,’’ said Southern California’s Anita DeFrantz, a bronze medalist as a rower in the 1976 Games who became the Inter- national Olympic Committee’s first 1992 1996 2000 female vice president in 1997. ‘‘It’s part of our social fabric here.’’ Peter Ueberroth, the most influ- ential Californian in the Olympic movement even though he never competed as an athlete, agrees that it goes deeper than just sunshine. After all, it’s not like we’ve got a monopoly on that. California, Ue- berroth said, is just different from anywhere else. While that can make us an easy punchline to the rest of the country, it helps explain why we’re a sports powerhouse. ‘‘It’s an acceptance,’’ said Ueber- roth, the hero of the 1984 Los Ange- les Olympics. ‘‘Californians wel- come everyone. That’s our reputa- tion. This is a place where you should come.’’ And follow a dream no matter how unlikely it might seem some- where else. That’s what a certain She took silver in 100 freestyle and fifth in 50 freestyle She anchored winning teams in the two freestyle relays She helped the U.S. win three relays and added an See GOLDEN, Page 4 but won gold in the 400 freestyle and medley relays. and added another gold in the medley relay. individual bronze in the 100 freestyle.

CALIFORNIA’S OLYMPIC DOMINANCE BY THE NUMBERS

Number of California Number of Olympic medalists Number of Number of Percentage Bay Area’s rank Olympians out of 531 at the 2000 Games in Sydney Olympics held in 2004 U.S. that TV in Olympic 140 listed on official 2004 73 with ties to California. 3 California. 9 synchronized 31 ratings were 1 television U.S. Olympic Committee roster. That (Includes individuals competing in team A total of eight have swimming team higher in the Bay Area viewership among the doesn’t include about 20 more who sports; does not include multiple medals been held in the United members (out of nine) than for rest of country big U.S. markets for have significant ties to the state. won by a single athlete.) States. who live in the Bay Area. during the Sydney Games. the Salt Lake Games. SJMN Operator: NN / Job name: XXXX0092-0004 / Description: Zone:MO Edition: Revised, date and time: 04/18/87, 16:46 Typeset, date and time: 08/04/04, 00:02 080804MOOL0U004 / Typesetter: IIIOUT / TCP: #1 / Queue entry: #0921 CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK 8/8/2004 MO 4

4 WWW.MERCURYNEWS.COM SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS SUNDAY, AUGUST 8, 2004 GOLDEN l State The Athens Olympics ideal for athletes Continued from Page 3 Women’s soccer bodybuilder-turned-actor-turned-governor did. As Ah- nold would say, anything is possible in Ka-lee-for-nia. Dominating the Games The list of memorable Californian Olympians goes on and on. Mark Spitz, Janet Evans, Greg Louganis, Bob Mathias, Florence Griffith Joyner, Rafer Johnson, Mari- on Jones, Oscar de la Hoya, Tommie Smith and John Carlos. You probably don’t know the name Ralph Rose, but he was a gold-medalist shot putter from Healdsburg who began the tradition of never dipping the American flag when he declined to lower it before the King of England at the 1908 London Olympics. And consider these Winter Olympics greats: Peggy Fleming, Michelle Kwan, Kristi Yamaguchi. All are Cali- fornians. ‘‘There’s been so many good athletes from there that I wouldn’t know where to begin a list of them,’’ Wallechin- sky said. ‘‘Then you have to ask: What is a Californian? A lot of people just come here to train and then go back home.’’ Most, though, come and never leave. That’s why Karch Kiraly, one of California’s sons of the beach, is laughing. He has just been asked if he would have become the country’s best-ever men’s volley- ball player if he had been raised in, say, Detroit. Kiraly explains that growing up he split time between Ann Ar- bor, Mich., and California. But eventually his family set- tled in Santa Barbara, which explains why he focused on volleyball. ‘‘I don’t think I would have become nearly the player I am had we stayed in Michigan,’’ said Kiraly, 43, a three- time gold medalist who still plays the beach circuit. More likely, he would have been funneled into one of the big three sports. ‘‘Californians aren’t so locked into just baseball, foot- ball, basketball,’’ Kiraly said. ‘‘Other states churn out those athletes, but California churns out more athletes in Olympic sports. Water polo, swimming, tennis, volley- ball. You name it, we got it. But if you talk beach volley- ball to some guy in Texas, it’s going to fall on deaf ears.’’ ‘World’s greatest’ We also practically invented the concept of organized youth sports. Why have we produced so many Olympic swimmers? It has a lot to do with the Santa Clara and Mission Viejo swim clubs. In the three Olympics in the 1960s, the Santa Clara team that featured stars such as Donna de Varona, Clau- dia Kolb and Don Schollander — by itself — would have been among the top four nations in the medal count, said John Spalding, author of ‘‘A Century of Sports in Santa Clara County.’’ Added Jenner: ‘‘If a kid is good, a family is going to move to Santa Clara or Orange County and go for it.’’ When he decided to go for it, Jenner said one question rose above the rest. ‘‘I asked myself, ‘Where are the world’s greatest ath- letes training?’ ’’ he said. ‘‘That’s why I picked San Jose.’’ He lived in a one-bedroom apartment on Fruitdale JIM GENSHEIMER — MERCURY NEWS Ave. that cost him $145 a month as he worked out at San Joy Fawcett, Aly Wagner, Brandi Chastain and Julie Foudy Jose City College. ‘‘We had nine people from San Jose on the ’76 Olym- pic team,’’ he added. ‘‘We had two gold medals, a silver JOY FAWCETT ALY WAGNER BRANDI CHASTAIN JULIE FOUDY and a bronze. We would have placed fifth as a nation in Age: 36 Age: 23 Age: 36 track and field at the Olympics.’’ Age: 33 Actually, the San Jose bunch won more medals than Position: Defender Position: Midfielder Position: Defender Position: Midfielder Jenner remembers — four gold, a silver and a bronze. Residence: Foothill Ranch Residence: San Jose Residence: San Jose Residence: Mission Viejo Athletes, added 1976 swimming star John Naber, Bay Area connection: Bay Area connection: Bay Area connection: Bay Area connection: want to be around other athletes. Graduated from Cal Grew up in San Jose, attended Grew up in San Jose, graduated from Graduated from Stanford ‘‘The analogy I use is like charcoal briquettes,’’ said Presentation High and Santa Clara Archbishop Mitty High, Santa Clara Naber, a Menlo Park native who won four gold medals and a silver. ‘‘You get a couple of hot ones and then all the rest next to them get real hot. Now if you spread Joy Fawcett is the Aly Wagner was a Brandi Chastain was Mia Hamm scores the goals. them apart, they all cool down quickly.’’ oldest player on the standout in high integral to the Amer- Brandi Chastain gets the In California, it’s all heat. ‘‘It’s a self-replicating system,’’ Naber said. ‘‘When you U.S. team, and one of school, winning Mer- ican teams that won magazine covers. But Julie host the Olympics and you have so many Olympians here, lots of little kids push their noses up against fences four to have been a cury News and na- Olympic gold in 1996 Foudy is the leader of the U.S. to see them. It nurtures a dream within them to do the part of every World tional player of the and the World Cup in women’s soccer team. She same.’’ That’s exactly what happened to Naber when he com- Cup and Olympic year awards. In col- 1999. But after a sil- doles out terrific passes and peted in a meet at Santa Clara in 1972 and found himself squad. What’s the se- lege she led Santa ver medal in Sydney crosses from midfield, and swimming against Olympic medal winners. ‘‘For me, that literally set the hook,’’ Naber said. cret to her longevity? Clara to its first na- and a third-place fin- has a wealth of experience as And even those of us who can’t run, jump or swim have an appreciation of those who can. ‘‘She doesn’t rock you tional championship, ish at last year’s the team’s captain, having ‘A love affair’ with hard, crushing in 2001, and won na- World Cup — most played in four World Cups ‘‘The West Coast has a love affair with the Olympics,’’ tackles. She’s more tional player of the of which Chastain and both Olympic competi- said NBC executive Dick Ebersol of higher TV ratings graceful than that,’’ year honors. She missed because of a tions. Foudy is influential off here. It’s no accident we’ve been the site of three Games. In former U.S. coach played in four games broken foot — there the field as well; she recently ’32 Los Angeles staged a successful Olympics in the throes of the Great Depression. In the ’84 sequel, L.A. Tony DiCicco says. at the 2003 World is something to served on the presidential put on a show that resuscitated a wheezing Olympic ‘‘She just picks your Cup, but these will be prove in Athens. commission on Title IX. movement. In between were the ’60 Winter Games in Squaw Val- pocket as you go by.’’ her first Olympics. Chastain also thinks ley that were the first to be broadcast on American net- In Athens, Fawcett Wagner is a midfield- a gold medal would WHEN TO WATCH work television. They ushered in the idea of Olympics as Aug. 11: vs. Greece theater, with Walt Disney designing the opening and will be looking to er who can create help stir interest in Aug. 14: vs. Brazil closing ceremonies. Over the next couple of weeks, new U.S. stars will be erase the memory goals for teammates the ongoing efforts Aug. 17: vs. Australia minted and legends created. Don’t be surprised if ath- from 2000 of her or score them herself, to revive the Wom- Aug. 20: quarterfinals letes with California addresses launch yet another gold Aug. 23: semifinals rush. header that led to so it is fitting that she en’s United Soccer Aug. 26: bronze- and gold-medal As Jenner said: ‘‘There’s just no place like California.’’ Norway’s golden goal. wears the No. 10. Association. matches Contact Mark Emmons at [email protected].

FIVE INFLUENTIAL CALIFORNIANS Ueberroth helped bring Games back to life By Mark Emmons ABOUT PETER UEBERROTH management change,’’ said Ue- With a volunteer force of more Mercury News berroth, referring to the over- than 70,000 people, the Games Long before Peter Ueberroth Age: 66 Residence: Laguna Beach throw of the government in Iran. were a smashing success despite saved the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic career: Chief organizer of the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. But serving as the cheerlead- the Soviet Union-led boycott of Games — and maybe the entire Current: After serving as the commissioner of baseball for five years, Ueberroth is ing head of L.A.’s effort, Ueber- communist countries. The Olym- Olympic movement with it — managing director of the Newport Beach-based company Contrarian Group, Inc., and roth persuaded the IOC that it pics posted a $238 million sur- sports saved him. member of various company board of directors. In June, he was named chairman of the U.S. was extremely well-organized plus. That’s why cities around the He was a senior at Sunny- Olympic Committee board of directors. and could host a privately fund- world now make extravagant vale’s Fremont High School. He ed Games. But when he got back bids to host them. didn’t know what he wanted to ter polo tryouts, and he probably the Olympic decathlete. ‘‘He to L.A., ‘‘I discovered that all of ‘‘We were just making sure we do. Nobody in his family had gone would have made the ’60 squad if brought new life to the Olym- our preparations consisted of a could cover expenses if anything to college, and he probably he hadn’t been married, living in pics.’’ cardboard box.’’ went wrong because we prom- wouldn’t have, either. Hawaii and starting a career in It’s strange to think about now, Most people, Ueberroth can ised taxpayers wouldn’t pay a That is, until his football coach the travel industry that would but back then, the Olympics were say with a chuckle now, figured penny,’’ he said. and the San Jose State water po- make him millions. in serious trouble. There was the that he was certifiable. The Ueberroth, who ran an unsuc- lo coach got together and decided Instead, Ueberroth would terrorist attack at Munich in ’72. Games, it was predicted, would cessful campaign for California Ueberroth might be worth a make his mark as the visionary The astronomical cost of the ’76 be an unmitigated disaster. governor in last year’s runoff scholarship offer. head of the 1984 L.A. Olympic or- Games had crippled Montreal. ‘‘For four years we heard the election, was coaxed back into ‘‘I agreed to try it for a year, ganizing effort who changed how The United States had boycotted doomsday individuals dominate the Olympic fold in June. He was and that changed my life,’’ said we view the Olympics. the ’80 Games in Moscow. the headlines,’’ he said. ‘‘Then, named chairman of the board of ASSOCIATED PRESS ARCHIVES Ueberroth, who graduated in ‘‘There’s no doubt in my mind Only two cities bid on the ’84 just before the Games started, it directors for the troubled U.S. Peter Ueberroth’s 1984 Los 1958. that without Peter Ueberroth, Summer Games. began to turn, and people real- Olympic Committee. Angeles Games were a He was good enough to be in- there might not even be an Olym- ‘‘There really was nobody else ized they could be successful.’’ The Olympic world needs his smashing success despite the vited to the ’56 U.S. Olympic wa- pic Games,’’ said Rafer Johnson, because Tehran was having a That’s an understatement. help again. Soviet Union-led boycott. SJMN Operator: NN / Job name: XXXX0093-0005 / Description: Zone:MO Edition: Revised, date and time: 09/08/10, 15:37 Typeset, date and time: 08/04/04, 00:03 080804MOOL0U005 / Typesetter: IIIOUT / TCP: #1 / Queue entry: #0922 CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK 8/8/2004 MO 5

SUNDAY, AUGUST 8, 2004 SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS WWW.MERCURYNEWS.COM 5

The Athens Olympics

TARA AND DANA KIRK | Swimming

JIM GENSHEIMER — MERCURY NEWS Swimmers and sisters Tara Kirk, left, a Stanford graduate, and Dana Kirk, a Stanford student.

TARA KIRK DANA KIRK Age: 22 Events: 100-meter breaststroke, 400-meter medley relay Residence: Bremerton, Wash. Age: 20 Event: 200-meter butterfly Residence: Bremerton, Wash. Bay Area connection: Graduated from Stanford Bay Area connection: Attends Stanford

In college, Tara Kirk never lost a 100 breaststroke race and won seven Dana Kirk is the younger sister, both in age and demeanor. She is laid- NCAA titles, and as a senior she won the Honda-Broderick Cup as the fe- back outside the pool, with a passion for cooking, but in the water is all male collegiate athlete of the year. Not bad for someone who ventured to business. She placed second in the 100 butterfly and fourth in the 200 the pool only after breaking her arm as a 10-year-old gymnast. She will be butterfly at the most recent NCAA championships, and won the 200 but- motivated by her rare second-place finish in the 100 at the trials. terfly at the Olympic trials. When Tara qualified for Athens at the trials, Dana followed. Just like at Stanford. Ever the little sister. WHEN TO WATCH: Aug. 15: 100 breaststroke heats and semifinals. Aug. 16: 100 breaststroke final. Aug. 20: 400 medley relay heats. Aug. 21: 400 medley relay final WHEN TO WATCH: Aug. 17: heats and semifinals. Aug. 18: final

FIVE INFLUENTIAL CALIFORNIANS Miller’s Olympic legacy went beyond basketball By Mark Emmons ABOUT CHERYL MILLER of Title IX’s impact. Ameri- Polytechnic High School to a squad had college scholar- Mercury News can women of those Games, 132-4 record during her ca- ships, something that was Sure, Cheryl Miller could Age: 40 especially the team-sports reer, scoring 105 points in a unheard of before Title IX. play a mean game of basket- Olympic career: Star of the 1984 U.S. athletes, were among the single game. At USC, she set That team set the stage for ball. She was a force never women’s gold medal basketball team. first to benefit from the records for points, rebounds, other Olympic women’s team before seen in the women’s Current: Broadcaster for TNT network. equal-access law. In turn, free throws and steals. sports that would come later game — someone who could they served as inspiration for Sports Illustrated once — such as soccer and soft- dominate in the middle yet a generation of young wom- called her the nation’s best ball. handle the ball like a guard. colleges. ‘‘She heralded what en. basketball player — male or And in Athens, almost half But when Donna Lopiano, was to come.’’ ‘‘It was the ’84 Games that female. of the U.S. team will be fe- executive director of the Miller was one of the really gave us an inkling Her younger brother, long- male for the first time. Women’s Sports Foundation, breakout stars of the 1984 about the future of women’s time NBA star Reggie Miller, Today, at least when it talks about Miller being a Los Angeles Olympics — sports,’’ Lopiano said. ‘‘That had to endure taunts that he comes to the Olympics, men transition player, she’s not Games that were a coming- Olympics was proof in the was only the second-best play- and women are equals. referring to the fast break. out party for American fe- pudding of what happens er in his family. ‘‘Throughout most of the ‘‘She was part of the first male athletes, who claimed 61 when you gave women college At the ’84 Games, Cheryl year, women’s sports com- wave of recipients of oppor- medals, 27 of them gold. It scholarships.’’ Miller led the U.S. squad in prise about 8 percent of the ASSOCIATED PRESS ARCHIVES tunities under Title IX,’’ said was the Games of Mary Lou Miller, a 6-foot-2 center, scoring, rebounding, steals sports media coverage,’’ Lo- Cheryl Miller was a symbol of Lopiano, referring to the 1972 Retton, Mary T. Meagher, wasn’t just a great basket- and assists as it won all of its piano said. ‘‘But at the Olym- Title IX’s impact. ‘‘She heralded federal law that mandated Joan Benoit and Miller. ball player. She changed the games by 28 points or more. pics, they are truly the stars. what was to come,’’ said Donna equal funding of women’s But the basketball star also way the women’s game is Just as historic was the fact That ignites the aspirations Lopiano, executive director of the sports in high schools and was a symbol and an example played. She led Riverside’s that all 12 members of that of young girls worldwide.’’ Women’s Sports Foundation. SJMN Operator: NN / Job name: XXXX0094-0006 / Description: Zone:MO Edition: Revised, date and time: 12/19/64, 19:47 Typeset, date and time: 08/04/04, 00:10 080804MOOL0U006 / Typesetter: IIIOUT / TCP: #1 / Queue entry: #0927 CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK 8/8/2004 MO 6

6 WWW.MERCURYNEWS.COM SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS SUNDAY, AUGUST 8, 2004

The Athens Olympics

PATRICIA MIRANDA | Freestyle wrestling Age: 25 Division: 105.5 pounds Bay Area connection: Graduated from Saratoga High and Stanford Residence: Colorado Springs, Colo.

JIM GENSHEIMER — MERCURY NEWS A girl wrestler? Not even her dad liked the idea. Still, Patricia Miranda competed with the boys at WHEN TO WATCH Saratoga High and then at Stanford, where she did not win a match until her senior season. As Aug. 22: pool elimination Aug. 23: qualification, women’s wrestling has grown — this year marks its Olympic debut — so has Miranda’s stature. semifinals, bronze-medal, She won silver at the 2000 and 2003 world championships, and is a top contender for a gold medal gold-medal matches in Athens. INSIDE HER TECHNIQUE, PAGE 17

FIVE INFLUENTIAL CALIFORNIANS Ever the Olympian, Johnson Spitz remains the swimmer still tries to inspire others Americans can’t forget By Mark Emmons ABOUT RAFER JOHNSON By Mark Emmons ABOUT MARK SPITZ Mercury News Mercury News Rafer Johnson is on a cell Age: 66 Mark Spitz, better than any- Age: 54 phone outside a junior high Residence: Southern California one, understands the mentality Residence: Los Angeles that bears his name in the Olympic career: 1956 silver medalist and of the American sports fan to- Olympic career: Won 11 swimming medals, Central Valley town of Kings- 1960 gold medalist in decathlon. ward the Olympics. including a record seven gold in the 1972 burg. He’s speaking at a grad- Current: Chairman of the board of governors ‘‘Nobody remembers times,’’ Munich Games. uation ceremony later in the for the Southern California Special Olympics. he said. ‘‘They just remember Current: Financial adviser and public day. But right now he’s ex- Sits on numerous company boards. the medals.’’ speaker. Married to Suzy, his wife of 31 plaining how his life changed That’s why Spitz may be the years, with two sons. when his family moved to the fans chanted, ‘‘Give them best-remembered U.S. Olympi- Swedish immigrant commu- both the gold medal,’’ accord- an. He set the bar by winning an whisked away before the closing nity from racially intolerant ing to David Wallechinsky’s unprecedented seven gold med- ceremony. Texas in the mid-1940s. ASSOCIATED PRESS ARCHIVES ‘‘The Complete Book of the als at the 1972 Munich Games. He made millions in a post- ‘‘We were maybe the second Rafer Johnson’s decathlon Summer Olympics.’’ His hair is gray now, and he Olympics endorsement career family of color to live here,’’ victory over UCLA teammate Johnson later became active no longer has his famous mus- but never made the jump into Johnson said. ‘‘All I can say is I C.K. Yang is considered the in the Peace Corps through his tache. But Spitz remains the the entertainment industry be- don’t think my dad could have ultimate symbol of fierce yet friendship with Robert Kenne- one swimmer nearly every fore fading from public view. made a better choice. I didn’t friendly competition. dy. He was in the kitchen of Los American knows. ‘‘But I’ve actually built a life get lost in this town. People Angeles’ Ambassador Hotel on ‘‘You ask a random sampling around promoting swimming cared about me.’’ Coliseum to officially start June 5, 1968, when Kennedy of people at the grocery store to and the Olympics,’’ Spitz said. It also was just 25 miles the 1984 Games. And he even was fatally shot by Sirhan Sir- name one Olympic swimmer, 99 ASSOCIATED PRESS ARCHIVES ‘‘There’s very few people who down the road from Tulare fathered a future Olympian. han. It was Johnson who wres- percent of them will give you Mark Spitz won seven gold could actually make a living do- and the home of decathlon His own Olympic athletic tled away the gun. Mark Spitz,’’ said 1976 swim- medals at the 1972 Munich ing this. The only guy before me legend Bob Mathias, putting career began in 1956 when he Devastated, Johnson re- ming star John Naber — a Games. ‘‘Seven gold medals was Johnny Weissmuller, who Johnson in an athletic envi- won the decathlon silver med- treated into a shell until Eu- name most Americans don’t re- was not an event. It was the made it in Hollywood as Tar- ronment where ‘‘you can’t al. Johnson was back for more nice Kennedy Shriver encour- call. journey of my career,’’ he said. zan.’’ help but be inspired.’’ at the 1960 Rome Games. He aged him to get involved with Admittedly, some women The story of these Athens Johnson, in turn, became one became the first African- Special Olympics. He still might remember Spitz’s classic Games will be whether phe- of the world’s most inspiring American to be named team serves as the chairman of the beefcake poster, in which he picked up speed as he won four nom Michael Phelps can Olympic figures. His riveting captain and carried the flag at Southern California chapter. wore just a tiny swimsuit, a individual events and swam in match or break Spitz’s re- 1960 decathlon victory over the opening ceremony. He’s never strayed far from handsome smile and seven gold three winning relays. Spitz did cord. The two met for the close friend and UCLA team- His top rival for the gold was the Olympics. His daughter, medals around his neck. his best to avoid the media dur- first time at the U.S. Olympic mate C.K. Yang of Taiwan is Yang. Coached by the same Jenny, represented the Unit- Born in Modesto and raised ing the competition. But a big trials last month when Spitz considered the ultimate symbol man, Ducky Drake, their two- ed States in beach volleyball in Hawaii and Sacramento, news conference was planned presented him with a first- of the Olympic ideal — fierce day, 10-event competition was in Sydney. Spitz was training at the Santa for the morning after his final place medal. Then Spitz yet friendly competition where a dramatic nip-and-tuck bat- Johnson says he is blessed. Clara Swim Club when he race. That, however, was the joined his heir apparent on there truly were no losers. tle. Johnson outlasted Yang by ‘‘That’s why I think I owe brashly predicted he would win day Palestinian terrorists the victory podium and And his life since has been a point total of 7,901 to 7,820 something back,’’ he said. ‘‘I six gold medals at the ’68 Mexi- slipped into the Olympic Village, raised Phelps’ arm. nothing less than Olympian. when he was able to stay on try to remember that in ev- co City Games. Instead, he was taking Israeli athletes and The baton was passed. He would become instrumen- the heels of the faster Taiwan- ery phase of my life. I’ve al- criticized for ‘‘only’’ winning coaches hostage — an attack ‘‘I hope he does it,’’ Spitz tal in the Southern California ese runner in the 1,500 meters ways tried to figure out a way four medals (two relay golds, a that would leave 11 of them said. ‘‘It doesn’t take a thing Special Olympics. He is such — the last event. to use my time in a way that bronze and a silver). So he was dead. away from what I accom- an iconic figure in the Olym- After crossing the finish hopefully gives back instead flying somewhat under the ra- ‘‘We ended up talking about plished. Seven gold medals pic movement that he lit the line, they fell against each of looking at things in terms dar heading into Munich. everything but the medals,’’ he was not an event. It was the cauldron at the Los Angeles other for support as Italian of what I can get out of it.’’ That ended quickly. The hype said. Spitz, who is Jewish, was journey of my career.’’ SJMN Operator: NN / Job name: XXXX0095-0007 / Description: Zone:MO Edition: Revised, date and time: 08/30/01, 21:19 Typeset, date and time: 08/04/04, 00:33 080804MOOL0U007 / Typesetter: IIIOUT / TCP: #1 / Queue entry: #0944 CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK 8/8/2004 MO 7

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The Athens Olympics

CHRISTINE THORBURN | Cycling Age: 34 Events: Road race, time trial Residence: Menlo Park Bay Area connection: Attended Stanford Medical School, is working on a postdoctoral degree at the school

Christine Thorburn was a runner in high school and college, compet- ing in track and cross-country, and discovered cycling only after hurt- ing her knee. After taking 2000 and 2001 off to become certified in in- ternal medicine, she suffered another knee injury. Thorburn rebound- ed to compete at the 2003 world championships and triumphed at this year’s U.S. time-trial nationals, defeating a field that included the 2000 Olympic silver medalist. WHEN TO WATCH: Aug. 15: road race. Aug. 18: time trial

ANDRE WARD | Boxing Age: 20 Division: Light heavyweight (178 pounds) Residence: Oakland Bay Area connection: Attended Hayward High

JIM GENSHEIMER — MERCURY NEWS PHOTOGRAPHS

Andre Ward began his amateur career as a middleweight but in early 2003 moved up a class, where WHEN TO WATCH he won his second senior national title. Very sound technically, he won about 100 consecutive fights Aug. 14, 19: preliminaries Aug. 24: quarterfinals — there are no official records — leading to the trials, where he coasted to the final before a frac- Aug. 27: semifinals tured thumb forced him to withdraw. Still, he is a favorite to win a gold medal, which would be the Aug. 29: gold-medal bout United States’ first in boxing since 1996, when David Reid won the light middleweight title. INSIDE HIS TECHNIQUE, PAGE 17

FIVE INFLUENTIAL CALIFORNIANS Flo-Jo raced to stardom with speed, style By Mark Emmons ABOUT FLORENCE GRIFFITH JOYNER then Flo-Jo, as she became could run so fast.’’ Mercury News known after she married Joyn- After she died, an autopsy Died: Sept. 21, 1998, at 38 at her home in Orange County. Her nickname conjures up er, jumped into light speed. could provide no definitive ev- images of speed, beauty . . . Olympic career: Won five medals overall. She was the star of the 1988 Games when she Flo-Jo set world records in idence that she had taken per- and suspicions about her trag- garnered three golds and a silver. the 100 (10.49 seconds) and formance-enhancing drugs. ic early death. 200 (21.34) that no one has ev- Although experts say such Flo-Jo. painted fingernails and flam- That led to a profound er approached. She dominat- substances leave the body Florence Griffith Joyner boyant, self-made apparel that sense of national loss when ed the ’88 U.S. Olympic trials within a year of use, Joyner wasn’t just fast; she remains included her famous ‘‘one-leg- Flo-Jo died just 10 years after and the Seoul Games. maintains she had passed the the fastest woman in history. ger’’ — a purple bodysuit with her Olympic glory, at 38, of a But her sudden improve- ‘‘ultimate’’ drug test. She wasn’t just glamorous; she a turquoise bikini brief and severe epileptic seizure that ment late in her career, mus- ‘‘I let them do it because I had a unique sense of style nothing on her left leg. caused her to suffocate in her cular physique and abrupt re- didn’t want Mary answering that captivated the world at ‘‘Florence did something bedding. tirement led to whispers of the same questions 20 years the 1988 Seoul Olympics. that no other track and field Her death also renewed doping. later,’’ Joyner said of the cou- She became a defining fig- athlete could do — bring peo- talk that her remarkable ‘‘Florence never took any ple’s daughter. ure of empowerment for girls ple into the sport,’’ said Al speed might have been aided kind of drugs,’’ said Joyner, What would Flo-Jo be doing — letting them know that they Joyner, her husband and by performance-enhancing who remains her staunchest today had she lived? could be athletes and women coach. ‘‘She was able to touch drugs. defender. ‘‘She never failed ‘‘She probably would be — as she turned a stretch of the human side of everybody. Born in Mojave and raised any kind of drug test. Flor- writing and producing for tele- ASSOCIATED PRESS ARCHIVES track into her own personal They wanted to see her run in Los Angeles, Delorez Flor- ence’s name was associated vision, competing in mara- Florence Griffith Joyner was as fashion runway. fast, but they also wanted to ence Griffith always was with rumors. Not facts. Ru- thons,’’ he said. ‘‘Her goal was famous for her fingernails and Flo-Jo set world records in see what she was wearing. quick. She nearly made the ’80 mors. Those rumors grew out to design the U.S. Olympic bodysuits as for breaking world the 100 and 200 meters. And People, especially kids, loved Olympic team and won a silver of jealousy and people trying team uniforms. That was her records in the 100 and 200. she did it wearing six-inch Flo-Jo.’’ medal at the ’84 Games. But to figure out how this girl dream. And having kids.’’ SJMN Operator: NN / Job name: XXXX0213-0008 / Description: Zone:MO Edition: Revised, date and time: 11/24/13, 09:05 Typeset, date and time: 08/03/04, 23:00 080804MOOL0U008 / Typesetter: IIIOUT / TCP: #2 / Queue entry: #0863 CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK 8/8/2004 MO 8 CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK 8/8/2004 MO 9

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The Athens Olympics

Synchronized swimming

JIM GENSHEIMER — MERCURY NEWS Clockwise from upper left corner, Lauren McFall, Anna Kozlova, Tammy Crow, Erin Dobratz, Kendra Zanotto, Becky Jasontek, Alison Bartosik, Sara Lowe and Stephanie Nesbitt. Inside their techniques, Page 18

After a near-flawless routine won them gold in 1996, the Americans failed to medal in 2000, finishing fifth. Anna Koz- ALISON TAMMY ERIN BECKY ANNA SARA LAUREN McFALL STEPHANIE KENDRA lova is the lone returning member of that Sydney team. She will also perform in the duet with partner Alison Barto- BARTOSIK CROW DOBRATZ JASONTEK KOZLOVA LOWE Age: 24 NESBITT ZANOTTO Age: 21 Age: 27 Age: 21 Age: 29 Age: 31 Age: 20 Event: Team Age: 18 Age: 22 sik. After finishing third at the 2003 world championships, the United States will be aiming for a medal of any color in Events: Duet, team Event: Team Event: Team Event: Team Events: Duet, team Event: Team Residence: Sunnyvale Event: Team Event: Team Athens. The team may get some unwanted attention during the Games because one of its swimmers, Tammy Crow, Residence: Santa Clara Residence: Santa Clara Residence: Palo Alto Residence: Santa Clara Residence: San Jose Residence: Sunnyvale Bay Area connection: Residence: Riverside Residence: Los Gatos will be serving a 90-day prison sentence for vehicular manslaughter when the Olympics are over. Bay Area connection: Bay Area connection: Bay Area Connection: Bay Area connection: Bay Area connection: Bay Area connection: Graduated from Los Altos Bay Area connection: Bay Area connection: Graduated from Santa Grew up in Walnut Creek; Trains in Trains in Santa Clara Trains in Santa Trains in High; Trains in Graduated from St. Clara High; trains in Santa trains in Santa Clara and Santa Clara Santa Clara trains in Santa Clara Santa Clara Francis High; trains WHEN TO WATCH Clara attends Cal in Santa Clara Aug. 23: Duet technical routine Aug. 25: Duet free routine. Aug. 26: Team technical routine. Aug. 27: Team free routine SJMN Operator: NN / Job name: XXXX0177-0010 / Description: Zone:MO Edition: Revised, date and time: 02/14/59, 14:16 Typeset, date and time: 08/04/04, 00:14 080804MOOL0U010 / Typesetter: IIIOUT / TCP: #1 / Queue entry: #0932 CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK 8/8/2004 MO 10

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The Athens Olympics

Men’s water polo

If the United States crash- es the medal podium — it was sixth at the 2000 Games and at the ’03 worlds — it will be behind Tony Azevedo and Wolf Wigo. For Azevedo, it would go a long way to- ward solidifying his stand- ing as one of the top play- ers in the world. In their way will be Hungary, this year’s world champion. Hungary won medals from 1948 to 1980, then went without for 20 years before taking the gold in Sydney.

WHEN TO WATCH Aug. 15: vs. Croatia Aug. 17: vs. Kazakhstan Aug. 19: vs. Hungary Aug. 21: vs. Russia Aug. 23: vs. Serbia and Monte- negro Aug. 25: quarterfinals Aug. 27: semifinals Aug. 29: bronze- and gold-medal matches

TONY AZEVEDO Age: 22 Position: Driver Residence: Long Beach Bay Area connection: Attends Stanford

LAYNE BEAUBIEN Age: 28 Position: Defender Residence: Long Beach Bay Area connection: Graduated from Stanford

PETER HUDNUT Age: 24 Position: Alternate Residence: Encino Bay Area connection: Graduated from Stanford

WOLF WIGO Age: 31 Position: Driver Residence: San Francisco JIM GENSHEIMER — MERCURY NEWS PHOTOGRAPHS Bay Area connection: Clockwise from left, Stanford graduates Peter Hudnut, Layne Beaubien and Wolf Wigo and current Stanford student Tony Azevedo. Graduated from Stanford

GABE GARDNER | Volleyball HALEY COPE | Swimming Age: 28 Position: Outside hitter Residence: San Clemente Age: 25 Event: 100-meter backstroke Residence: Chico Bay Area connection: Graduated from Cal Bay Area connection: Graduated from Stanford

Gabe Gardner has been a member of the national team since 1999 but was not named to the 2000 Olympic team. He has played for club teams in Ar- gentina, Spain and Greece — where he and several other players are in court seeking back wages. Gardner has a booming serve and can end points quickly; in the final of the Olympic qualifying tour- nament he had nine kills and one service ace.

WHEN TO WATCH Aug. 15: vs. Italy Aug. 17: vs. Netherlands Aug. 19: vs. Russia There is another Cal swimmer to know in these Games. Haley Cope WHEN TO WATCH Aug. 20: vs. Australia may not have the fame of her good friend and former teammate Aug. 15: Aug. 23: vs. Brazil heats and Aug. 25: quarterfinals Natalie Coughlin, but that is partly because of her limited experi- semifinals Aug. 27: semifinals ence in international meets. She has won four U.S. national titles, Aug. 16: final Aug. 29: bronze- and gold-medal matches including the 100 backstroke this spring (Coughlin did not com- pete). Cope finished second to Coughlin in the 100 backstroke at the Olympic trials. SJMN Operator: NN / Job name: XXXX0210-0011 / Description: Zone:MO Edition: Revised, date and time: 10/18/78, 01:58 Typeset, date and time: 08/04/04, 00:15 080804MOOL0U011 / Typesetter: IIIOUT / TCP: #1 / Queue entry: #0933 CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK 8/8/2004 MO 11

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The Athens Olympics

ELLEN WILSON | Judo Age: 28 Division: Lightweight (125 pounds) Residence: Colorado Springs, Colo. Bay Area connection: Grew up in Salinas, attended Notre Dame High

JIM GENSHEIMER — MERCURY NEWS PHOTOGRAPHS

Ellen Wilson’s Olympic debut, in 2000, was brief; she lost in the preliminaries and again in the repechage. Rebounding, she has won the WHEN TO WATCH Aug. 16 past three national titles and was triumphant at the trials this year. She also won four tournaments in 2003.

Women’s volleyball

OGONNA NNAMANI LOGAN TOM Age: 21 Position: Outside hitter Age: 23 Position: Outside hitter Bay Area connection: Attends Stanford Bay Area connection: Graduated from Stanford Residence: Normal, Ill. Residence: Long Beach Ogonna Nnamani’s parents came Logan Tom was so good out of high to America from Nigeria for its ed- school that Stanford’s competition ucational opportunities, and both in recruiting her was the U.S. na- of their daughters wound up at tional team. She chose the Cardinal Stanford. Nnamani stars on the and led it to the NCAA final her court as well; she is a three-time freshman year, then took time off to All-American and broke the play for the 2000 Olympic team, school’s single-season kills record which finished fourth. Tom went on — previously held by Logan Tom. to win a national championship, and This will mark Nnamani’s Olympic for the past two years has played debut. professionally in Brazil and Italy.

WHEN TO WATCH Aug. 14: vs. China. Aug. 16: vs. Germany. Aug. 17: vs. Dominican Republic Aug. 20: vs. Russia. Aug. 22: vs. Cuba. Aug. 24: quarterfinals Aug. 26: semifinals. Aug. 28: bronze- and gold-medal matches

Stanford student Ogonna Nnamani and graduate Logan Tom. SJMN Operator: NN / Job name: XXXX0130-0012 / Description: Zone:MO Edition: Revised, date and time: 12/17/31, 02:45 Typeset, date and time: 08/04/04, 00:16 080804MOOL0U012 / Typesetter: IIIOUT / TCP: #1 / Queue entry: #0936 CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK 8/8/2004 MO 12

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The Athens Olympics

GRACE UPSHAW | Track and field Age: 28 Event: Long jump Bay Area connection: Attended Cal Residence: Menlo Park

JIM GENSHEIMER — MERCURY NEWS PHOTOGRAPHS

Grace Upshaw comes from good long-jumping stock — her father once broke Jesse Owens’ national high school re- WHEN TO WATCH cord — and she is peaking at the right time. The runner-up at the 2001 and 2002 national championships, she won the Aug. 25: qualifying Aug. 27: final title in 2003. At the trials in July she finished second to Marion Jones, with a mark of 22 feet, 5 inches — just a quarter- inch shy of her personal best.

KHOA NGUYEN | Table tennis Age: 37 Event: Singles Residence: San Jose Bay Area connection: Graduated from San Jose State

Khoa Nguyen and his family fled Vietnam in the mid-1970s, ending up in San Jose. He won Pan Am gold in 1987 but failed to qualify for the 1992 and 1996 Olym- pics, prompting him to retire. The game lured him back, and he made it to Sydney in 2000, losing twice in the doubles preliminaries. After another retirement, Nguyen is ready for his Olympic singles debut.

WHEN TO WATCH Aug. 14-18: first through fourth rounds Aug. 20: quarterfinals Aug. 22: semifinals Aug. 23: gold-medal match INSIDE HIS TECHNIQUE, PAGE 18 SJMN Operator: NN / Job name: XXXX0099-0013 / Description: Zone:MO Edition: Revised, date and time: 10/23/11, 07:25 Typeset, date and time: 08/04/04, 00:17 080804MOOL0U013 / Typesetter: IIIOUT / TCP: #1 / Queue entry: #0937 CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK 8/8/2004 MO 13

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The Athens Olympics

KRISTIN HEASTON | Track and field RAMI ZUR | Canoe/kayak Age: 28 Event: Shot put Bay Area connection: Graduated from Cal; is strength coach at Stanford Residence: Palo Alto Age: 27 Events: Flatwater one-man 500 meters, flatwater two-man 1,000 meters Bay Area connection: Born in San Francisco Residence: Chula Vista

Rami Zur was an Olympian in 2000, for Israel. He wanted to improve on his showing — he did not get be- yond the semifinals — but with school and training, he was unable to work enough to support himself. The Is- raeli Olympic Committee couldn’t help, so Rami was al- lowed to compete for the United States, where his birth mother lived. As for that medal, he is a top contender in the one-man 500 meters after a fourth-place finish at the 2003 worlds.

WHEN TO WATCH Aug. 22: 1,000 preliminaries Aug. 23: 500 preliminaries When she was young, Kristin Heaston wanted to be a gymnast. But, as her father pointed Aug. 24: 1,000 semifinals out, she was growing too quickly. Steve Heaston was a coach with the 1988 U.S. water polo Aug. 25: 500 semifinals team, and a decade later was diagnosed with brain cancer. His daughter transferred to Cal Aug. 26: 1,000 final Aug. 27: 500 final to be near him, and since his death in 1999 she has drawn strength from his memory. At the trials, on the day she qualified for the Olympics, she wore his sweats from the Seoul Games. WHEN TO WATCH: Aug. 17-18

KERRI WALSH | Beach Volleyball Age: 25 Bay Area connection: Attended Archbishop Mitty High and Stanford Residence: Redondo Beach

After helping Stanford win national titles in 1996 and 1997, Kerri Walsh qualified for the Olympic indoor team, which placed fourth in Sydney. In 2001 she moved outside to the beach, eventually con- necting with Misty May, her partner going into these Games. To- gether they won the world championship in 2003. But May has struggled with an ab- dominal injury, and it was not clear at press time whether she would be able to com- pete in Athens, where the pair had been fa- vored to win gold.

WHEN TO WATCH Aug. 14-19: preliminary rounds Aug. 20-21: round of 16 Aug. 22: quarterfinals Aug. 23: semifinals Aug. 24: bronze- and gold- medal matches

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The Athens Olympics

TOBY STEVENSON | Track and field Age: 27 Event: Pole vault Bay Area connection: Graduated from Stanford Residence: Chula Vista

JIM GENSHEIMER — MERCURY NEWS PHOTOGRAPHS

The guy in the helmet — and the one doing the wacky post-vault demonstrations — Toby Stevenson is WHEN TO WATCH also a former NCAA champion and six-time All-American. He has never competed at a world champi- Aug. 25: qualifying Aug. 27: final onships, but this year he won the U.S. indoor title, placed second at the Olympic trials, and in May cleared 19 feet, 8¼ inches — better than any gold-medal-winning height.

PAUL CAYARD | Sailing KRISTEN CAVERLY | Swimming Age: 45 Event: Star Residence: Kentfield Bay Area connection: Born in San Francisco, Age: 19 Event: 200-meter backstroke Residence: San Clemente Bay Area connection: Attends Stanford graduated from San Francisco State

Paul Cayard has been sailing since he was 8 and has competed in five America’s Cups. After a down moment in his career in 2002, when he famously was fired as skipper by Oracle’s Larry Ellison, he As a freshman, Kristen Caverly earned four All-America honors at the NCAA will be competing in his first Games. Cayard and teammate Phil championships, and this past season she won eight events. Still, when the Trinter are considered medal contenders in the Star class, the old- Olympic trials arrived in July she was below the radar because of a lingering est in the Olympics. back injury. How did she get noticed? By shaving nearly a second off her per- sonal-best time in the 200-meter backstroke and placing second. WHEN TO WATCH: Aug. 21, 22, 23, 25, 26: races. Aug. 28: medals awarded WHEN TO WATCH: Aug. 19: heats and semifinals. Aug. 20: final SJMN Operator: NN / Job name: XXXX0353-0015 / Description: Zone:MO Edition: Revised, date and time: 04/28/20, 22:50 Typeset, date and time: 08/04/04, 00:39 080804MOOL0U015 / Typesetter: IIIOUT / TCP: #1 / Queue entry: #0945 CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK 8/8/2004 MO 15

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The Athens Olympics OTHER CALIFORNIA OLYMPIANS Aside from the dozens of Northern California Olympians pictured and described in these pages, there are more than 100 other athletes with significant ties to the state participating in the 2004 Athens Games. Their names, hometowns and sports: Men’s and women’s rowing Amy Acuff, Los Angeles (also Austin, Texas), track and field Omar Amr, Fullerton, water polo There are two types of rowing events: sculling (each rower pulls two oars) and sweep (each rower pulls Ryan Bailey, Long Beach, water polo one oar). The United States has won a medal in the past five Olympics, including three in 2000, and its Tawny Banh, San Gabriel, table tennis Amanda Beard, Irvine, swimming best shot this time around probably will come in the eights. After three consecutive world titles, the Robin Beauregard, Huntington Beach, water polo men’s eight faltered in Sydney, finishing fifth. The Americans have rebounded, winning bronze in 2002 Laura Berg, Santa Fe Springs, softball Brook Billings, Santa Barbara, volleyball PETE CIPOLLONE and silver in 2003 at the world championships. The women’s eight placed fourth in 1996, and Laurel Kor- Dain Blanton, Laguna Beach, beach volleyball Age: 33 Event: Men’s eight holz will be back in the boat after she had switched to sculling. Heather Bown, Yorba Linda, volleyball Residence: Princeton, N.J. Shannon Boxx, Redondo Beach, soccer Bay Area connection: Stephanie Brown, Oceano, track and field Graduated from Cal Shelia Burrell, Chula Vista, track and field WHEN TO WATCH Crystl Bustos, Canyon Country, softball Aug. 15, 17: heats. Aug. 21: Lanee Butler-Beashel, Aliso Viejo, sailing B final. Aug. 22: A final Curt Clausen, Chula Vista, track and field Bryan Clay, Azusa, track and field Taylor Dent, Huntington Beach, tennis Gail Devers, Los Angeles (also Duluth, Ga.), track and field Stacy Dragila, Auburn (also Phoenix), track and field Philip Dunn, San Diego, track and field Adam Duvendeck, Santa Barbara, cycling Janet Dykman, El Monte, archery Kevin Eastler, Chula Vista, track and field MATTHEW DEAKIN Torri Edwards, Los Angeles, track and field Vicente Escobedo, Woodland, boxing Age 24 Event: Men’s eight Allyson Felix, Santa Clarita, track and field Residence: Princeton, N.J. Lisa Fernandez, Long Beach, softball Bay Area connection: Jennie Finch, La Mirada, softball Grew up in San Francisco Amanda Freed, Cypress, softball WHEN TO WATCH Jason Gatson, Upland, gymnastics Aug. 15, 17 heats. Aug. 21: Natalie Golda, La Habra, water polo B final. Aug. 22: A final Maurice Greene, Granada Hills, track and field Kevin Hall, Ventura, sailing Kevin Han, Orange, badminton Tayyiba Haneef, Laguna Hills, volleyball Joseph Hansen, Bakersfield, rowing Joanna Hayes, Los Angeles, track and field Monique Henderson, Bonita, track and field Monique Hennagan, Stockbridge, track and field Dax Holdren, Santa Barbara, beach volleyball LAUREL KORHOLZ Richard Jefferson, Los Angeles, basketball Larsen Jensen, Bakersfield, swimming Age: 34 Carrie Johnson, San Diego, canoe/kayak Event: Women’s eight Sheena Johnson, Los Angeles, track and field Residence: Princeton, N.J. Marion Jones, Los Angeles (also Raleigh, N.C.), track Bay Area connection: and field Graduated from Cal Lovieanne Jung, Fountain Valley, softball WHEN TO WATCH Deena Kastor, Mammoth Lakes, track and field Aug. 15, 17: heats. Aug. 22: Meb Keflezighi, San Diego, track and field A final Genai Kerr, Imperial Beach, water polo Dan Klatt, Fresno, water polo Garrett Klugh, Los Angeles, rowing JIM GENSHEIMER — MERCURY NEWS Lenny Krayzelburg, Studio City, swimming Lisa Leslie, Inglewood, basketball Jason Lezak, Irvine, swimming Vanes Martirosyan, Glendale, boxing Misty May, Newport Beach, beach volleyball Debbie McDonald, Orange County, equestrian LUKE WALTON Holly McPeak, Manhattan Beach, beach volleyball Age: 25 Event: Men’s pair Ryan Millar, Palmdale, volleyball Residence: Princeton, N.J. Coby Miller, Pasadena, track and field Bay Area connection: Thalia Munro, Santa Barbara, water polo Attended Cal Jamie Nieto, Chula Vista, track and field WHEN TO WATCH Stacey Nuveman, La Verne, softball JIM GENSHEIMER — MERCURY NEWS Aug. 14, 16: heats. Aug. 17: Leah O’Brien-Amico, Chino Hills, softball semifinals. Aug. 19: B final. Olympic rowing team members from Northern California include, from left, Jamie Schroeder, Alison Cox, Samantha Magee, Megan Brett Ormsby, El Cajon, water polo Aug. 20: A final Dirkmaat, Mike Altman (alternate) and Mary Whipple (in her teammates’ arms). Jennifer Parilla, Lake Forest, gymnastics Nicolle Payne, Cerritos, water polo MIKE ALTMAN ALISON COX MEGAN DIRKMAAT SAMANTHA MAGEE JAMIE SCHROEDER MARY WHIPPLE Aaron Peirsol, Irvine, swimming Michelle Perry, Los Angeles, track and field Age: 25 Age: 28 Age: 21 Age: 22 Age: 24 Age: 28 Jeff Powers, San Luis Obispo, water polo Event: Alternate Event: Women’s eight Event: Women’s eight Event: Women’s eight Event: Men’s four Event: Women’s eight Kim Rhode, El Monte, shooting Residence: Princeton, N.J. Residence: Princeton, N.J. Residence: Princeton, N.J. Residence: Simsbury, Conn. Residence: Wilmette, Ill. Residence: Princeton, N.J. Khadevis Robinson, Santa Monica, track and field Bay Area connection: Area connection: Bay Area connection: Bay Area connection: Bay Area connection: Area connection: Jason Rogers, Los Angeles, fencing Grew up in Marin County Grew up in Turlock Grew up in San Jose Attends Stanford Attends Stanford Grew up in Sacramento Ronda Rousey, Santa Monica, judo WHEN TO WATCH WHEN TO WATCH WHEN TO WATCH WHEN TO WATCH WHEN TO WATCH Kelly Rulon, San Diego, water polo Aug. 15, 17: heats Aug. 15, 17: heats Aug. 15, 17: heats Aug. 14, 16: heats. Aug. 18: semifinals. Aug. 15, 17: heats Kaitlin Sandeno, Lake Forest, swimming Aug. 22: A final Aug. 22: A final Aug. 22: A final Aug. 19: B final. Aug. 21: A final Aug. 22: A final Tim Seaman, Chula Vista, track and field Chris Segesman, Santa Barbara, water polo Guenter Seidel, Delmar, equestrian Jesse Smith, Coronado, water polo Amber Stachowski, Rancho Santa Margarita, water Other Olympians with Bay Area ties polo Seilala Sua, Anaheim, track and field STEPHEN ABAS | Freestyle wrestling HOWARD BACH | Badminton BOB AND MIKE BRYAN | Tennis GARY HALL JR. | Swimming BARB LUNDQUIST | Triathlon Erik Sullivan, Encinitas, volleyball Age: 26 Age: 25 Age: 29 Age: 35 Donald Suxho, Redondo Beach, volleyball Division: 121 Event: Doubles Events: 50-meter Event: Diana Taurasi, Chino, basketball pounds Residence: freestyle, Triathlon Brenda Taylor, Chula Vista, track and field Residence: Colorado Orange 400-meter Residence: Tina Thompson, Los Angeles, basketball Springs, Colo. Bay Area freestyle relay Victor, Idaho Soren Thompson, San Diego, fencing Bay Area connection: Residence: Bay Area Jenny Topping, Whittier, softball connection: Grew up in Miami Beach, Fla. Connection: Age: 26 Event: Doubles Tim Wadlow, San Diego, sailing Attended James San Francisco Bay Area Graduated from Natasha Watley, Irvine, softball Lick High, San Jose Residence: Camarillo connection: Stanford Bay Area connection: Trains part-time Peter Wells, Newport Beach, sailing In college Stephen Abas won three Howard Bach, an immigrant from Viet- Graduated from Stanford in Berkeley Before she was a triathlete, Barb Lisa Wilcox, Thousand Oaks, equestrian Angela Williams, Ontario, track and field NCAA titles and boasted two perfect nam, is part of the United States’ sole The twin brothers won the NCAA At the Olympic trials, he would walk Lundquist was an elite swimmer, with seasons, and he is considered a medal entry in this sport. (Kevin Han, his Serena Williams, Compton (also Palm Beach Gardens, doubles championship at Stanford in out to the starting block, throw a few an NCAA team title in 1989 among contender in Athens based on his fifth- partner, is also an immigrant.) The pair her accomplishments. She then turned Fla.), tennis 1998, and in 2003 made their pro- mock punches and shed his boxer’s place finish at the 2003 world cham- won gold at the 2003 Pan American robe. It was entertaining, but Gary to the triathlon and became one of the Venus Williams, Compton (also Palm Beach Gardens, fessional breakthrough with a tri- Fla.), tennis pionships. There he recorded a victory Games. Bach is taking a break from his Hall didn’t need the routine to demon- world’s best leading up to the Sydney over the 2000 gold medalist, Namig studies at Cal State-Fullerton to com- umph at the French Open. As recent- strate he is a heavyweight (he has Games. She failed to qualify, but has Bartosz Wolski, Chula Vista, canoe/kayak Abdullayev. pete in the Olympics. ly as two weeks ago, the Bryans eight Olympic medals). He’ll be defend- since met with success around the Gabe Woodward, Bakersfield, swimming were the top-ranked tandem on the ing his shared gold medal in the 50 world, including a fourth-place finish Adam Wright, Seal Beach, water polo WHEN TO WATCH WHEN TO WATCH men’s tour. freestyle in Athens. at the 2003 world championships. Elaine Youngs, El Toro, beach volleyball Aug. 15-16: round of 32. Aug. 17: Aug. 27: pool elimination and quarter- WHEN TO WATCH finals round of 16 and quarterfinals WHEN TO WATCH WHEN TO WATCH Aug. 28: semifinals, bronze- and gold- Aug. 19: semifinals Aug. 15-16: first round Aug. 15: 400 freestyle relay Aug. 25 LOCAL ATHLETES COMPETING medal matches Aug. 21: bronze- and gold-medal Aug. 17: second round Aug. 19: 50 freestyle heats and semifi- FOR OTHER COUNTRIES matches Aug. 18: quarterfinals nals Aug. 19: semifinals Aug. 20: 50 freestyle final Ricky Barbosa, Cal, swimming, Brazil Aug. 20: bronze-medal match Milorad Cavic, Cal, swimming, Serbia Aug. 21: gold-medal match Patrycja Czepiec, Cal, basketball, Poland Duje Draganja, Cal, swimming, Croatia Jackie Edwards, Stanford, long jump, Bahamas MARY McCONNELOUG | Cycling CHARLEE MINKIN | Judo VICTOR PLATA | Triathlon JONATHON RILEY | Track and field NICOLE TETER | Track and field Malindi Elmore, Stanford, 1,500 meters, Canada Age: 33 Age: 22 Age: 31 Age: 25 Age: 30 Magnus Fleming, Cal, rowing, England Event: Division: Half- Event: 5,000 Event:Triathlon Event: 800 Scott Frandsen, Cal, rowing, Canada Mountain bike lightweight meters meters Residence: Rolandas Gimbutis, Cal, swimming, Lithuania cross-country (114 pounds) Residence: San Luis Obispo Residence: Renato Gueraldi, Cal, swimming, Brazil Residence: Residence: Brookline, Mass. Redwood City Fairfax Colorado Bay Area Regina Holan, Cal, soccer, Greece connection: Bay Area Bay Area Springs, Colo. Lindsay James, Cal, softball, Greece Bay Area Grew up in connection: connection: connection: Bay Area Santa Cruz Graduated from Trains with Palo Bart Kizierowski, Cal, swimming, Poland Graduated from connection: Stanford Alto’s Farm Team Sabrina Kolker, Stanford, rowing, Canada Santa Clara Grew up in Half Gordan Kozulj, Cal, swimming, Croatia Moon Bay He may have never owned a car, but One of the most decorated athletes in A top U.S. runner since she won the ju- Ann Kremer, Stanford, tennis, Luxembourg Mary McConneloug made the Olympic Victor Plata gets around just fine in nior championship in 1991, Nicole Te- Stanford history — he earned 14 All- Elzunia Lamb, Cal, heptathlon, Poland team after an arbiter ruled that USA Charlee Minkin comes from a family of the water, on the bike and on foot. A America honors — Jonathon Riley ter has been successful in the past Cycling’s addition of points to Sue judo athletes, and she took up the freelance writer who has appeared in made the Olympic team by a nose. He two years despite a nagging foot inju- Alex Lim, Cal, swimming, Malaysia Haywood’s yearlong international to- practice at age 5. She won her first three world championships and was finished second at the U.S. trials but ry. She captured a senior national title Daniel Lysaught, Cal, swimming, Australia tal, a decision that pushed her ahead national title at 16 and has added two an alternate in Sydney, he finished could not go to the Games unless the in 2002 and this year placed second Sean Marks, Cal, basketball, New Zealand of McConneloug, was not justified. In more since. San Jose has been espe- third after the three American qualify- winner, Tim Broe, reached the ‘‘A’’ at the trials to make her first Olympic Miguel Molina, Cal, swimming, Philippines 2003, McConneloug won the U.S. cially kind to her; she placed second at ing races this year to claim the final standard. Broe did that on July 30, so team. In May she ran the 800 in 1 Markus Rogan, Stanford, swimming, Austria the Titan Games in 2003, and this cross-country championships and Olympic berth. Riley is on his way to Athens. minute, 58.83 seconds, which was the Nito Simonsen, Cal, rowing, Norway earned the silver medal at the Pan Am year qualified for Athens at the Olym- best time in the world this year. Ratapong ‘‘Nuk’’ Sirisanont, swimming, Thailand Games. pic trials here. WHEN TO WATCH WHEN TO WATCH Aug. 26 Aug. 25: round 1 WHEN TO WATCH Mladen Stegic, Cal, rowing, Yugoslavia WHEN TO WATCH WHEN TO WATCH Aug. 28: final Aug. 20: round 1. Aug. 21: semifinals. Jonas Tilly, Cal, swimming, Sweden Aug. 27 Aug. 15 Aug. 23: final Source: U.S. Olympic Committee, Mercury News reporting SJMN Operator: NN / Job name: XXXX0101-0016 / Description: Zone:MO Edition: Revised, date and time: 11/04/29, 22:37 Typeset, date and time: 08/04/04, 00:42 080804MOOL0U016 / Typesetter: IIIOUT / TCP: #1 / Queue entry: #0948 CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK 8/8/2004 MO 16

16 WWW.MERCURYNEWS.COM SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS SUNDAY, AUGUST 8, 2004

The Athens Olympics

ERIC GUERRERO | Freestyle wrestling Age: 27 Division: 132 pounds Bay Area connection: Born in San Jose and graduated from Independence High Residence: Stillwater, Okla.

JIM GENSHEIMER — MERCURY NEWS PHOTOGRAPHS

Eric Guerrero won three NCAA championships and was a four-time All-American at Oklahoma State. But in his first WHEN TO WATCH Olympics, he will be competing with added fire: At the 2003 world championships, he was whistled for a dangerous Aug. 28: pool elimination Aug. 29: qualification, hold late in his loss to Damir Zarkhartdinov. Incensed by the call, Guerrero refused to shake hands with Zarkhartdi- semifinals, bronze- and gold-medal nov or to leave the mat. His coach eventually pushed him off. matches

Women’s water polo

Women’s water polo made its MARGARET ERICKA Olympic debut in 2000 in Sydney, DINGELDEIN LORENZ Age: 24 Age: 23 where the Americans earned sil- Position: Attacker Position: Driver ver after falling 4-3 to Australia in Bay Area connection: Bay Area Graduated connection: the gold-medal game. Brenda Vil- from Stanford Attends Cal la scored with 13 seconds left and Residence: Long Beach Residence: San Diego the game looked headed for over- time, but the Aussies got a foul call with 1.3 seconds to play and ELLEN ESTES HEATHER netted the winner. Villa was the Age: 25 PETRI Americans’ leading scorer, and Position: Center Age: 26 Bay Area connection: Position: Attacker she is back, along with a squad Graduated from Bay Area connection: that after winning the 2003 world Novato High Graduated and Stanford from Cal championships is hoping to be Residence: Novato Residence: Orinda atop the medal stand. WHEN TO WATCH Aug. 15: vs. Hungary JACKIE FRANK BRENDA VILLA Aug. 18: vs. Canada Age: 24 Age: 24 Aug. 20: vs. Russia Position: Goalkeeper Position: Attacker Aug. 22: quarterfinals Bay Area connection: Bay Area connection: Aug. 24: semifinals Graduated Graduated Aug. 26: bronze- and from Stanford from Stanford From left, Brenda Villa, Ericka Lorenz, Ellen Estes, Margaret Dingeldein, Heather Petri, Jackie Frank. gold-medal games Residence: Long Beach Residence: Commerce SJMN Operator: NN / Job name: XXXX0288-0017 / Description: Zone:MO Edition: Revised, date and time: 09/05/34, 19:57 Typeset, date and time: 08/04/04, 00:39 080804MOOL0U017 / Typesetter: IIIOUT / TCP: #1 / Queue entry: #0946 CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK 8/8/2004 MO 17

SUNDAY, AUGUST 8, 2004 SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS WWW.MERCURYNEWS.COM 17 The Athens Olympics IN DEPTH | Local athletes and their sports BOXING | Emphasis is on points, not knockouts

Boxing has been an Olympic sport since 688 B.C., when hands were wrapped in strips of soft ox hide. The ultimate test of upper- Andre Ward body strength in combat, boxing is an above-the-belt fistfight that “I’m skinny for my requires strength, speed and superb conditioning. Legs keep the division. Everybody that fighter standing, feet keep him in motion and head and body Height: 6-0 absorb blows, but only the fists score points. Olympic bouts are I’ve fought has been Weight class: limited to four two-minute rounds and knockouts are not recognized, bigger than me. . . . But if 178 pounds putting the emphasis on scoring points. (light heavyweight) Mouthpiece my faith is where it’s protects supposed to be and my Oakland native Andre Ward is a legitimate teeth. contender for a gold medal, which could turn focus is where it’s him into a major pro star. The two-time supposed to be, I run national champion was undefeated from 1998 Equipment until March 2004, when a hairline fracture in through them. They’re Unlike professionals, Olympic his hand forced him to withdraw from a bout. boxers wear headgear and a Goliath. I’m David.” U.S. Coach Basheer Abdullah calls him the team’s most fundamentally sound boxer. shirt. — Andre Ward White part of Protective headgear gloves must land to score points. Protects cranium, ears and jaw. Made of leather and lined with foam.

Bandage Gloves Ward’s left jab Fighters are Made of Ward’s strength, says 1 allowed four leather and trainer Virgil Hunter, is his inches of two- lined with “educated lead left jab.” inch-wide foam, they Ward dominates the pace of tape. weigh ten his fights by snapping his It must not be ounces each. quick left jab into the faces put under the of opponents from all knuckles. angles.

Boxers must wear Left jab a sleeveless red or A short, straight punch meant to Abdominal protector blue jersey. score points, keep the opponent away and create openings for Made of foam and leather; stronger punches. protects abdomen and groin. 2 “It’s what sets up the fight for him,” says Hunter. “It keeps his opponent Scoring and rules off-balance because he can hit you hard with it or he ■ Bout consists of four two-minute rounds with one minute of rest between can surprise you with it them. from different angles.” ■ One point is scored each time the white part of the glove lands squarely on the opponent’s upper body. ■ A point is scored only if three of five judges press their scoring buttons Other punches within one second of the blow. The basic offensive moves for a right-hander: ■ Standing eight-count gives a dazed boxer time to recover; no penalty is assessed, but rules allow no more than three eight-counts in a round or four in a bout. Right cross: A straight punch Left hook: A short, Uppercut: An ■ with the right hand, packing powerful blow to upward blow to the Referee stops contest if a boxer is taking unnecessary punishment or looks maximum momentum and opponent’s right side, chin delivered under unable to continue, or if one boxer is ahead by more than 20 points in the first power; the second part of a delivered in an arcing the opponent’s guard. three rounds. one-two combination. motion with the elbow ■ Knockouts are not Lightweight bent. recognized; if a boxer shoes lack is knocked down and Illegal reinforced cannot get up, the heels or referee stops blows toes. the contest. To the back of the head To the nape of the neck To the back Below the belt

WRESTLING | Women competing for the first time Among the most ancient of sports, wrestling debuted in the Olympics in 708 “Now I have been given a large Patricia Miranda B.C. as a savage battle between two naked men with two rules: no biting and responsibility, and I want to carry the Height: 5-0 no gouging. In its present form (with clothes) there are still no weapons, no weight and represent my country the helmets and no gloves, but now there is no hitting, and dangerous holds are Weight: 105.5 pounds. illegal. Among the combat sports, wrestling is perhaps the best contest of best I can." all-around physical strength, calling on every muscle in the body to overpower — Patricia Miranda The 25-year-old graduate of Saratoga an opponent and pin his shoulders to the mat. Or hers — this year for the High School wrestled on the men’s team first time, women’s wrestling becomes an Olympic event, and a native of at Stanford without winning a single match until her senior year. In women’s Saratoga who wrestled men at Stanford stands a decent chance of winning it. freestyle, she has won two national titles and placed second at the 2000 History and 2003 world championships. She is considered a strong contender for a ■ Part of ancient Greek military training and an event in the ancient Olympics, it was a brutal sport with few rules. gold medal in Athens. ■ Her strong suits include her experience, A less violent form was introduced in the Roman circus in 186 B.C. and Fingernails willpower and great physical strength was practiced until the 4th century. must be cut for her size. ■ Greco-Roman wrestling was featured in first modern Olympics in 1896; short. freestyle was introduced in 1904. Two styles Greco-Roman wrestling allows only the use of arms and upper bodies; no holds below the waist or use of legs to score points. Freestyle wrestling allows use of the legs and allows holds above Uniform and below the waist. Olympic women’s wrestling is freestyle only. Mat Mat Singlet is a controller chairman one-piece, stretchy Object uniform in red or Pin your opponent’s shoulders to the mat long Referee Light blue. enough for the referee to verify that you are in knee guards control, or outscore your opponent in points. are allowed. Mat Wrestling area is where action takes place; at start of bout, wrestlers stand on each side of white circle. 29.5 feet Scoring Passivity zone Takedown (One point, but up to borders wrestling area. five for takedown and exposure): You take your opponent from a standing position to a Protection area Shoes are made vulnerable position under your control. is off limits; action stops of soft leather Escape (one point): You escape your opponent’s control. when a wrestler touches it with no heel and Reversal (one point): You escape your opponent’s with one foot (while 39.4 feet no metal. control and put your opponent under your control. standing), both hands (while kneeling) or head Exposure (usually two points; a third point for exposure lasting five (while lying on stomach). seconds): You turn your opponent’s shoulders toward the mat so that the line of the back area breaks a 90-degree angle. Judge Fall (ends match): Both of opponent’s shoulders A freestyle bout touch the mat for about a half-second; a pin. Penalty (one or two points): Your opponent breaks the rules. A wrestling bout consists of two three-minute rounds with 30 seconds of rest between them. • Illegal holds If neither wrestler scores three points, the bout goes into overtime until the next point is scored. If no points are • Fleeing the mat scored after the three-minute overtime, judges decide the winner. A wrestler who scores 10 points is automatically • Fleeing the hold declared winner.

Wrestlers shake hands and square off A wrestler shoots by making a sudden grab for An escape from such a position is If wrestlers leave the wrestling A fall (pin) ends the bout when 1 on foot, crouching to protect their legs. 2 the legs or waist, attempting a takedown that 3 worth one point, as is a reversal, 4 area or one wrestler is called 5 one wrestler forces the other’s They may grab each other’s wrists, lock knocks the opponent down and into a vulnerable when a wrestler both escapes from for passivity (doing nothing), shoulders to touch the mat for heads or throw their weight against position. and gains control of the opponent. the dominant wrestler is placed about a half-second. each other. behind the other, who kneels on all fours in the “par terre” position.

Sources: “Sports: The Complete Visual Reference,” NBCOlympics.com, 2004 USA Wrestling Media Guide KARL KAHLER, DOUG GRISWOLD and JAVIER ZARRACINA — MERCURY NEWS SJMN Operator: NN / Job name: XXXX0258-0018 / Description: Zone:MO Edition: Revised, date and time: 09/19/43, 22:42 Typeset, date and time: 08/04/04, 00:39 080804MOOL0U018 / Typesetter: IIIOUT / TCP: #1 / Queue entry: #0947 CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK 8/8/2004 MO 18

18 WWW.MERCURYNEWS.COM SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS SUNDAY, AUGUST 8, 2004

The Athens Olympics IN DEPTH | Local athletes and their sports TABLE TENNIS | Not the game you played in your parents’ garage Don’t try this in your cluttered garage. “Speed you can get used Khoa Nguyen World-class table tennis is a game of dizzying to, but spin is the tricky Height: 5-9 speed and lethal spin played in an area large part. It keeps you off enough to park nine Hummers. The Chinese have Weight: 155 pounds guard. Spin sets it up; traditionally dominated, usually holding their The 37-year-old from San Jose is one of two men playing in the singles rackets like pens in a style few Westerners speed wins the point.” event for the United States, which has never won a medal in table tennis. have mastered. — Khoa Nguyen Born in Nha Trang, Vietnam, he came to the United States in 1975, living in Arkansas, Stockton, Santa Clara and finally San Jose. He narrowly missed the 1992 and 1996 Games; he qualified for the 2000 Olympics in doubles but lost both matches. The hollow celluloid sphere Ball can travel up to 100 mph. Nguyen plays five hours a day at his parents’ home in Santa Clara and does weight training, treadmill running and calisthenics. He says his greatest strength is his forehand attack, which some say is the best in the country. New rule The ball has been enlarged by 0.2 Diameter: grams in weight and by 0.08 Weight: 1.6 inches 0.1 ounce inches in diameter.

Rubber covering Racket cannot be Can be any size, thicker than shape or weight but 0.16 inches on Table blade must be flat each side. and rigid. Topspin makes the ball Blade descend quickly, accelerate must be at least 85 after bouncing and rise off the percent wood. opponent’s racket. 5 feet 9 feet Sidespin Grips changes the “Shake-hands” “Pen-hold” trajectory, Nguyen uses the An Asian innovation that throwing the 2 feet 6 inches traditional Western grip, typically uses only one side of opponent which keeps both sides the racket, allowing off-balance. 6 inches of the racket in play. a more flexible forehand but limiting the backhand. Backspin makes the ball lose speed after bouncing and drop toward the net off the opponent’s racket. The entire playing area is 23 feet by 46 feet. The game Object: Make the ball hit the other side of the table in such a way that your opponent cannot return it to your side. New rule The 21-point game has The serve Return been shortened, completely altering its pace. Holding the ball in the open palm ...so that it lands ... and then receiver’s side Receiver allows the ball to Scoring of the free hand, server throws it on server’s side of without touching the net. bounce once and returns it to at least 6.3 inches into the air table... server’s court. The game is played to 11 points and must be and hits it... won by two points. A player gains a point when the opponent fails to return the ball to his or New rule her court, or when the opponent: 1 Serve changes • Touches the ball •Touches the playing 4 after every two with body or surface with free hand points instead of clothes • Hits the ball 2 3 every five, • Strikes the ball before it bounces disrupting the twice successively New rule momentum of • Touches dominant servers. • Moves the the net Players can't conceal the playing surface ball during the serve

SYNCHRONIZED SWIMMING | Behind the sequins, makeup and gelatin

If the Olympics were held in Atlantis, this might be the main event. Drawing “Any time you add music and sequins, people consider it 2004 U.S. Olympic on elements of gymnastics, dance and not a sport, but it is. It’s just like figure skating and team even cheerleading, synchronized gymnastics. It’s subjective but definitely athletic.” The Olympic team trains in Santa Clara swimming is the art of making two to — Lauren McFall, team captain and San Jose, and several members are eight women in the water look as beautiful originally from the Bay Area. At the as butterflies and as identical as sardines. 2003 FINA World Cup, the U.S. team Swimmers strive for perfect coordination finished third behind Russia and Japan. between each other and the music as they perform a series of identical elements in a splashy display of strength, endurance and timing. A century-old exhibition sport, synchronized Hair is held out of the face swimming became a medal event at the 1984 with gelatin similar to the Games in Los Angeles. kind used in Jell-O; it’s Nose clip made of applied as a warm, thick plastic-covered paste that hardens when it metal keeps water dries. 65 feet, 6 inches Pool out of the nose.

98 feet, 3 inches Music is piped through speakers under the water so that swimmers can hear it. Scoring Scores of up to 10 points are Swimmers cannot touch the bottom or sides of the pool. awarded for technical merit and artistic impression. Technical merit Training Two events, two routines each ■ Execution of strokes and figures; Duet event features two swimmers; team event propulsion techniques; precision of Swimmers train up to 10 hours features eight. In both duet and team, swimmers patterns a day, six days a week. In perform two routines: ■ Synchronization of swimmers with addition to pool time, they are music schooled in gymnastics and Technical routine involves required elements performed in a specified ■ Degree of difficulty dance and undergo strength order to musical accompaniment. Duets are two minutes, 20 training, focusing especially on seconds; team routines are two minutes, 50 seconds. Artistic impression fast-twitch muscles involved in ■ Choreography, variety, creativity, pool quick movements. Free routine is artistic choreography including technical elements of coverage, patterns, transitions the swimmers’ choice. Duets are three minutes, 30 seconds; team ■ Music interpretation routines are four minutes. ■ Presentation, poise, appearance of effortlessness Swimmers form powerful floating platforms that can support the The duet weight of a swimmer standing up. They can also stage human catapults These eight elements must be completed in order in the duet technical routine, which will be performed by U.S. swimmers Alison that vault swimmers into the air. Bartosik and Anna Kozlova. Both swimmers must perform them simultaneously while facing the same direction. The requirements are different for the team event Half-twist, twirl Bent-knee vertical Traveling ballet leg Thrust and and continuous Boost Egg-beater Ariana position and combined Split rocket combination twirl 1 spin 2 3 4 5 6 7 spin 8

Right Double Flamingo ballet leg ballet leg

Head down, legs up, From a coiled-up position Swimmers travel forward Floating on their backs, From the oyster position Floating on their backs, swimmers Head down, one leg up, From the oyster swimmers twist 180 just under the surface, or sideways using only swimmers execute the right (feet close to the surface, arch head and shoulders down and one knee bent, position, swimmers degrees one way, twirl swimmers squeeze their their legs, which turn in ballet leg, left ballet leg, head close to the knees), execute a split in both directions, swimmers spin thrust their lower 180 degrees the other, arms and legs together to opposite directions like an double ballet leg, flamingo the body comes out of the then lift one leg over the water to downward until their bodies out of the then execute a thrust themselves out of eggbeater, with a with right leg and flamingo water feet up, to the ribs meet the other in a surface arch ankles are at water water to the chest, continuous spin with at the water to the thighs in continuous sequence of with left leg, in any order. or chest, and twirls 180 position. level; then they spin split and rejoin their least two 360s. a quick, high jump with arm movements above degrees. back up to the original legs in midair, and both arms up. water. position, completing up execute a 360-degree to four 360s. spin until underwater.

Sources: “Sports: The Complete Visual Reference,” Worldwide Aquatics, FINA (Fédération Internationale de Natation) KARL KAHLER, DOUG GRISWOLD and JAVIER ZARRACINA — MERCURY NEWS