T:7 in ASIAN AMERICANS GOING FOR THE GOLD T:10 in T:10 I]^h^hl]Vihigdc\Xdbbjc^i^ZhVgZWj^aidc# TEAM USA J BEIJING 2008 E<: ^h egdjY id gZXd\c^oZ l^i] 6h^VcLZZ` i]Z '%%- Danbe^XhÉ Xdcig^Wji^dch id i]Z Xdbbjc^in#6iE<:lZWZa^ZkZ^iÉh_jhiVh^bedgiVciidWg^c\ZcZg\nidVXdbbjc^in i]gdj\]djgVXi^dchVh^i^hi]gdj\]djgedlZga^cZh# ÆE<:ÇgZ[ZghidEVX^ÒX<VhVcY:aZXig^X8dbeVcn!VhjWh^Y^Vgnd[E<:8dgedgVi^dc# '%%,EVX^ÒX<VhVcY:aZXig^X8dbeVcn#6aag^\]ihgZhZgkZY# TABLE OF CONTENTS Message FROM ASIANWEEK’S PRESIDENT J Welcome 3 TEAM USA BEIJINGBadminton 2008 elcome to our third publication Their journey Eva Lee 4 celebrating the efforts and achieve- for “gold” mirrors Howard Bach 5 ASIAN AMERICANS GOING FOR THE GOLD Wments of the United States Olympic our quest as Asian Khan Malaythong 7 athletes of Asian Pacific Islander heritage. Pacific Islander Mesinee Mangkalakiri 9 The 26 athletes featured in this special issue Americans to Raju Rai 10 Decathlon will be walking amongst the hundreds of Ameri- become equal and Bryan Clay 11 cans who will represent and honor the United contributing mem- Diving States at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. These bers of American Haley Ishimatsu 12 Americans are truly modern day heroes for our society. Fencing nation and the Asian Pacific Islander American We at AsianWeek hope that you, your Emily Cross 13 Field Hockey community. family and friends enjoy reading this special Amy Tran 15 They embody the goal of the Olympic and historic issue. Kayla Bashore 16 Movement, which is to contribute to the building AsianWeek would also like to acknowledge Gymnastics of a better and more peaceful world through and thank Pacific Gas & Electric for their Kevin Tan 17 sport and education. The Olympic principles of generous efforts in making the publication of Judo Sayaka Matsumoto 19 mutual understanding with a spirit of friendship, this magazine possible. Taylor Takata 21 solidarity and fair play guide these athletes as Shooting they represent our country and community on James Fang Sandra Fong 22 the world stage. AsianWeek President Soccer Natasha Kai 27 Softball Lovieanne Jung 25 Swimming BEIJING WELCOMES YOU! Natallie Coughlin 27 Synchronized Swimming his phrase is made when the first Annabelle Orme 28 syllables of the names of the Fuwa, the Becky Kim 29 mascots for this summer’s Olympics, are Table Tennis T Wang Chen 31 put together: Bei Jing Huan Ying Ni (Beijing Crystal Huang 32 welcomes you). David Zhuang 33 EVA LEE Literally translating as “good luck dolls,” each Gao Jun 34 of the five Fuwa resembles a fish, a giant panda, Volleyball fire, a Tibetan antelope and a swallow. Their Lindsey Berg 35 Logan Tom 36 colors come from the Olympic rings that repre- Wrestling sent the five continents. They roughly parallel Clarissa Chun 37 the five elements of Chinese philosophy: water, metal, fire, wood and earth. The slogan for the Olympics is “One World, Beijing National Stadium One Dream,” signifying a call toward world unity. PRESIDENT: James Fang EDITOR & PUBLISHER: Ted Fang Yet, Beijing does not ignore its own culture. The Beijing has also improved its transportation CReatIVE DIRECTOR: Al Perez ASSOCIATE EDITOR: emblem name is “Dancing Beijing,” consisting system. Its subway system has been expanded Lisa Wong Macabasco COMMUNITY EDITOR: Angela Pang WRITERS: Beleza Chan, Leila Kang, Steffi Lau, Miriam of the Chinese character “jing” (of Beijing) in a to twice its previous capacity. In addition to Ling, Vicki Mac, Ivan Natividad, Michelle-Linh Nguyen and stylized dancing form. Its open arms welcome the four existing subway lines and 64 stations, Nancy Weng COPY EDITOR: Leila Kang PRODUCTION: Kristian Datangel ADVERTISING DIRECTOR & ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER: the world to partake in Chinese culture while in seven lines and more than 80 stations were Nikki Nguyen Cranor FRONT DESK ASSISTANT/ADVERTISING: Beijing. built, including a line directly connected to Maylene Tang EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT TO THE EDITOR & PUB- LISHER: Peter Swing OPERatIONS MANAGER: Jesus Coronel For the centerpiece, the Beijing Olympics Beijing Capital International Airport. PROJECT LEADERS: Steffi Lau and Micheelle-Linh Nguyen officials chose the Beijing National Stadium, also Beijing worked hard to prepare for these FOUNDING PUBLISHER: John Fang CHAIRWOMAN: Florence Fang known as “the bird nest” because of its skeletal Olympic games. From improving the air quality structure resembling a nest. Designed by Ai to designing the architecture of the stadium to Special thanks to those who helped make this publication possible: Amanda Burch, U.S. Olympic Committee | Peggy Manter, U.S. Weiwei, it has been widely acclaimed for its composing the music, Beijing strives to make Olympic Committee | Cecil Bleiker, USA Badminton | Leslie modern and unique style. these games the best the world has ever seen. King, USA Gymnastics | Nicole Jomantas, USA Judo | Mary Beth Vorwerk, USA Shooting | Julie Bartel, USA Softball | Taylor Payne, USA Synchronized Swimming | Gary Abbot, USA Wrestling | Dave Somers, USOC Fore more athlete interviews and the TV viewing guide of when to watch the Asian American Olympians, go online to asianweek.com If you would like a subscription to AsianWeek or additional AsianWeek is published weekly by AsianWeek, LLC. 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Visit our website at www.asianweek.com. subscriptions department at [email protected]. 8x10_4C_BL.indd 1 7/18/08 2:12:54 PM TEAM USA J BEIJING 2008 ASIANBEIJING AMERICANS GOING FOR THE GOLD 2008 BADMINTON BADMINTON Career Highlights 2007 Irish International Championships, Mixed Doubles U.S. Adult National (Howard Bach), Gold Championships, Mixed Doubles (Howard Bach), Irish International Champion Championships, Women’s Doubles U.S. Adult National (May Mangkalikiri), Silver Championships, Women’s Singles, Fourth Place U.S. Open, Mixed Doubles 2006 VOANEWS.COM (Howard Bach), Silver OCBADMINTON.COM U.S. Open, Mixed Doubles BORN: Pan American Games (Howard Bach), Bronze BORN: August 7, 1986 in Rio de Janeiro, February 22, 1979 Brazil, Mixed Doubles U.S. Open Women’s in Hong Kong (Howard Bach), Gold Singles, Bronze in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam CURRENT RESIDENCE: RAQUET.ABOUT.COM Pan American Games U.S. Adult National CURRENT RESIDENCE: Orange, Calif. in Rio de Janeiro, Championships, Mixed Orange, Calif. Brazil, Women’s Doubles Doubles Champion (May Mangkalikiri), Gold ETHNICITY: U.S. Adult National EthNICIty: Chinese EVA LEE Pan American Games Championships, Women’s Vietnam-born Chinese in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Singles Champion HEIGHT: Eva Lee began playing badminton when she Women’s Singles, Gold HEIGHT: 5’5” U.S. Adult National 5’10” was only 11 years old. After winning several Pan American Championships, Women’s junior championships in the United States and Badminton Champion- Doubles Runner-Up WEIGHT: ships in Calgary, WEIGHT: Canada, she began to compete in national courtesy OF USA BADMINTON 135 lbs. and international events at the adult level. Lee Alberta, Canada, Mixed U.S. Uber Cup 154 lbs. also played college badminton at Irvine Valley Doubles (Howard Bach), Team Member Gold Medal EveNT: College in Irvine, Calif., helping lead her team EVENT: Women’s singles, women’s doubles 2005 to consecutive championships. Lee won an Pan American Badmin- Men’s Doubles unprecedented three badminton gold medals at ton Championships in World Championships, HOWARD BACH Doubles paRTNER: the 2007 Pan American Games. No U.S. com- Calgary, Alberta, Canada, Participant DOUBLES PARTNER: Mesinee “May” Mangkalakiri Women’s Doubles petitor had ever accomplished this before. Howard Bach was born in Vietnam and immi- INTERVIEW BY BELEZA CHAN Khan Malaythong (May Mangkalikiri), U.S. Adult National grated to San Francisco at the age of two. At the DID you KNOW? Silver Medal Championships, Wom- en’s Doubles Champion age of five, his father brought him to the Golden DID you KNOW? Lee and her women’s doubles partner, How did you start playing badminton? Pan American Badmin- Gate YMCA in San Francisco, where he trained My dad used to play in the YMCA. At age 5, Bach and Tony Gunawan were the Mangkalakiri, were briefly high school ton Championships in U.S. Adult National in badminton. When he was sixteen, he was I started playing in tournaments. At age 16, I first U.S. badminton athletes ever teammates at Villa Park High School, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, Championships, Wom- invited to train at the Olympic training facility in was invited to the go the Olympics training site to medal (gold) at a 2005 World where their future Olympic teammate, Team Event, Silver Medal en’s Singles Champion Colorado Springs, Colorado. Bach is very grate- in Colorado. Badminton Championship in men’s Khan Malaythong, served as coach. U.S. Adult National U.S. Sudirman Cup ful for his family and fiancée’s unending support doubles. Championships, Team Member throughout his career. A charismatic individual, Did your dad play internationally as well? Women’s Doubles he hopes to be badminton’s ambassador and to My dad played in the Vietnamese National team. (May Mangkalikiri), U.S. Pan American change people’s perspective in order to show Runner-up Team Member His goal was to make the Olympics, but at that that it is a serious sport. “It’s not what as easy time badminton was not in the Olympics. I am as it looks like on TV,” he said. here fulfilling his dreams. Asian Americans Going for the Gold 4 | 5 TEAM USA J BEIJING 2008 ASIANBEIJING AMERICANS GOING FOR THE GOLD 2008 BADMINTON BADMINTON What is a typical day like for you? What obstacles have you overcome to get INTERVIEW BY BELEZA CHAN Career Highlights I train five hours a day everyday: from 7-9 and where you are? 4-7.