The distinguished Class of 2004 cumulatively owns 26 gold, seven silver and four bronze medals. The class is comprised of the following six individuals and one team, Paralympian, Veteran and Special Contributor:

>> Matt Biondi, Swimming: 11 career Olympic medals (8 gold), tied for most medals ever for an American

>> Bonnie Blair, Speedskating: Most decorated U.S. winter Olympian of all-time with five gold medals

>> Janet Evans, Swimming: 4-time gold medalist tied as only U.S. swimmer to win four individual titles

>> Florence Griffith Joyner, Track & Field: 3-time gold medalist and current 100m and 200m world record holder

>> Dan Jansen, Speedskating: Broke world record to win gold medal in final event of his fourth Games

>> Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Track & Field: Won back-to-back heptathlon gold medals, earning six Olympic medals

>> 1996 Women’s Soccer Team: Led by Mia Hamm, won the first-ever gold in Olympic women’s soccer

>> Randy Snow, Basketball, Tennis and Track & Field (Paralympian): only athlete to compete in three Paralympic Games in three different sports, and win medals in each

>> Alice Coachman Davis, Track & Field (Veteran): 1948 gold medal in the high jump was the first black woman to win Olympic gold

>> Bud Greenspan, Filmmaker (Special Contributor): Olympic documentaries have over the last four decades has won six (6) Emmy Awards, a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Director's Guild of America and a Peabody Award

“To be named to the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame ranks as one of the highest honors in American sport,” said Jim Scherr, USOC Chief Executive. “Only a select group of athletes share this honor. It is the pinnacle of achievement for an athlete. And, because of Allstate’s commitment to the Olympic Movement, they have led the effort to revive the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame and recognize some of America’s most extraordinary athletes.”

The award show-style induction ceremony for the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame presented by Allstate will be held July 1, at the Cadillac Palace Theatre in Chicago, and will air in a nationally-televised special on USA Network. Voting for the Class of 2004 was divided among U.S. Olympians, select U.S. Olympic family/media and, for the first time ever, online fans.

“Allstate’s support of the entire U.S. Olympic Movement mirrors the equally rich traditions and history found within the walls of the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame,” said Allstate Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer Joe Tripodi. “We honor the legacy of all U.S. Olympians—past and present—and proudly salute the accomplishments of this year’s inductees.”

The U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame returns to its roots in Chicago where the charter class was enshrined in 1983, with such U.S. Olympic legends as Bob Beamon, Cassius Clay, Peggy Fleming, Al Oerter, Jesse Owens, Wilma Rudolph, Mark Spitz, Jim Thorpe and the 1980 “Miracle on Ice” Hockey Team. Annual additions continued through 1992, adding Olympic legends such as Bart Conner, Donna de Varona, Dorothy Hamill, “Sugar Ray” Leonard, Carl Lewis, Greg Louganis, Phil Mahre, Debbie Meyer, John Naber and Mary Lou Retton. Prior to this year’s induction class, the Hall of Fame consists of 151 Distinguished Members, including 68 athletes from individual sports, five teams and 11 special contributors.

Allstate’s role as presenting sponsor of the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame complements the company’s sponsorship of the Athens-bound USA Basketball men’s and women’s teams and the support of youth basketball clinics at Boys & Girls Clubs in select cities. In 2002, Allstate began its U.S. Olympic sponsorship support, reuniting the celebrated 1980 gold medal-winning U.S. Olympic Team for men’s hockey.

The Allstate Corporation (NYSE: ALL) is the nation’s largest publicly held personal lines insurer. Widely known through the “You’re In Good Hands With Allstate®” slogan, Allstate provides insurance products to more than 16 million households and has approximately 12,900 exclusive agencies and financial specialists in the U.S. and Canada. Customers can access Allstate products and services through Allstate agents, or in select states at allstate.com and 1-800 Allstate®. EncompassSM brand property and casualty products are sold exclusively through independent agents.