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Inline Speed Skating athletes will represent TEAM USA at the 2007 Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
By Brock Kuester // USA Roller Sports // June 22, 2007
Lincoln, NE – There will be four inline speed skating athletes representing TEAM USA at the 2007 Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil from July 12 through July 29, 2007. These athletes competed at the Outdoor Speed Skating championships this past week in Colorado Springs, earning enough points to finish as the top two male and female athletes in the competition.
Joey Mantia (Olympia, Wash.) is the only athlete returning to the Pan American Games after an impressive showing at the 2003 Games in which he captured two golds in the sprint and distance races. This five-time world team member has captured 21 gold medals in international competition at the Federation Internationale de Roller Sports (FIRS) World Championships during his career.
Jessica Smith (Kearns, Utah), a first time Pan American team member, has been a major force in international sprint, distance, and marathon events for years. Since 1996, she has compiled an astounding 27 gold medals as an 11-time world team member at the FIRS World Championships.
Brittany Bowe (Summerfield, Fla.) is no stranger to international competition. She is a six-time world team member for the inline speed skating team on the junior and senior teams, with 13 world titles. Brittany not only excels in inline speed skating at the highest of level, but she is a guard on the Florida Atlantic Women’s Basketball team in the Sun Belt Conference.
Jonathan Garcia (Houston, Texas) is also a rookie on the Pan American Team. He has been skating competitively for 12 years and he has been on TEAM USA at the world championships three times, bringing home a bronze medal in 2006.
“I’m really excited about coaching this team. I feel we have the four best skaters a team could have when adding in experience, competitiveness and longevity in the sport. I also know that each of these athletes will work extremely hard for each other before and during the Pan American Games,” stated Robb Dunn, TEAM USA Pan American Coach.
USA roller Sports is recognized by the Federation Internationale de Roller Sports (FIRS) and the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) as the National Governing Body for competitive Roller Sports in the United States. For more information log on to www.usarollersports.org or contact the Director of Marketing and Sales, Brock Kuester, at 402.483.7551 or via email at bkuester@usarollersports.org
“USARS is dedicated to creating, enhancing, and conducting the best competitions and programs for roller sports. We instill the drive to win and to be the absolute best…in sport and in life.”
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