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Pan Am - U.S. Artistic Team Ready for Competition
By Diana Wright // U.S. Olympic Committee // July 21, 2007
RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil – The U.S. Men’s and Women’s Roller Sports Teams are gearing up for competition at the 2007 Pan American Games. Held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the Pan American Games feature 5,654 athletes from 42 nations, competing in 37 sports. The program includes all 31 Olympic Sports and six Pan American Sports (Bowling, Futsal, Karate, Roller Sports, Squash and Water Skiing). Team USA has 595 athletes competing in Rio.
Roller Sports events include Speed Inline Skating (300m, 500m, 1000m, Sprint Combined and Distance Combined) and Freestyle Artistic Roller Skating (Short Program and Long Program).
The Artistic Team will start things off for the U.S. squad, opening competition tomorrow with the Free Skate Short Program. Abigail Burris (Dixon, Calif.) will compete for a title on the women’s side and Josh Rhoads (Everett, Wash.) will vie for a medal on the men’s side.
“Josh and Abby are both ready for the competition and are eager to get started,” said Artistic Team Coach, Linda Clemons. “Since we are not an Olympic sport, this is the Olympics for our athletes and they are looking forward to the show. They are both veterans in their events so they know what it takes to be in the top-three and that is their goal.”
The Inline team begins competition on July 24. The inline squad is led by Joey Mantia (Olympia, Wash.), who hopes to defend the Pan American titles that he earned at the 2003 Pan American Games. Mantia won two gold medals at the 2003 Pan Am Games (Distance Combined and Sprint Combined). The inline squad is coached by Rob Dunn.
First-time Pan American Games team members include Brittany Bowe (Summerfield, Fla./Speed), Abigail Burris (Dixon, Calif./Artistic), Jonathan Garcia (Houston, Texas/Speed), Josh Rhodes (Everett, Wash./Speed) and Jessica Smith (Kearns, Utah/Speed).
The Pan American Games began with Opening Ceremonies on July 13 and will conclude with Closing Ceremonies on July 29.
The U.S. Roller Sports Team competing at the 2007 Pan American Games includes:
Name Hometown Event
Brittany Bowe Summerfield, Fla. Inline Speed
Abigail Burris Dixon, Calif. Roller Artistic
Jonathan Garcia Houston, Texas Inline Speed
Joey Mantia Olympia, Wash. Inline Speed
Josh Rhodes Everett, Wash. Roller Artistic
Jessica Smith Melvindale, Mich. Inline Speed
Roller Sports Competition Schedule:
Saturday, July 21
Artistic: Free Skate Short Program
Sunday, July 22
Artistic: Free Skate Long Program
Tuesday, July 24
Speed: M/W 300m Time Trial; M 20,000 elimination, W Comb. Dist. 20,000,
M/W Sprint 1000m (Qualifying/Semis/Finals)
Wednesday, July 25
Speed: M 10.000 Points, W Comb. Dist. 10,000 Points, M/W 15,000 Combination,
M/W Sprint 500m Qualifying/Semis/Finals
For more information, please contact Diana Wright at diana.wright@usoc.org.
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