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Tamika Catchings
- 2004 Olympic gold medalist
- Won three gold medals and one silver medal on four prior USA Basketball squads, including the 2002 FIBA World Championships
- Led the 2004 Olympic team with 22 steals, second in free throw percentage (.833) and third in rebounds per game (5.4)
- Named WNBA Rookie of the Year in 2002 for the Indiana Fever and named to the All-WNBA first team and All-Star teams in 2002, 2003
- All-American standout at the University of Tennessee who helped lead the Vols to a National Championship in 1998
- Wears No. 24 because her father, Harvey Catchings, who played 11 years in the NBA, wore 42, her brother wore 21, which is half of 42 and her sister wore 12, which is opposite of 21 and half of 24
- If she could play against any NBA player it would be the Miami Heat’s Alonzo Mourning
- Purchased a block of tickets for local children to attend an Indiana Fever game and sit in the “Catchings Corner” during the 2003 season
- Honored by the WNBA in 2002 and 2003 for her community work with the Off-Season WNBA Community Assist awards
- Called upon by President Bush to attend the 2004 State of the Union address as a representative of all 2004 Olympians and Olympic hopefuls because of her community involvement
- Has some hearing loss and was honored during her junior season at Tennessee with the Reynolds Society Achievement Award by the world-famous Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary in Boston for her inspiration to others
- Nicknames are Mik, Mika, or Catch and considers her family as the only role models she’ll ever need
- Is an avid poetry writer and lists her favorite author as E. Lynn Harris
- Favorite ice cream flavor is bubble gum … food is French fries … car is Lexus GX 470 … musicians are Anthony Hamilton, Mary J. Blige … TV shows are Soul Food, 24 … color is purple
Catchings began “Catch the Fever,” a huge holiday basketball camp which involves nearly 100 kids, as well as “Catch the Fitness” clinic encouraging kids to lead healthy lifestyles. In the Spring of 2004, she created “Catch the Stars Foundation, Inc.” which provides kids with organized programs geared toward motivating them to set goals, dream bigger and achieve more. Catchings says she invests so much time into camps and clinics because “there were always coaches, friends, and volunteers that took the time out to help me when I wanted to be good at basketball, and now it's my turn to do the same.”
Related Links
Official Web site: Tamika Catchings
After winning her 2004 Olympic gold medal: “To win a gold medal my first time out, I am so grateful for the opportunity. This team is the greatest talent I have ever been around and everyone shared in the wins. I am going to frame this (gold medal) along with other things from this trip so I can always remember this experience. I hope there are several more in my life!!! I can't explain how I feel. It is a dream come true – I am so excited and my hands are still shaking.”
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Height: 6-0
Born: July 21, 1979
Hometown: Duncanville, Texas
Sport: Basketball
Event: Forward
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