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Here is a good article from USA Cycling's website about our team's medal potential here in Athens as the number one ranked Paralympic cycling team. It is on www.usacycling.org. Here it is:
U.S. Paralympians boast experience
ATHENS, GREECE (September 16, 2004)-The U.S. Paralympic Track Cycling Team prepares to start the 2004 Paralympic Games on Saturday. The team is expecting a high medal count in track and road cycling. “Based on how we did in international competition during the past two years, I made a prediction to the team last year that we could get 14 medals in Athens,” says Cycling Coach Craig Griffin (Colorado Springs, Colo.). “If we compete well and are a little lucky we can do it, if we perform averagely we will get 10 medals. Nine medals are the most we have every won in one competition.”
“For the U.S. Team our goal is 14 medals, maybe 18 if things go our way,” says team captain Ron Williams (LC2/ Birmingham, Ala.), “but we will have some tough competition. I have been preparing for this for four years.”
More than half of the team are returnees from the Sydney Paralympic Games who bring confidence and experience to the team. The entire track team has previously competed internationally. The squad has two three-time Paralympians, Matt King (B1/ Colorado Springs, Colo.) and Dan Nicholson (CP3/ Richmond, Va.) and one four-time Paralympian, Barb Buchan (CP3/ Bend, Ore.).
“The team is ready. During our training camp before the Paralympics, two personal bests and two unofficial world records were set,” says Griffin. “We have come with our best athletes.”
“In Sydney I did not know what to expect,” says Al Michini (CP4/ Salt Lake City, Utah). “I was a little overwhelmed. I went in overconfident and under prepared because I did not realize how good the competition was. Now I know what to expect.”
His teammates are prepared for the Paralympic Games. “I am stronger, more knowledgeable about the sport and more relaxed now that I know what to expect from international competition,” says Dr. Bradley Cobb (LC3/ Bartlesville, Okla.) about his second Paralympic Games. “In Sydney I had only been racing for one year, now I have competed internationally for five years. I expect to medal. I have been riding really well and peaking at the right time. In the last two years we have had several training camps that have allowed the team to be more competitive.”
“During Olympic and Paralympic years countries throw more resources at their teams and suddenly new athletes show up that we have not seen in competition during the previous two years,” states Griffin. “There are new women’s tandem teams here that I have not seen before today. We can’t plan for the unknowns. All I can ask for is that personal bests and American records be broken”
Competing in her second Paralympics, Karissa Whitsell (B3/ Springfield, Ore.) feels more prepared. “We have great coaches and are a more structured team. I want the team to set personal bests and ride to the best of their ability. I want to prove that all of the training and conditioning was worth it.”
The U.S. team is excited to race at the velodrome. “This facility is awesome,” says Buchan. “The track is faster than Sydney.” The team is anxious to start competing on such a fast track. “I think this track is awesome,” Michini agrees. “It is really fast, the surface is perfect, impeccable.” If weather conditions are optimal, world records are expected to be broken in most of the events. Team member Paul Martin (LC2/ Boulder, Colo.) is concerned about one variable: the wind. “It could potentially influence the number of world records set. The track is slower when the wind is blowing.”
The U.S. Cycling Team (track and road) qualified the largest team number of bikes for Athens, 15, based on the team’s performances in international competition during the previous two years. The Track Cycling Team will be competing in 15 different events during the Athens Games. Track cycling begins on Saturday, September 18 and finishes on Wednesday, September 22 followed by road cycling on Friday, September 24. The entire track team will also be competing in the road race events.
Members of the U.S. Paralympic Cycling Team:
Track:
Jason Bryn (B2/ Tucson, Ariz.)
Barb Buchan (CP3/ Bend, Ore.)
Glenn Bunselmeyer (Pilot for Bryn, Bellevue, Wash.)
Bradley Cobb (LC3/ Bartlesville, Okla.)
Katie Compton (Pilot for Whitsell, Colorado Springs, Colo.)
Eric Degolier (Pilot for King, Madison, Wis.)
Allison Jones (LC3/ Colorado Springs, Colo.)
Matt King (B1/ Colorado Springs, Colo.)
Paul Martin (LC2/ Boulder, Colo.)
Albert Michini (CP4/ Salt Lake City, Utah)
Dan Nicholson (CP3/ Richmond, Va.)
Karissa Whitsell (B3/ Springfield, Ore.)
Ron Williams (LC2/ Birmingham, Ala.)
Road:
Alejandro Albor (HCC/ Elk Grove, Calif.)
Seth Arseneau (HCC/ Albuquerque, N.M.)
Stu Flacks (CP2/ Davie, Fla.)
James Harlan (HCA/ Crested Butte, Colo.)
Gregory Hockensmith (HCB/ Tucson, Ariz.)
For more information, event schedules, team previews and features on your favorite athletes at the 2004 Athens Paralympic Games, log on to www.usocpressbox.org and www.athens2004.com.
For specific team questions, contact U.S. Cycling Team Press Officer Christy McAllister, at christy.mcallister@usoc.org or (011 30) 693-678-6239.
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