Don Paige (Athletics) Philadelphia, Pa. / Bahama, N.C.; Glenn Mills (Swimming) Ridgeville, Ohio / Chester, Md. ; Gwen Gardner (Athletics) Los Angeles, Calif.; Gene Mills (Wrestling) Pompton Lakes, N.J. / Liverpool, N.Y. ; Craig Beardsley (Swimming) New York, N.Y. / Chatham, N.J. ; Sue Walsh (Swimming) Hamburg, N.Y. / Durham, N.C.; Bill Hanzlik (Basketball) Beloit, Wisc., / Denver, Colo.; Amy Koopman (Gymnastics) Arlington Heights, Ill.; Isiah Thomas (Basketball) Chicago, Ill. / New York, N.Y.; Carol Blazejowski (Basketball) Fairview, N.J.; Luci Collins (Gymnastics) Inglewood, Calif.; David Kimes (Shooting) Monterey Park, Calif. /  La Palma, Calif.; Brian Gust (Wrestling) Lakeville, Minn.; Lisa Buese (Swimming) Louisville, Ky. / Palo Alto, Calif.; Linda Cornelius Waltman (Athletics) Ft. Worth, Texas / Boerne, Texas; Thomas Schuler (Cycling) Birmingham, Mich. / Wauwatosa, Wisc.; Ron Galimore (Gymnastics) Ames, Iowa / Indianapolis, Ind.; Debbie Landreth (Volleyball) El Segundo, Calif. / Granger, Ind.
 
Vice President Walter F. Mondale, who spoke on behalf of the boycott prior to the USOC’s April 12, 1980 vote to officially boycott the Games, wrote the Foreword for the book. Mondale apologizes to all the athletes who were denied the opportunity to compete calling them, “warriors in our country’s defense of freedom.”
 
The U.S. Olympic team roster from 1980 was as follows;
 
Archery
Judi C. Adams Also member of 1996 U.S. Olympic Team, Lynette Rae Johnson, Scott Michael Kertson, Darrell Owen Pace Also member of 1976, 1984, 1988 U.S. Olympic team, Coach: Dwight Nyquist Manager: Harold Kremer.
 
Athletics
Colin Anderson Discus Throw, Jodi Anderson Also member of 1984 U.S. Olympic team; Heptathlon; Lynne Anderson, Duncan Fuller Atwood, Also member of 1984 U.S. Olympic team; Javelin Throw; Augustus Banks, Also member of 1984 U.S. Olympic team; Triple Jump; Roberta J. Belle, Also member of 1984 U.S. Olympic team; 4×400 Relay, Andy Francis Bessette, Hammer Throw, Jeanette Bolden, Also member of 1984 U.S. Olympic team; 100-Meter Individual, 4×100 Relay; Alice Brown, Also member of 1984, 1988 U.S. Olympic team; 100-Meter Individual, 4×100 Relay, Douglas Brown, Also member of 1972, 1976 U.S. Olympic team; Steeplechase, Julie Anne Brown, Also member of 1984 U.S. Olympic team; Marathon, Richard Thomas Buerkle Also member of 1976 U.S. Olympic team; 5000-Meter Individual; James Butler, 200-Meter Individual, Gregory Caldwell, Triple Jump, Anthony Campbell, Also member of 1984, 1988 U.S. Olympic team; 110 Hurdles, Robin Campbell, Also member of 1984 U.S. Olympic team; 800-Meter Individual, Matthew Centrowitz, Also member of 1976 U.S. Olympic team; 1500-Meter Individual; Chandra Cheeseborough, Also member of 1976, 1984 U.S. Olympic team; Relays team Robert Coffman, Decathlon, Dedy Cooper, 110-Meter Hurdles, Sharon Ann Dabney, Relays team, Mary Decker Slaney, Also member of 1984, 1988, 1996, U.S. Olympic team; 1500-, 3000-, 5000-Meter Individual, Fred Dixon, Also member of 1976 U.S. Olympic team; Decathlon, Boris Djerassi, Hammer Throw, Benji Ray Durden, Marathon, Michael Kevin Durkin, Also member of 1976 U.S. Olympic, team; 1500-Meter Individual, Marco Ray Evoniuk, Also member of 1984, 1988, 1992, U.S. Olympic team; 50-Kilometer, 20-Kilometer Walk, Rod Ewaliko, Javelin Throw, Allan Dean Feuerbach, Also member of 1972, 1976 U.S. Olympic team; Shot Put, Benjamin Fields, High Jump, Benita Fitzgerald, Also member of 1984 U.S. Olympic, team; 100-Meter Hurdles, Stanley Floyd, 100-Meter Individual, Herman Frazier, Also member of 1976 U.S. Olympic team; 400-Meter Individual, 4×400 Relay, Gregory Fredericks, 5000-Meter Individual, Gwen Gardner, 400-Meter Individual, Willie Gault, Relays team, Paula Darcel Girven, Also member of 1976 U.S. Olympic team; High Jump, Harvey Glance, Also member of 1976, 1984 U.S. Olympic team; 100-Meter, 4×100 Relay, William Earnest Green, 400-Meter Individual, Pamela Greene, Also member of 1972 U.S. Olympic, team; 200-Meter Individual, John Stanley Gregorek, Also member of 1984 U.S. Olympic team; 3000-Meter Steeplechase, Lorna Joann Griffin, Also member of 1984 U.S. Olympic team; Discus Throw, Marlene Harmon, Pentathlon, Karen Hawkins, Kyle Daniels Heffner, Marathon, James Heiring, Also member of 1984, 1988 U.S. Olympic team; 20-Kilometer Walk, Stephanie Hightower, 100-Meter Hurdles, Denean Hill-Howard, Also member of 1984, 1988, 1992 U.S. Olympic team; 4×400 Relay, Tomas Hintnaus, Pole Vault, James Allen Howard, Also member of 1988 U.S. Olympic team; High Jump, Sherri Francis Howard, Also member of 1984, 1988 U.S. Olympic team; 4×400 Relay, Paul Jordan, Triple Jump, Bruce Kennedy, Javelin Throw, Steven Lacy, Also member of 1984 U.S. Olympic team; 5000-Meter, Francis Ann Larrieu-Smith, Also member of 1972, 1976, 1988, 1992 U.S. Olympic team; 1500-Meter, 10,000-Meter, Marathon, Melvin Lattany, 100-Meter David Kenneth Lee, 400-Meter Hurdles Carol Lewis, Also member of 1984, 1988 U.S. Olympic team; Long Jump Carl Lewis, Also member of 1984, 1988, 1992, 1996 U.S. Olympic team; Long Jump, 100-Meter, 200-Meter, 4×100 Relay, Henry Marsh, Also member of 1976, 1984, 1988 U.S. Olympic team; 3000-Meter Steeplechase, John McArdle, Hammer Throw, William McChesney, 5000-Meter Individual, Walter McCoy, Also member of 1984 U.S. Olympic team; 4×400 Relay, Kathy McMillan, Also member of 1976 U.S. Olympic team; Long Jump, Madeline Mims, Also member of 1968, 1972, 1976 U.S. Olympic team; 800-Meter Individual, 4×400 Relay, Brenda Morehead, Also member of 1976 U.S. Olympic team; 100-Meter Individual, Edwin Moses, Also member of 1976, 1984, 1988 U.S. Olympic team; 400-Meter Individual Hurdles, Larry Myricks, Also member of 1976, 1984, 1988 U.S. Olympic team; Long Jump, Renaldo Nehemiah, 110-Meter Hurdles, Daniel O’Connor, Also member of 1984 U.S. Olympic team; 20-Kilometer Walk, Mary Osborne, Javelin Throw, Nathaniel Page, High Jump, Donald Paige, 800-Meter Individual, Lee Palles, Decathlon, Ben Plucknett, Discus Throw, John Gates Powell, Also member of 1972, 1976, 1984 U.S. Olympic team; Discus Throw, Dan Ripley, Pole Vault, Louise Ritter, Also member of 1984, 1988 U.S. Olympic team; High Jump, James Robinson, Also member of 1976 U.S. Olympic team; 800-Meter, William Rodgers, Also member of 1976 U.S. Olympic team; Marathon, Alberto Salazar, Also member of 1984 U.S. Olympic team; 10,000-Meter, Marathon, Anthony Sandoval, Marathon, Kathryn Schmidt, Also member of 1972, 1976 U.S. Olympic team; Javelin Throw Carl Schueler, Also member of 1984, 1988, 1992 U.S. Olympic team; 50-Kilometer Walk, Steven Scott, Also member of 1984, 1988 U.S. Olympic team; 1500-Meter Clark Scully Also member of 1976 U.S. Olympic team; 20-Kilometer Walk, Maren Seidler, Also member of 1968, 1972, 1976 U.S. Olympic team; Shot Put, Peter Shmock, Also member of 1976, 1984 U.S. Olympic team; Shot Put, Karin Smith, Also member of 1976, 1984, 1988, 1992 U.S. Olympic team; Javelin Throw, Willie Smith, Also member of 1976, 1984 U.S. Olympic team; 400-Meter Individual, Karen Sokolitz, 200-Meter Individual Pamela Spencer, Also member of 1976, 1984 U.S. Olympic team; High Jump, Frederick Taylor, 200-Meter Individual, Kim Thomas, Relays team Michael Tully, Also member of 1984 U.S. Olympic team; Pole Vault, Ann Turbyne, Shot Put, Craig Virgin, Also member of 1976, 1984 U.S. Olympic team; 10,000-Meter, James Andre Walker, 400-Meter Hurdles, Larry Walker, Also member of 1976 U.S. Olympic team; 20-Kilometer Walk, Linda Waltman, Pentathlon, Clifford Wiley, 200-Meter Individual, Mac Maurice Wilkins, Also member of 1976, 1984, 1988 U.S. Olympic team; Discus Throw, Barton Williams, 400-Meter Hurdles, Diane Williams, Also member of 1984 U.S. Olympic team; 4×100 Relay, 100-Meter Individual, Randy Lavelle Williams, Also member of 1972, 1976 U.S. Olympic team; Long Jump, Randy Byron Wilson, 800-Meter Individual, M. Lynne Winbigler, Also member of 1976 U.S. Olympic team; Discus Throw, Canzetta (Candy) Young, 100-Meter Hurdles Head Coach: Carnes, Jimmy, Assistants: Huntsman, Stan Santos, Jim, Tellez, Tom, Williams, Willie, Head Manager: Newland, Robert, Assistant Managers: Cunliffe, Ernie, Griak, Roy, Simmons, Steve
 
Basketball
Mark Aguirre, Rolando Blackman, Carol Blazejowski, Sam Bowie, Michael Brooks, Denise Curry Also member of 1984 U.S. Olympic team, Anne Donovan, Also member of 1984 U.S. Olympic team, Bill Hanzlik, Tara Heiss, Kristin Krichner, Alton Lister, Rodney McCray, Debra Miller, Cindy Jo Noble, Also member of 1984 U.S. Olympic team, Lataunya Pollard, Jill Rankin, Isiah Thomas, Darnell Valentine, Daniel Vranes, Rosie Walker, Frances Warlick, Charles Lindwood Williams, Martin Wood, Lynette Woodard, 1984 Olympic team, Men’s Head Coach: Gavitt, David, Men’s Assistant Coaches: Brown, Larry Also Head Coach of 2004 U.S. Olympic Men’s Basketball team, Rowe, Dee Men’s Manager: Vancisin, Joe Women’s Head Coach: Gunter, Sue
Women’s Assistant Coaches: Head, Pat Plarski, Lea
 
Boxing
Jackie Beard, Bantamweight, Willie Broad, Super Heavyweight, Johnny Bumphus, Light Welterweight, Charles Carter, Middleweight, Don Curry, Welterweight, Joseph Manley, Lightweight, Lee Roy Murphy, Light Heavyweight, Richard Sandoval, Flyweight, Robert Edward Shannon, Also member of 1984 U.S. Olympic team; Light Flyweight, Bantamweight, James Shuler, Light Middleweight, Bernard Taylor, Featherweight, Head Coach: Nappi, Pat, Assistant Coach: Pelligrew, Dick, Manager: Silverglade, Ed
 
 Canoe & Kayak
Bruce Barton, Also member of 1976 U.S. Olympic team, Greg Barton, Also member of 1984, 1988, 1992 U.S. Olympic team, Theresa Di Martino-Haught, Also member of 1988 U.S. Olympic team Linda Dragan, Also member of 1972, 1976 U.S. Olympic team, David Robert Gillman, Also member of 1976, 1984, 1988 U.S. Olympic team, Jay Kearney, Stephen Paul Kelly, Also member of 1972, 1976 U.S. Olympic team, Leslie Gail Klein, Also member of 1984 U.S. Olympic team, Charles Clinton, Also member of 1976 U.S. Olympic team, Angus Morrison, Also member of 1972, 1976 U.S. Olympic team, Roland Muhlen, John Robert Plankenhorn, Also member of 1984 U.S. Olympic team Terry Streib, Ann Clare Turner, Also member of 1976, 1984 U.S. Olympic team, John Van Cleave, Andrea Weigand, Also member of 1968, 1972, 1976 U.S. Olympic team, Carl White, Also member of 1984, 1988 U.S. Olympic team, Coach: Toro, Andy Assistant Coach: Rademaker, Sperry, Manager: Turner, Howard,
 
Cycling
Les Barczewski, Robert Cook, Bruce Donaghy, Thomas Doughty, Brent Emery, Also member of 1984 U.S. Olympic team, Mark Gorski, Also member of 1984 U.S. Olympic team, David Grylls, Also member of 1984 U.S. Olympic team, Greg LeMond, Leonard Nitz, Also member of 1976, 1984, 1988 U.S. Olympic team, Thomas Schuler, Douglas Shapiro, Also member of 1984 U.S. Olympic team, Dale Stetina, Also member of 1976 U.S. Olympic team Wayne Stetina, Also member of 1972, 1976 U.S. Olympic team, Danny Van Haute, Also member of 1984 U.S. Olympic team, Andrew Weaver, Also member of 1984 U.S. Olympic team, Track Coach: Borysewicz, Edward, Road Coach: Kelly, Timothy, Assistant Coach: Leusenkamp, Carl, Manager: Burke, Ed
 
Diving
Randolph Ableman, Philip Randolph, Brian Bungum, David Earl Burgering, Greg Louganis, Also member of 1976, 1984, 1988 U.S. Olympic team, Kevin Scott Machemer, Amy McGrath, Megan Neyer, Cynthia Ann Potter, Also member of 1972, 1976 U.S. Olympic team, Christina Anne Seufert, Barbara Weinstein, Coaches: Kimball, Dick, O’Brien, Ron, Manager: Robbins, Bryan
 
Equestrian
Washington, Bishop, Norman Dello Joio, Also member of 1992 U.S. Olympic team, Lendon Gray, Conrad Homfeld, Also member of 1984 U.S. Olympic team, Katherine Monahan, John Michael Plumb, Also member of 1960, 1964, 1968, 1972, 1976, 1984, 1992 U.S. Olympic team, Teresa Lee Rudd, Melanie Smith, Also member of 1984 U.S. Olympic team, Karen Elizabeth, Also member of 1984 U.S. Olympic team, Gwen Elaine Stockebrand, Torrance Watkins, John Winnett, Also member of 1972, 1976 U.S. Olympic team James Wofford, Also member of 1968, 1972, 1984 U.S. Olympic team, Linda Zang, Manager: Burton, Gen. Jack Jumping Coach: de Nemethy, BertDressage Coach: van Bruggen, Melle 3-Day Coach: LeGoff, Jack
 
Fencing
Jane Marie Angelakis, Also member of 1984 U.S. Olympic team, Elaine Gayle Cheris, Also member of 1988, 1996 U.S.
Olympic team, Gay D’Asaro, Also member of 1976 U.S. Olympic team, Nikki Franke, Also member of 1976 U.S. Olympic team, Timothy Glass, Elaine Ingram, Stacey Rita Johnson, Wayne Johnson, Stanley Lekach, Thomas Losonczy, Also member of 1976 U.S. Olympic team, Michael Anthony Marx, Also member of 1984, 1988, 1992, 1996 U.S. Olympic team, Gregory Massialas, Also member of 1984, 1988 U.S. Olympic team, Robert, Nieman, John Michael Nonna, Also member of 1972 U.S. Olympic team, Alex Orban, Also member of 1968, 1972, 1976 U.S. Olympic team, Paul Pesthy, Also member of 1964, 1968, 1976 U.S. Olympic team, Philip Reilly, Also member of 1984 U.S. Olympic team, Mark Smith, Also member of 1984 U.S. Olympic team, Peter Westbrook, Also member of 1976, 1984, 1988, 1992, 1996 U.S. Olympic team, Captain: Keane, Jack, Coaches: Auriol, Yves, Elthes, Csaba, Manager: Vaisimis, Marius, Armorer: Byrnes, Joseph
 
Field Hockey
Elizabeth Anders, Also member of 1984 U.S. Olympic team, Elizabeth Beglin, Also member of 1984 U.S. Olympic team, Gwen Cheeseman, Also member of 1984 U.S. Olympic team, Denise Desautels, Jill Grant,  Sheryl Johnson, Also member of 1984, 1988 U.S. Olympic team, Christine Larson-Mason, Also member of 1984 U.S. Olympic team, Susan Marcellus, Anita Miller, Also member of 1984 U.S. Olympic team, Leslie Milne, Also member of 1984 U.S. Olympic team, Charlene Morett, Also member of 1984 U.S. Olympic team, Diane Moyer, Also member of 1984 U.S. Olympic team, Karen Shelton, Also member of 1984 U.S. Olympic team, Julia Staver, Also member of 1984 U.S. Olympic team, Judith Strong, Also member of 1984 U.S. Olympic team, White, Nancy Pitkin, Head Coach: Gros, Vonnie, Assistant Coach: van Beaumont, Will, Manager: Watson, Margery
 
Gymnastics
Philip Cahoy, Luci Collins, Bart Conner, Also member of 1976, 1984 U.S. Olympic team, Marcia Frederick, Ron Galimore, Larry Gerard, James Hartung, Also member of 1984 U.S. Olympic team, Kathy Johnson, Also member of 1984 U.S. Olympic team, Beth Kline, Amy Koopman, Julianne McNamara, Also member of 1984 U.S. Olympic team, Tracee Talavera, Also member of 1984 U.S. Olympic team, Peter Vidmar, Also member of 1984 U.S. Olympic team, Wilson, Michael Gower, Men’s Head Coach: Allen, Francis, Men’s Assistant Coach: Meade, William, Women’s Head Coach: Weaver, Ernestine, Women’s Assistant Coach: Ziert, Paul, Pianist: Stabisevski, Carol
 
Judo
Jesse Goldstein, Tommy Martin, Also member of 1976 U.S. Olympic team, Keith Nakasone, Mitch James Santa Maria, Steven Seck, Michael Swain, Michael Lee Also member of 1984, 1988, 1992 U.S. Olympic team, Miguel Angel Tudela, Nicholas Yonezuka, Head Coach: Maruyama, Maj. Paul Manager: Fullerton, Frank
 
Modern Pentathlon
Michael Burley, Also member of 1976 U.S. Olympic team, John Fitzgerald, Also member of 1972, 1976 U.S. Olympic team, Dean Glenesk, Also member of 1984 U.S. Olympic team, Robert Nieman, Also member of 1976, 1988 U.S. Olympic team
 
Rowing
Christopher Allsopp, Also member of 1976 U.S. Olympic team, Charles Altekruse, Also member of 1988 U.S. Olympic team, Valerie Barber, Hope Barnes, Also member of 1984 U.S. Olympic team William Belden, Also member of 1976 U.S. Olympic team, Earl Borchelt, Also member of 1976 U.S. Olympic team, Mark Borchelt, Also member of 1976 U.S. Olympic team, Carol Bower, Also member of 1984 U.S. Olympic team, Carol Brown, Also member of 1976, 1984 U.S. Olympic team, John Carababas, Richard Cashin Jr., Also member of 1976 U.S. Olympic team, John Chatzky Jr., Steven Christensen, Also member of 1976 U.S. Olympic team, Sean Colgan, Christina Crus, Thomas Darling, Also member of 1984, 1988 U.S. Olympic team, Anita DeFrantz, Also member of 1976 U.S. Olympic team, James Dietz, Also member of 1972, 1976 U.S. Olympic team, Karla Drewsen, Bruce Epke, Robert Espeseth Jr., Also member of 1976, 1984, 1988 U.S. Olympic team, John Everett, Also member of 1976 U.S. Olympic team, Jeanne Flanagan, Also member of 1984 U.S. Olympic team, Charlotte Geer, Also member of 1984 U.S. Olympic team, Julia Geer, Also member of 1976, 1984 U.S. Olympic team, Virginia Gilder, Also member of 1984 U.S. Olympic team, Carie Graves, Also member of 1976, 1984 U.S. Olympic team, Janet Harville, Also member of 1984 U.S. Olympic team, Hollis Hatton, Thomas Hazeltine, Elizabeth Hills, Also member of 1976 U.S. Olympic team, Thomas Howes, Thomas Hull, Bruce Ibbetson, Also member of 1984 U.S. Olympic team, Robert Jaugstetter, Also member of 1984 U.S. Olympic team, Kathryn Keeler, Also member of 1984 U.S. Olympic team, David Kehoe, Elizabeth Kent, Stephen Kiesling, Bradley Alan Lewis, Also member of 1984 U.S. Olympic team, Joan Louise Lind, Also member of 1976, 1984 U.S. Olympic team, Walter (Chip) Lubsen Jr., Also member of 1976, 1984 U.S. Olympic team, Anne Marden, Also member of 1984, 1988, 1992 U.S. Olympic team, Peggy McCarthy, Also member of 1976 U.S. Olympic team, Valerie McClain, Also member of 1984 U.S. Olympic team, Kristine Norelius, Also member of 1984 U.S. Olympic team, Mark O’Brien, Mary O’Connor, Jan Palchikoff, Also member of 1976 U.S. Olympic team, Paul Prioleau, William Purdy, Kelly Rickon, Also member of 1984 U.S. Olympic team, Daniel Sayner, Kurt Somerville, Patricia Spratlen, Also member of 1984 U.S. Olympic team, Philip William Stekl, Also member of 1984 U.S. Olympic team, Nancy Hitchcock, Also member of 1976 U.S. Olympic team, John Richard Terwilliger, Also member of 1984, 1988 U.S. Olympic team, Cathleen Tippett-Thaxton, Also member of 1976, 1984, 1988 U.S. Olympic team, Susan Tuttle, John Van Blom, Also member of 1968, 1972, 1976 U.S. Olympic team, Nancy Vespoli, Anne Warner, Also member of 1976 U.S. Olympic team Christopher Wood, Also member of 1976, 1984, U.S. Olympic team, Thomas Woodman, Men’s Head Coach: Parker, Harry Men’s Coach: Gardner, PeterMen’s Sculling Coach: Vespoli, Mike Men’s Manager: Zandbergen, Peter Boatman: Drelselgacker, Richard Men’s Assistant Coach: Melslahn, Findley Women’s Head Manager: Lippett, Peter Women’s Coaches: Case, Nathaniel Ernst, Robert Korzenioswky, Kris McKibbon, Thomas
 
Shooting
Terence Anderson, Also member of 1996 U.S. Olympic team, Dean Clark, Also member of 1992 U.S. Olympic team Steven Collins, Matthew Dryke, Also member of 1984, 1988, 1992 U.S. Olympic team, Martin Edmondson, Also member of 1976 U.S. Olympic team, Roderick Fitz-Randolph Jr., Also member of 1988 U.S. Olympic team, Boyd Goldsby, Donald Hamilton, Aso member of 1968 U.S. Olympic team, Terry Howard, David Kimes, Ernest Neel, Steve Reiter, Randolph Stewart, Also member of 1984 U.S. Olympic team Lones Wigger Jr., Also member of 1964, 1968, 1972, U.S. Olympic team, Team Manager: Pullum, Bill, Assistant Manager: Berry, Joseph, Gunsmith: Sizemore, James
 
Soccer
Peter Arnautoff, Tony Bellinger, Timothy Clark, Paul Coffee, Angel Di Bernardo, Also member of 1984 U.S.
Olympic team, Donald Ebert, Darryl Lester Gee, John Patrick Hayes, William Tyrone Keough,  Adolphus Lawson, William McKeon, Joseph Morrone, Louis Nanchoff, Njego Pesa, Daniel Michael Salvemini, Perry Van Der Beck, Greg Villa, Head Coach: Walt Chyzowych Assistant Coach: Robert Gansler, Manager: Kurt Lemm,
 
Swimming
Stephen Barnicoat, William Barrett, Terri Lynn Baxter, Craig Beardsley, Matthew Bottom, Michael Bruner, Also member of 1976 U.S. Olympic team, Elisabeth Anne Buese, Richard Carey, Also member of 1984 U.S. Olympic team, Kim Carlisle, Tracy Caulkins, Also member of 1984 U.S. Olympic team, Chris Cavanaugh, Stephanie Elkins, Jeff Float, William Forrester Jr., Also member of 1976 U.S. Olympic team, Rowdy Gaines, Also member of 1984 U.S. Olympic team, Brian Goodell, Also member of 1976 U.S. Olympic team, Matthew Gribble, Also member of 1984 U.S. Olympic team, John Hencken, Also member of 1972, 1976 U.S. Olympic team, Nancy Hogshead, Also member of 1984 U.S. Olympic team, Robert Jackson, Also member of 1976 U.S. Olympic team, Linda Jezek, Also member of 1976 U.S. Olympic team Elizabeth Kinkhead, Kris Kirchner, Karin LaBerg, David Larson, Also member of 1984 U.S. Olympic team, Kimberly Linehan, Also member of 1984 U.S. Olympic team, Marybeth Linzmeier, Stephen Lundquist, Also member of 1984 U.S. Olympic team, Mary T. Meagher, Also member of 1984, 1988 U.S. Olympic team, Glenn Mills, John Moffet, Also member of 1984 U.S. Olympic team, Ronald Neugent, William Paulus, Joan Pennington, Susan Rapp, Peter Rocca, Also member of 1976 U.S. Olympic team, Brian Roney, John Simons Jr., David Sims, Jill Ann Sterkel, Also member of 1976, 1984, 1988 U.S. Olympic team, Susie Thayer, Richard Thornton, Jesse Vassallo, Also member of 1984 U.S. Olympic team, Susan Walsh, Cynthia Woodhead, Also member of 1984 U.S. Olympic team, Head Coach: Haines, George, Assistant Coaches: Bergen, Paul, Gambril, Don, Pursley, Dennis Reese, Randy, Schubert, Mark, Managers: Breen, George, Burton, Linda, Richardson, Pokey
 
Volleyball
Janet Baier, Carolyn Becker, Also member of 1984 U.S. Olympic team, Laurel Brassey, Also member of 1988 U.S. Olympic team, Rita Crockett, Also member of 1984 U.S. Olympic team, Patricia Dowdell, Laurie Jean Flacheier, Also member of 1984 U.S. Olympic team, Debbie Green, Also member of 1984 U.S. Olympic team, Flo Hyman, Debra Landreth, Diane McCormick, Terry Place, Susan Woodstra, Also member of 1984 U.S. Olympic team, Head Coach: Sellinger, Dr. Arie, Assistant Coach: Yoshida, Toshiaki, Manager: Becker, Ruth
 
Water Polo
Christopher Dorst, Also member of 1984 U.S. Olympic team, Gary Figueroa, Also member of 1984 U.S. Olympic team, Stephen Hamann, Eric Lindroth, Also member of 1972 U.S. Olympic team, Andrew McDonald, Also member of 1984 U.S. Olympic team, Kevin Robertson, Also member of 1984, 1988 U.S. Olympic team, Peter Schnugg, Terry Schroeder, Also member of 1984, 1988, 1992 U.S. Olympic team, John Siman, Also member of 1984 U.S. Olympic team, Jon Svendsen, Also member of 1984 U.S. Olympic team, Joseph Vargas, Also member of 1984 U.S. Olympic team, Coach: Nitzkowski, Monte, Assistant Coach: Lindgren, Kenneth, Manager: Sayring, Terry
 
Weightlifting
Mark Cameron, Also member of 1976 U.S. Olympic team, Guy Carlton, Also member of 1984 U.S. Olympic team, Michael Cohen, James Curry Jr., Brian Derwin, Robert Giordano, Jerome Hannan, Michael Karchut, Also member of 1972 U.S. Olympic team, Luke David Klaja, Joseph Puleo, Also member of 1968 U.S. Olympic team, Callen Schake, Kurt Setterburg, Thomas Stock, Head Coach: Schmitz, James, Manager: Smith, Richard
 
Wrestling
John Azevedo, Jeff Blatnick, Jeffrey C. Also member of 1984 U.S. Olympic team, Christopher Campbell, Also member of 1992 U.S. Olympic team, Daniel Chandler, Also member of 1976, 1984 U.S. Olympic team, Mark Fuller, Also member of 1984, 1988, 1992 U.S. Olympic team, Brian Gust, Russell Hellickson, Also member of 1976 U.S. Olympic team, Mark Johnson, Leroy Kemp Jr., Randall Lewis, Also member of 1984 U.S. Olympic team, John Matthews, Also member of 1976 U.S. Olympic team, Daniel Mello, Gene Mills, Thomas Minkel, Benjamin Peterson,Also member of 1972, 1976 U.S. Olympic team, Brad Rheingans, Also member of 1976 U.S. Olympic team, Bruce Thompson, Also member of 1976 U.S. Olympic team, Robert Weaver, Also member of 1984 U.S. Olympic team, Gregory Wojciechowski, Charles Yagla, Coach/Manager: Dziedzic, Stan, Coach: Allen, Lee, Assistant Coaches: Baughman, Maj. Wayne, Gable, Dan
 
Yachting
Ron Anderson, Stephen Benjamin, Also member of 1984 U.S. Olympic team, John Bertrand, Also member of 1984 U.S.
Olympic team, Henry Bossett, William Buchan, Also member of 1984 U.S. Olympic team, Roderick Davis, Also member of 1984 U.S. Olympic team, John Duane III, Neal Fowler, Robert Haines Jr., Also member of 1976, 1984 U.S. Olympic team, Jeff Kent, Michael Loeb, Edward Trevelyan, Also member of 1984 U.S. Olympic team, Manager: Merrick, Sam Assistant Manager: Kober, Chuck Boatwright: Eichenstein, Carl Meteorologist: Mairs, Robert Coach: Arnold, Dr. Homer.

Boycott is published by New Chapter Press – also the publisher of The Roger Federer Story, Quest for Perfection by Rene Stauffer, The Bud Collins History of Tennis by Bud Collins, The Lennon Prophecy by Joe Niezgoda, The Education of a Tennis Player by Rod Laver and Bud Collins, Bone Appetit, Gourmet Cooking For Your Dog by Susan Anson, The Rules of Neighborhood Poker According to Hoyle by Stewart Wolpin, People’s Choice Cancun – Travel Survey Guidebook by Eric Rabinowitz.

Following Mondale’s speech a vote was taken on whether the USOC and its delegates should support the call for a boycott. In the end, the margin of 1,604 to 797 in favor to boycott the Moscow Games resulted in one of the saddest chapters in Olympic history as nearly 60 more countries around the world followed suit and supported President Carter’s initiative.

The process that resulted in this monumental decision, its aftermath and the gripping stories of 18 American athletes who lost out on their one and only opportunity to compete in the Olympic Games are featured in the book “BOYCOTT: Stolen Dreams of the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games (New Chapter Press, www.NewChapterMedia.com).

BOYCOTT, written by identical twin authors Tom Caraccioli and Jerry Caraccioli, chronicles the stories of these elite American athletes who trained thousands of hours for their once-in-a-lifetime chance at Olympic glory in Moscow only to be denied the opportunity. The book also outlines the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan that began on December 27, 1979 that led to the boycott, efforts by a group of athletes to overturn the boycott by legal means, and the entire 1980 team eventually receiving the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian award which is bestowed by the United States Congress. The 1980 Olympic Games were held July 19 – August 3, 1980, featuring only 81 nations.

Athletes featured in the book are: Don Paige (Athletics) Philadelphia, Pa. /Bahama, N.C.; Glenn Mills (Swimming) Ridgeville, Ohio / Chester, Md.; Gwen Gardner (Athletics) Los Angeles, Calif.; Gene Mills (Wrestling) Pompton Lakes, N.J. / Liverpool, N.Y. ; Craig Beardsley (Swimming) New York, N.Y. / Chatham, N.J. ; Sue Walsh (Swimming) Hamburg, N.Y. / Durham, N.C.; Bill Hanzlik (Basketball) Beloit, Wisc., / Denver, Colo.; Amy Koopman (Gymnastics) Arlington Heights, Ill.; Isiah Thomas (Basketball) Chicago, Ill. / New York, N.Y.; Carol Blazejowski (Basketball) Fairview, N.J.; Luci Collins (Gymnastics) Inglewood, Calif.; David Kimes (Shooting) Monterey Park, Calif. / La Palma, Calif.; Brian Gust (Wrestling) Lakeville, Minn.; Lisa Buese (Swimming) Louisville, Ky. / Palo Alto, Calif.; Linda Cornelius Waltman (Athletics) Ft. Worth, Texas / Boerne, Texas; Thomas Schuler (Cycling) Birmingham, Mich. / Wauwatosa, Wisc.; Ron Galimore (Gymnastics) Ames, Iowa / Indianapolis, Ind.; Debbie Landreth (Volleyball) El Segundo, Calif. / Granger, Ind.

Vice President Walter F. Mondale wrote the Foreword for the book. In the opening pages, Mondale apologizes to all the athletes who were denied the opportunity to compete calling them, “warriors in our country’s defense of freedom.”

In BOYCOTT, Waltman says she thinks of her missed opportunity each time the Olympic Games takes place, whether it is the Summer Games or the Winter Games.

“I don’t think I’ve ever watched a Winter or Summer Olympic Games, and seen the American team march in, that I don’t think about missing out on that. Every time,” she says. “It never feels any better. It’s really not about what you do at the Olympics. It’s being a part of the Olympics. You’ve heard that statement before and it really is true. That is something you shouldn’t take away from an athlete who’s given so much and worked really hard.”

Says Collins of missing out on potentially winning Olympic gold in gymnastics: “I truly did believe that if I had some my best performances during those (1980) Olympic Games, which I was on track to do, there could have been a possible medal for me and some worldwide recognition past the gymnastics world. Missing out on that will always leave me with an empty space, because I never got the change to fulfill that dream.”

Says volleyball star Brown of her 1980 Olympic status: “It’s something that I am proud of and I feel blessed to have had the opportunity to play at the highest level and represent our country. While I know I was on the Olympic team according to the Olympic Committee and everyone else…it’s with an asterisk.”

Among those who endorsed the book include CBS Sports commentator Dick Enberg, who stated, “Boycott uniquely and poignantly captures the impact of American athletes denied the opportunity to compete in the Olympic Games. Nearly three decades later, I continue to appreciate and understand their heartbreak and anger. Thanks to the authors, we are reminded of their brave, but painful sacrifice. This book, then, becomes their belated, but deserved Olympic salute.”

Said Anita DeFrantz, President of LA84 Foundation, member of the International Olympic Committee and USOC Board member, “The boycott of 1980 was a stunning experience because I thought in our country, the individuals had the right to make their choices in sport. It is reassuring that the Caracciolis decided to tackle this story about America and American athletes in a challenging time.”

BOYCOTT is published by New Chapter Press – also the publisher of The Roger Federer Story, Quest for Perfection by Rene Stauffer, The Bud Collins History of Tennis by Bud Collins, The Lennon Prophecy by Joe Niezgoda, Bone Appetit, Gourmet Cooking For Your Dog by Susan Anson, The Rules of Neighborhood Poker According to Hoyle by Stewart Wolpin, People’s Choice Cancun – Travel Survey Guidebook by Eric Rabinowitz, The Education of a Tennis Player by Rod Laver and Bud Collins, Weekend Warriors: The Men of Professional Lacrosse by Jack McDermott, Acing Depression: A Tennis Champion’s Toughest Match by Cliff Richey and Hilaire Richey Kallendorf, Tennis Made Easy by Kelly Gunterman, among others.

Founded in 1987, New Chapter Press is an independent publisher of books and part of the Independent Publishers Group. More information can be found at www.NewChapterMedia.com.

Germany ends up with the most combined medals with 54 (23 gold). Russia are next with 53 (15 gold). The United States arrive in third with 50 (13 gold).

Canada, for its part, enjoys 47 total medals. Moreover, they led all nations with 24 gold medals. Interestingly, eight of Canada’s 10 paralympic gold medals came from two people: Brian McKeever with three and Lauren Woolstencroft who won a whopping five gold medals.

Coming into the games, Canada was hoping for a clean  hockey sweep instead they had to settle for a 4th place finish after falling to Norway 2-1 in a heartbreak fashion. The Norwegians scored the winner with three agonizing seconds to go to claim the bronze.

I didn’t realize how physical ice sledge hockey really is. And those wrist shots! Dare I say some are of NHL calibre? In some cases, I could have sworn they were better!

The powerful USA defeated Japan (who beat Canada 3-1 in the semi-finals) 2-0 in the gold medal game on Saturday. The U.S. defeated Japan 6-0 earlier in round robin play.

Nonetheless, 0ver 500 athletes from 44 nations are competing in five sports (alpine skiing, biathlon, ice sledge hockey, cross-country skiing and wheelchair curling) at the 10th Paralympic Games in Vancouver. CTV Globe Media and Rogers Media have continued their coverage of the games.

As it stands, half way through, Russia leads all nations with six gold and 15 total medals. Canada is third with two gold and six medals. The Russian team has already tied their compatriots from the Olympics in total medals. I doubt organizers will be “asked” to step down, eh?

All-time Germany leads all nations with 289 medals (101 gold) followed by Austria with 269 (86 gold) and the United States with 237 (91 gold). Canada is 9th with 96 medals; 25 of those gold.

It was nice to see Brian McKeever win gold in visually impaired cross-country skiing 20 km. Recall McKeever was the first Canadian athlete named to both the Paralympic and Olympic teams. He was expected to race in the 50km race when his coach opted to put in a racer who had been doing better at that time.

Talk about a tough break. Watching McKeever in an interview it was clear he was still upset about it but he went out an won gold for Canada nonetheless at the Paralympics.

The games conclude on March 21.

The numbers were staggering.

Not just in Canada but in the United States as well.

I’m talking about the ratings for the epic gold medal match between Team Canada and Team USA. As many as 27 million viewers tuned in to watch the game in the U.S. and 16.5  million in Canada.  The number rose to 26 million – or roughly 80% of the host country – for people who tuned in for part of the game in.

Let’s see here. I got my calculator handy right here. 16.5 plus 27  is 43.5 million.

*Scratches head. Spins beanie propeller*

In a population base of say, 335 million, about 13% of the North American population watched the game. I don’t know how many people in the States tuned in later but lets say it was 37 million. At one point, it’s possible nearly 20% of the continent shared in what is being described as one of the great games in the long, rich annals of hockey history.

With such strong television ratings, while it may not necessarily mean much to the NHL’s bottom line (though one has to wonder that in some way a trickle down effect has to take place), it does show that even if hockey is a regional (or fringe) sport in the U.S., it does have drawing power. Ironically, while some U.S. based franchises may be struggling at the gate (the NHL continues to struggle in getting exposure through lucrative TV deals), the game itself is probably as popular as its ever been.

You don’t win major junior tournaments and reach gold medal games by fluke. USA Hockey has clearly arrived on the scene.

Russia. Canada. There’s now a third wheel in your love affair.

2014. Can’t wait.

***

Quick word on the overall coverage between the consortium of CTV/Sportsnet/RDS/TSN and NBC. It was no contest. The Canadians offered more content and substance overall. The mere fact CTV went live and NBC still employed a tape delay leaves no doubt as to who offered a better product.

Canada’s 14th and final gold medal came by way of Team Canada’s scintillating 3-2 overtime win over Team USA.

No disrespect to the other sports, but this is the game everyone and their cousin from Nunavut was waiting to see. Despite the ironic fact that millionaire professional athletes were participating in what’s supposed to be an amateur event.

I don’t how many people watched the game, but if the quarterfinals game against Russia garnered something like 11 million viewers, I can just imagine what the numbers will be like for a gold medal game. Only a Littlest Hobo reunion show would come close in my estimation.

The game itself was a great piece of competition. The Americans, who accounted for themselves so consistently well throughout the tournament, deserved any respect shown to them. Despite what was said about Canada’s net overall depth and talent advantage, we all knew it was going to be a battle of will and attrition. Every single one of these players play in the NHL so the concept of “doing what it takes to win” wasn’t exactly lost on any of them.

Nor, as it was in the past, was the notion that Canadian players were champions at all levels a lopsided advantage given the international success of the United States since 1996 at the World Cup, World Juniors and even the Olympics. The United States development system is producing highly skilled players who can play a physical game with incredible skating acumen – exhibit A Zach Parise. Other great players filled their roster from Patrick Kane to Ryan Kesler to Brian Rafalski and Eirk Johnson.

While it’s true many of them hone their skills in Canada, they’re still a product of USA Hockey at its roots. Moreover, players like Jamie Langenbrunner, an outstanding Stanley Cup clutch player, are the norm on American sides now.

What about coaching? Where Canada could rely on poor coaching from European adversaries, no such advantage exists with Americans. Ron Wilson and his staff that included John Tortorella, are great NHL coaches and had their team extremely well prepared during the Olympics.

Team Canada is a perennial hockey super power. This fact is well known. They have the sexy names and one of the greatest players in the game today in Sidney Crosby. The have a different style of player altogether from all other nations. This edition of Team Canada, I argue, was probably pound for pound its most skilled (Rick Nash, Dany Heatley, Joe Thornton, Scott Niedermayer, Ryan Getzlaf, Duncan Keith, Drew Doughty, Jonathan Toews to name a few) , if not most balanced, team over the last 20 or maybe 30 years.

As for the game itself, Team USA erased a two-goal deficit (Corey Perry had given Canada a 2-0 lead in the second period) scoring the tying goal with under a minute to go in the third period sending the game into over time. It was gut check time for Team Canada. Their experience and composure, so evident throughout the match in contrast to American excitement, remained in the extra frame.

It was only fitting the player anointed to carry the torch from Maurice Richard, Gordie Howe, Bobby Orr, Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux would score the winning goal. Crosby, with a deceptively quick release (after a slick pass from Jarome Iginla) only Bill the Kid could match, slipped the puck past the only goalie in hockey playing at the optimum level like Ryan Miller with a chance of stopping it.

3-2. Game over. Tough pill no doubt for USA. A huge sigh of relief for Canada for sure.

***

Finland put an end to Slovakia’s quest for its first ever medal in hockey since it became independent from Czechoslovakia edging them 4-3. The Finns were blasted by the U.S in the semi-finals 6-1, while Slovakia came up short in a 3-2 loss to Canada. Were it not for Roberto Luongo’s save off Pavol Demitra, that game was heading to OT.

Slovakia had defeated both Russia and Sweden in previous encounters.

***

The win gave Canada its 8th gold medal at the Olympic games and second in eight years. The United States earned its 12th medal (second to Canada’s fifteen) but are still in search of their 4th gold medal and first since 1980. Meanwhile Finland have been a consistent manufacturer of medals with its 5th all-time medal in Vancouver. Since 1994, they won silver in Torino, bronze in Nagano, bronze in Lillehammer.  Impressive as this is, gold still eludes them.

To say it’s been an emotional roller coaster ride these past two weeks is an understatement. From the death of Nodar Kumaritashvili and Therese Rochette, to opening day ceremonial glitches to track, arena, transportation and weather problems – to name a few. Most of it has already been well reported elsewhere and won’t be rehashed here.

It very much reflected life in general. Unless you control things Chinese style, you’re bound to encounter a lot of “unforeseen” issues. Things don’t always go according to plan. Ask great military generals in history.

***

It was a coming of age for Canadian sports. This nation challenged itself – something many of us were demanding – and while they did not achieve the goal of winning the overall medal count (although it did eclipse the 24 medals won in Torino for a new standard), they did win the gold medal count by hauling in 14 medals. Not only was this a record for a host country, but now stands as an Winter Olympics record previously held by Norway and Russia who each had 13.

Betcha you didn’t see that coming. It’s definitely nice to see Canada on top of something for a change. I know ‘Own the Podium’ has been criticized and dismissed as “arrogant” by some people and reporters. Personally, I never had a problem with it. Canada designed itself a goal and set out to achieve it. They tied Germany for overall medals during this past World Cup season and finished third overall at Vancouver with 26 medals.

Now it’s time to assess what we did right and where we went wrong. Off the top of my head, alpine skiing faltered again despite a solid world cup season. On the other hand, Canada did well in cross-country skiing even though we didn’t medal – although it did earn 4th and 5th place in two disciplines; a remarkable accomplishment given we generally came in 39th and 53th or DNF in the past. Devon Kershaw hold your head up high buddy. 5th in the 50k cross-country marathon sprint? Amazing. Especially when you consider it was the best ever for a Canadian.

Regardless of the findings, I hope we keep this commitment to excellence going. The pressure has to be kept up. I don’t expect funding as high as it was for these games but it would be a shame if we revert back to mediocrity.

They say medals don’t matter. In many ways, they don’t especially if they become a means to an end. There’s something to be said for participating and representing your country, however, results are important too. Sports are about results and if you’re not at least aiming to win, then you’re no better than the “win at all cost” mentality. In Canada, the “oh well, I did my best” routine was wearing itself thin. It was time to take our appetite for success to a higher level.

And we did.

I think we more than made up for Montreal and Calgary. If we are to tally up all medals from all Olympics on Canadian soil it would look like this: 14 gold, 14 silver, 14 bronze for 42 medals.

Congratulations Canada.

***

What also struck me about Canada’s good showing is the gold to medal ratio it had. Here’s a look at Gold medals to overall medals ratio for selected countries:

Switzerland – six gold; nine medals: 67% of the their medals were gold.

Canada - 14 gold; 26 medals: 54%

Netherlands – four gold; eight medals: 50%

Sweden, China – five gold; 11 medals: 45%

Korea  – six gold; 14 medals: 43%

Norway – nine gold; 23 medals: 39%

Germany – 10 gold; 30 medals – 30%

Austria – four gold; 16 medals – 25%

United States – nine gold; 37 medals: 24%

***

Last but not least, the Olympics may be over but the Paralympics are set to begin March 12.

Fox: An eternal national treasure

Slovenian cross-country skier Petra Majdic – a pre-Olympic favorite – and figure skater Joannie Rochette of Canada will share the Terry Fox award “which honors athletes who embody Fox’s determination.”

Majdic fell off course during the individual classical sprint training run leading to four broken ribs and a collapse lung. She was determined to compete and won bronze. During the medal ceremony the pain was such that she could barely climb the podium needing help to do it.

Rochette faced a personal tragedy when her mother, Therese, who had just flown in to watch her daughter compete, died suddenly of a heart attack. Close to her mother, Rochette decided she had to compete in for her memory. Canada thanks her as she skated to an incredible third place finish.

It was quite the emotional spectacle.

***

Unaware organizers in Vancouver were presenting the Fox award, I thought to myself they should have some sort of “honorary” medals for some athletes. The idea popped into my head while watching slalom skier Kwame Nkrumah-Acheampong - aka The Snow Leopard – of  Ghana, fulfill his Olympic dream. Ghana? Ski? Snow? A skier from Ghana nicknamed for a cat indigenous to Asia? Man, I’ve seen it all.

***

Our thoughts and prayers will be with the Chilean Olympic team and their nation as they will skip the closing ceremonies to stand by their countrymen following a devastating earthquake in Chile.

Vancouver has seen its share of trials, tribulations and tragedies, eh?

Grief stricken, she could have opted to not skate but decided to soldier on to an eventual bronze medal. A remarkable result given the circumstances. As is the case in most human interest stories, darker interpretations of her accomplishment have been opined on some sites claiming her victory was motivated by racism and pity. In a sport with a spotty if not sullied past, accusations are sure to come. However, in this case, it’s unsubstantiated nonsense – especially the racism part.

I don’t want to give more thought to this than it deserves. Rather, the focus should be on Rochette and her family. Canada should allow her to carry the flag at the closing ceremonies.

***

Bite this

So. Hockey Canada decided to apologize for the post-game on-ice celebration by Team Canada following their win over the United States. The players hit the champagne and beer bottles and chomped on a few unlit cigars in an empty arena.

It’s made news and was even a topic of discussion on Around the Horn and Pardon the Interruption. I’m glad to “report” the consensus according to them was the event was overblown.

No kidding.  It’s not like they paraded around naked with their gold medals hanging from their necks. Come to think of it…

Hockey Canada shouldn’t have apologized.

All  have to say is: You go girls!