News
15 APRIL 2008
J. MICHAEL PLUMB TO BE FIRST EQUESTRIAN INDUCTED
INTO THE U.S. OLYMPIC HALL OF FAME
Release: April 15 2008
By USOC Media and Public Relations Division
Chicago, Ill. - Karch Kiraly, three-time U.S.
Olympian in volleyball (1984, 1988 and 1996) and three-time
gold medalist, leads the distinguished Class of 2008
that will be inducted into the U.S. Olympic Hall of
Fame Presented by Allstate. The induction ceremony
will take place June 19 in Chicago. The U.S. Olympic
Hall of Fame Class of 2008 is comprised of nine Olympians,
one Paralympian, an Olympic Coach, Veteran, Team and
Special Contributor.
Wrestler Bruce Baumgartner, athletics athlete
Joan Benoit, figure skater Brian Boitano, boxer Oscar
de La Hoya, equestrian J. Michael Plumb, basketball
athlete David Robinson, swimmer Amy Van Dyken, shooter
Lones W. Wigger, Jr. and Paralympic swimmer John Morgan
will be inducted as individuals. Figure skating coach
Carlo Fassi will be inducted in the Coach category
along with Olympic figure skating gold medalist Carol
Heiss Jenkins in the Veteran category. The members
of the 1996 Women's Gymnastics Team - Amanda Borden,
Amy Chow, Dominique Dawes, Shannon Miller, Dominique
Moceanu, Jaycie Phelps and Kerri Strug - will also
be honored in the Team category, as will legendary
Hollywood producer Frank Marshall as the Special Contributor.
The U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony,
Presented by Allstate, an awards-show style ceremony
for which Kleenex and AT&T are associate sponsors,
will air in a nationally-televised broadcast this summer.
Viewers of the induction ceremony will be treated to
a compelling broadcast which will relive the moments
that catapulted the Class of 2008 to U.S. Olympic Hall
of Fame status. Additionally, viewers will enjoy inspiring
stories and insights from the inductees as well as
from family, friends and fellow competitors of the
honored legends.
“The legacies and contributions of this
year's honorees will now live forever as they join
our country's greatest Olympians in the U.S. Olympic
Hall of Fame,” said Lisa Cochrane, vice president
of marketing at Allstate. “As a sponsor of the
Hall of Fame since its celebrated revitalization in
2004, Allstate is proud to help protect and preserve
this important part of our identity and source of American
pride.”
Eight-time Olympian, J. Michael Plumb, has marched
in more Olympic Opening Ceremonies than any other U.S.
Olympic athlete, equestrian or otherwise. Plumb's Olympic
career began with the 1960 Olympic Games and he was
named to every Olympic three-day team through 1984.
His final appearance was at the Barcelona 1992 Olympic
Games. He tallied six Olympic medals, including team
gold in 1976 and 1984, team silver in 1964, 1968 and
1972 and an individual silver in 1976. He won his first
Olympic medal competing on a horse he had never ridden
in competition before - an unprecedented feat. His
international career also spanned several World Championships,
including team and individual silver medals in 1974,
and team bronze in 1978 and 1982. He is the first equestrian
to be inducted into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame.
Beginning today, tickets to the U.S. Olympic
Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony can be purchased at www.usolympichalloffame.com <http://www.usolympichalloffame.com/>.