Sports & Celebrity Newswire

Archive for the ‘Olympic News’ Category

VANCOUVER, BC – Apolo Ohno won the bronze medal Saturday in the 1,000-meter short-track speed skating event winning his seventh Winter Olympics medal setting a new American record beating Bonnie Blair who held the record with 6 medals. Ohno now has two gold, two silver and three bronze medals in his three Olympic appearances.

Apolo Anton Ohno wins 7th Olympic medal in Vancouver breaking Bonnie Blairs record.

Ohno, who is already a successful motivational speaker, may very well walk away from Vancouver with millions of dollars worth of new endorsement deals. He already endorses luxury Omega watches, and since his record breaking win in Vancouver Saturday night, other sponsors are sure to follow soon. Alaska Airlines, which is Ohno’s biggest sponsor, painted his image on a Boeing 737. ... Read Full Story

WHISTLER, British Columbia — American skier, Lindsey Vonn, won the Olympic downhill on Wednesday, and her American teammate Julia Mancuso won the silver medal in a surprise second place.

Lindsey Vonn wins gold medal for United States in downhill in Vancouver Olympics

Vonn, who has been plagued with a bruised right shin, seemed to have no problem racing down Franz’s Downhill in 1 minute, 44.19 seconds taking her to a gold medal victory for the United States. ... Read Full Story

Photo by Chris Helgren / Reuters

Freestyle skier, Hannah Kearney, wins the gold for the United States in Sunday’s competition at the Vancouver Olympics. She claims the honor of being the first American to win the gold. Kearney, who hails from Vermont. won a dramatic victory over Canada’s Jenn Heil.

“I heard the crowd. I heard Jenn’s score, and I knew I’d have to have the run of my life,” she said. “I’m glad she scored a good run because it means more to me to come out on top.”

“I couldn’t even imagine the pressure on Jenn. You could almost feel it. I know Canada hasn’t won a gold medal on their home turf, but I have a feeling they’ll do it these Games,” Kearney said. “But I’m pleased that I could stop that for now.”

... Read Full Story

With the Winter Olympics beginning, it will be interesting to see which American athletes become the darlings of these games. After each Olympics, it seems that a couple of athletes come away with a new-found celebrity that stays with them forever.

When I think of the Winter Olympics, I think of Dorothy Hamill and  Peggy Fleming’s gold medal figure skating performances, speed skater Dan Janzen deciding to race despite his sister’s losing battle with leukemia earlier that day, and the U.S. men’s hockey team led by Mike Eruzione defeating the mighty Russians in 1980 in what is still considered the greatest upset in Olympic history.

So who will become immortalized in American Olympics history? Here are a few Olympians to keep an eye on…

Lindsey Vonn – Vonn, the most successful American woman skier in World Cup history, will be favored in three events – Downhill, Super-G and Combined. She is the first American woman to win back-to-back overall World Cup championships and a Super G Title, and she has also won back-to-back downhill championships.

Lindsey Vonn is this years Olympic medal hopeful for downhill skiing and Super G

Apolo Anton Ohno -  Ohno has a chance to become the most celebrated American speed skater in Olympics history. He’s already won five medals (two gold, one silver, two bronze) and should add to that in Vancouver. He’s currently tied with Olympic legend Eric Heiden for most career medals by an American male. He has been the reigning United States champion since 2001 and has won the men’s national title a total of 12 times.

Already a 5 time Olympic medal winner in speed racing, Ohno is an odds on favorite to win.

Lindsey Jacobellis – Who can forget Jacobellis at the 2006 Winter Games? With a big lead and gold medal in-site, Jacobellis inexplicably fell as she neared the finish line and settled with the sliver. She’s dominated the women’s snowboard cross scene and should get redemption in Vancouver. She was the winner of the 2009 Snowboard Cross World Cup as well as the 2009 Winter X Games.

Lindsey Jacobellis dominates the women’s snowboard cross scene and is favored to win gold.

Steven Holcomb – The U.S. hasn’t won a gold medal in the four-man bobsled since 1948, but that might change this year. Holcomb’s “Night Train” bobsled team comes into Vancouver as the favorites. His team leads the current World Cup standings and are the reigning World Champions.

Steven Holcomb and his “Night Train” bobsled team comes into Vancouver as the favorites.

Rachael Flatt – Flatt won the gold medal at the recently completed U.S. Figure Skating Championships and appears to be peaking at the right time. She had previously won the silver medal at both the 2008 & 2009 Championships and was the 2008 World Junior Champion.

Rachel Flatt is America's favorite to win a medal in figure skating at Vancouver in 2010

If you would like to find out how to hire Olympic athletes for a speaking engagement, appearance, endorsement, autograph signing or special event,  request Olympic medal winners such as Dorothy Hamill, Peggy Fleming, Apolo Anton Ohno, Lindsey Vonn booking agent information from PFP Sports and Celebrity Talent Agency. PFP is a top booking agent for Olympic athletes,  sports stars and celebrities. For more information call 800.966.1380

I’ve been fortunate to have attended many great sporting events over the years. With the Super Bowl fast approaching, let’s take a look at the Top 10 events which I believe every avid sports fan should see in-person.

10. British Open - For the serious golfer, a trip to St. Andrews is a pilgrimage to where golf began. Many of golf’s greatest moments have occurred at the British Open, including last year’s near-win by Tom Watson.

9. Red Sox vs. Yankees – You can argue about the greatest rivalry in sports, but I don’t think anyone can argue that the Yankees vs. Red Sox is at or near the top. The fans hate each other and the atmosphere is electric, especially late in the season if the games mean something.

8. Army vs. Navy – Maybe this isn’t the BCS title game, but the pageantry surrounded this classic rivalry and the emotions it stirs is something very unique.

7. World Cup – In almost every country except the U.S., soccer is the most popular sport and the World Cup is the culminating event. This summer’s World Cup in South Africa promises to be the most watched event in tv sports history.

6. World Series - The World Series is special given its history. Be lucky enough to catch a game at either Fenway Park or Yankees Stadium and you’ll be treated to a very special experience.

5. Kentucky Derby – Even if you’re not a horse racing fan, the Kentucky Derby is a fun event to attend. It’s a spectacle, from women wearing the big hats to the Mint Juleps (which, by the way, I think taste horrible).

4. Final Four – The NCAA basketball tournament is the best tournament in American sports. And the excitement level reaches a fever-pitch at the Final Four with teams vying for a spot in the Monday finals. And if you’re team happens to be one of the remaining four, it’s an experience you’ll never forget.

3. Stanley Cup Game 7 – Even though I’m not much of a hockey fan, I’m hard pressed to find a more exciting sporting event than a game 7 Stanley Cup final. The excitement and intensity level is unrivaled.

2. Super Bowl - Nothing compares to the Super Bowl in terms of the hype. It’s almost become a national holiday with tens of millions of viewers tuning in. Add in all the events and the chance to rub shoulders with greats such as John Elway and Joe Montana, and everyone should attend at least one.

1. Masters – This is my favorite event. You have to pinch yourself the first time you enter the hallowed grounds of Augusta National. It’s more beautiful in person than you can ever see on tv. And there’s nothing like following the leaders through Amen Corner on Sunday.

Each Olympics seems to produce a handful of stars that will remain popular for years to come, one of whom is almost certainly Dorothy Hamill,  the Olympic gold medalist in figure skating. However, few Olympians have enjoyed the enduring popularity of Dorothy Hamill.

Dorothy Hamill, Olympic Gold medalist and breast cancer survivor, is a popular speaker today.

As a 19-year old, Hamill won the Gold Medal at the 1976 Winter Games in Innsbruck, Austria. In so doing, she joined other figure skaters such as Peggy Fleming and Kristi Yamaguchi as American icons.

After the Olympics, Hamill turned professional. She skated with many productions, including eight years with Ice Capades. She had four ABC television prime time specials produced in her honor and produced and starred in her own touring productions of “Cinderella – Frozen In Time”, “Hansel, Gretel, the Witch and the Cat”, and “Nutcracker On Ice”. She won an Emmy for her starring role in “Romeo and Juliet.”

Hamill was inducted into the Olympic Hall of Fame and the Figure Skating Hall of Fame and was honored by being asked to run the torch into the Olympic Stadium in Salt Lake City in 2002 and skate the closing ceremonies with vocalist Harry Connick Jr.

Hamill is very involved in charity work including the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, the International Special Olympics, Big Brothers & Sisters of America, Buoniconti Fund, Olympic Aid, Vaccine Fund, American Cancer Society, Ronald McDonald House and teaching blind children to skate through the March of Dimes.

In late 2007, she released her memoir entitled “A Skating Life: My Story”, which made the New York Times Best Seller List. The following year, Hamill was diagnosed with breast cancer, which was reportedly caught early.

She’s remains one of the most popular Olympic speakers and has become one of the most sought-after cancer speakers as well. PFP Sports & Celebrity Talent recently procured her to speak at a cancer conference in the Washington D.C. area. She currently splits her time between Nantucket, MA, where she runs the Dorothy Hamill Figure Skating Fantasy Camp, and Maryland.

If you would like to find out how to hire Dorothy Hamill for a speaking engagement, appearance, endorsement, autograph signing or special event, request Dorothy Hamill booking agent information from PFP Sports and Celebrity Talent Agency. PFP is a top celebrity booking agent for sports stars, athletes and celebrities. Call 800 966.1380.

Picabo Street, Olympic Gold Medalist

In part one of my Winter Olympics blog, I profiled Mike Eruzione, the captain of the 1980 U.S. “Miracle On Ice” Hockey Team. In this blog you’ll learn about Picabo Street, one of the greatest American skiers of all-time. The next blog will feature figure skater Dorothy Hamill.

A three-time Olympian, Street joined the U.S. Ski Team in 1989 and earned a silver medal at the 1994 Olympic Winter Games in ­the downhill. She made her mark at Olympic history at Negano in 1998 by taking gold in the super G by a mere hundredth of a second.

Street medaled in three World Championships and earned a combined silver in 1993 and super G bronze and downhill gold in 1996. Street became the first American to win a World Cup season title in a speed event after winning six of nine World Cup competitions in 1995. After suffering a leg injury and two years of rehabilitation, Street returned to compete in the 2002  Olympics in Salt Lake City before retiring. With nine career victories, she was inducted into the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame in 2005.

Since retirement, Street has remained in the public eye. She’s had broadcasting assignments with NBC’s Today Show, CBS Sports, NBC Sports, OLN and the FineLiving Network. In 2003, she hosted a 12 series winter sports show for OLN entitled Picabo Street’s Snow Zone and in 2006, Street was a Special Correspondent to NBC’s Today Show throughout the Turin Winter Games. She’s once again scheduled to work for NBC at the upcoming Winter Games in Vancouver.

As one of the most recognizable Olympians, she has served as spokeswoman for Giro helmets, Bolle eyewear, Park City Mountain Resort, Walk EZ and Bogner of America. She’s also one of the most popular Olympic speakers and stays busy making personal appearances and speaking around the country. Corporations will often hire Street to ski with clients and then deliver a keynote presentation afterwards.

If you would like to find out how to hire Picabo Street for a speaking engagement, appearance, endorsement, autograph signing or special event, request Picabo Street booking agent information from PFP Sports and Celebrity Talent Agency. PFP is a top celebrity booking agent for Olympic speakers,  athlete appearances, sports stars, endorsements and celebrities. For more information call 800.966.1380.