Going for the Gold
August 9, 2004

The Olympics are just four days away, and from Nia Vardalos to the Bush twins to rumors of Brad and Jen, the stars are flocking to Athens to cheer on the Americans. Now meet the five athletes we'll all be pulling for.

Swimming

Michael Phelps is the fastest human in water, and most believe he could match or surpass the seven Gold medals that Mark Spitz won. But Phelps has dreams of even more medals. "Fifty would be great, but one is what I'm shooting for now," he tells us.

Softball

A golden lady on land is sexy softball superstar Jennie Finch. The 6-foot-1-inch California pitcher will do whatever it takes to dominate the diamond. "You have to get up and train six to seven hours throughout the day," the University of Arizona alumna says. "This is basically our job."

Track and Field

Kansas cannonball Maurice Greene took double gold in Sydney, and now the three-time, 100-meter world champion has his focus firmly fixed. "Right now I'm just focusing on one thing, and that's getting the gold medal in Athens," he says.

Gymnastics

4-feet-9-inches Olympian Carly Patterson, from Baton Rouge, proves that great things come in small packages. 16-year-old Carly may be the standout gymnast chasing gold but she's thrilled to have just lost some silver, telling us: "I just got my braces off in February."

Weight Lifting

Shane Hamman, an Oklahoma native and Gateway pitchman, is strong enough to carry American hopes. "I've lifted more weight than any American in history," he told us.

But a medal in Athens would have the 350-pound, eight-time national weightlifting champ feeling lighter than air. "My eyes are on the Olympics," he tells us. "I see that medal, that's what keeps me going."

There you have it -- five sports, five American stars, all chasing their gold-colored dreams.


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