Chicago, IL (My Sportsbook) - The United States Olympic Committee announced the nominees for the 2009 Hall of Fame class on Thursday.
The list includes 15 individuals, five teams and five paralympians, highlighted by Olympic standouts women's basketball player Teresa Edwards, swimmer Gary Hall, Sr., sprinter Michael Johnson, alpine skier Picabo Street and the 1992 Men's Olympic Basketball team.
The announcement came from the Palmer House Hilton in Chicago at a press event. The Hall of Fame induction ceremony will support Chicago's bid for the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
"The U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame honors Olympic and Paralympic legends who have inspired our country for generations, uniting us behind Team USA and giving us role models who epitomize the Olympic Ideals," acting USOC CEO Stephanie Streeter said.
Fans are able to cast their votes for the 2009 class of the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame through June 16. The eventual inducted class will include five individuals, one team and one paralympian, as well as three additional individuals: a coach, veteran and special contributor. The inductees will be revealed in early July and honored at the August 12 induction ceremony in Chicago.
The other individual nominees include Greg Barton (canoe/kayak), Jeff Blatnick (wrestling), Valerie Brisco-Hooks (athletics), Tracie Ruiz-Conforto (swimming), Mary T. Meagher (swimming), Sheila Young Ochowicz (speedskating), Darrell Pace (archery), Terry Schroeder (water polo), John Smith (wrestling), Peter Westbrook (fencing) and Willye White (athletics).
The five paralympian nominees include Jean Driscoll (athletics), David Larson (athletics), Greg Mannino (alpine skiing), Tony Volpentest (athletics) and Sarah Will (alpine skiing).
The other team nominees are the 1976 U.S. Women's 4x100 Freestyle Relay Team, the 1996 U.S. Synchronized Swimming Team, the 1998 U.S. Women's Ice Hockey Team and the 2002 U.S. Women's Bobsled Team.
Nominees for the class of 2009 are selected by a 10-person nominating committee consisting of athletes, members of the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame, historians and USOC representatives.
