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Pressure mounts for Minnesota athletes on Road to China
More than 10,000 athletes will compete in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, this summer. And, several Minnesota athletes hope to travel the 'Road to China' with Team USA. Many of the Olympic trials have yet to be held. That means many of the athletes are still waiting to see if they'll get the chance to go for gold. After qualifying and competing in her first Olympics in 2004, Carrie Tollefson is back for more in '08. But the Dawson, Minnesota native is fighting her way back after abdomen surgery. "Basically they re-attached my abdomen to the bone. I feel great, I'm trying to get back into it. Things are going well, I'm just not flying yet," Tollefson admitted. She hopes to be though by late June or early July. That's when the Olympic Trials are in Eugene, Oregon. Seimone Augustus is trying to make her way onto the final United States womens basketball roster. For the Minnesota Lynx all-star, it would be pretty special. "I mean this is like my ultimate goal in life. I set goals for myself, but making the Olympic team is high for me," Augustus said. The Lynx isn't the only pro sports team that might have a representative in Beijing. The Minnesota Twins have a lefthander in Triple-A named Brian Duensing who could be there as well. That is, unless he's called up to the big leagues before then. "I kind of try to look at it as a win-win situation. Like hopefully I'm either up there and I can't go, or I have the opportunity to go to the Olympics," Duensing said. A good number of Minnesota's Olympic hopefuls are current or former Gophers who continue to train on campus. Guillermo Alvarez graduated in 2005, but the gymnast is one of the country's best hopes in the sport. That is, if he makes the team. The competition at next month's Olympic trials will be pretty stiff. "There's probably well over a dozen guys who are good enough to make the team, and deserve to make the team, but only six spots, so it's going to be pretty heartbreaking for a lot of guys once the team's decided," Alvarez said. Shani Marks was a two-time All-American at the University of Minnesota in track & field. The triple jumper from Apple Valley is currently the second-ranked American in the event. The top three go to China. "Making it to the Olympics would be the best thing ever. I would be so excited because it's been a long time working towards that goal," Marks said. Former Gopher Nicole Branagh used to play indoor volleyball. Now she and teammate Elaine Youngs are two of the best in beach volleyball. "I tried beach volleyball and really fell in love with it, so i just gave it 100% to see what would happen," Branagh stated. Plenty more Minnesotans are giving 100% to qualify for the Olympics. Dayton's Briana Scurry is on track to make her fourth Olympics in womens soccer. Hutchinson's Lindsay Whalen could play hoops for Team USA. Cole Konrad, a former Gopher heavyweight, hopes to crack the team next month at the wrestling trials. And, Becky Holder of Mendota Heights could qualify in equestrian events. Also, there are plenty more potential local Olympians on our radar. It's a picture that will come into focus in the next two months.
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