Olympic Action for Athletes with UF Ties Starts Wednesday - Mitts Expected to Start for U.S. Soccer
Tuesday, August 5, 2008 | Soccer
Opening ceremonies for the 2008 Summer Olympic Games aren't until Friday, Aug. 8, but Olympic soccer action kicks off Wednesday, Aug. 6. The U.S. Women's soccer team faces Norway in its opening match of Group G play (live at 7:30 a.m. ET on MSNBC) and former Gator All-American Heather Mitts is expected to be the U.S.'s starting right back. Mitts will be the first of 31 athletes with ties to the University of Florida athletic program to compete at the 2008 Summer Olympic Games.
When U.S. Soccer announced its Olympic roster in June, two former Gators were among of the 18-player roster. But striker Abby Wambach, considered one of the world's top players, broke her left leg versus Brazil June 16 in the team's last pre-Olympic exhibition match and will miss the 2008 Olympic Games. Wambach is a three-time All-American for the Gators and owns all of the Gators' career scoring records. She has scored 99 goals for the U.S. National Team, including the overtime game-winner in the 2004 Olympic gold medal match. Mitts joined Wambach on the 2004 Olympic team.
As of July 31, 2008, a total of 34 athletes and coaches with ties to the University of Florida (31 athletes, 3 coaches) are representing 20 different countries and are in Beijing for the 2008 Olympic Games. A complete list of Florida's 2008 Olympians can be found here.
Few schools in the country can match the rich Olympic tradition the University of Florida boasts. As the Beijing Games approach, since 1968, 117 Gators and 11 Florida coaches have represented 27 countries in 10 Olympiads and laid claim to 76 medals, including 39 golds.
Check back to www.GatorZone.com throughout the 2008 Olympic Games to see how the Gators fared in competition.
