Congratulating Idaho Olympians and Paralympians

Floor Speech

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Mr. CRAPO. Mr. President, along with my colleagues Senator Jim Risch and Representatives Mike Simpson and Russ Fulcher, I congratulate Idaho athletes who competed in the Olympic and Paralympic Games Paris 2024. This includes Annie Carey, Chari Hawkins, Marisa Howard, Matteo Jorgenson, Alyssa Mendoza, and Kate Shoemaker, who we commend for their extraordinary perseverance that resulted in them competing on this world stage.

Catherine ``Annie'' Carey, of Boise, ID, competed in track and field events in the Paralympic Games Paris 2024, where she earned sixth-place finishes in both the 200-meter dash and long jump. Her career highlights leading to her debut participation in the Olympics include her earning bronze medals in the 100-meter dash, 200-meter dash, and long jump at the ParaPan American Games Santiago 2023. She also competed in the ParaPan American Games Lima 2019.

First-time Olympian Chari Hawkins, of Rexburg, ID, competed in track and field for the U.S. team and earned 21st place in the women's heptathlon. Chari earned eighth in the heptathlon at the 2023 World Championships, an event in which she also competed in 2019. She also competed in the indoor pentathlon at the 2022 World Championships, and some of her career highlights include 2022 U.S. National Pentathlon Champion at the USA Track & Field (USATF) Indoor Championships; USATF Athlete of the Week in 2022 after winning the pentathlon; and the bronze medal at the 2019 USATF Outdoor Championships.

Marisa Howard, a Boise State University graduate who joined the Boise State track and field and cross-country staff as an assistant coach, competed for the first time in track and field in the Olympic Games Paris 2024. In the Paris Olympics, she placed 24th in the 3,000-meter steeplechase. Prior to competing in the Olympics, Marisa Howard placed fourth in the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the 2023 Pan American Games, and she was a silver medalist in the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the 2019 Pan American Games.

Matteo Jorgenson, a first-time Olympian and graduate of Boise High School, represented the U.S. in cycling in the Paris Olympics, where he earned ninth place in the road race. Matteo's Olympics participation follows his distinction in a number of international cycling competitions. This includes his first-place finishes in Paris-Nice and Dwars door Vlaanderen in 2024. He also placed second overall in the Criterium du Dauphine and eighth overall in the Tour de France also in 2024, following a first-place overall finish in the Tour of Oman and second place overall finish in the Tour de Romandie, both in 2023.

Alyssa Mendoza, of Caldwell, ID, placed ninth in featherweight boxing at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. Her debut Olympics competition followed her earning a number of medals at U.S. and international competitions that include earning medals at three international competitions last year: bronze at the 2023 Gee Bee International Tournament; silver at the 2023 Czech Republic Grand Prix; and bronze at the 2023 Strandja International Tournament. She also earned gold medals at the 2022 USA Boxing Elite National Championships, 2022 USA Boxing Summer Festival, and the 2022 National Golden Gloves. USA Boxing notes Alyssa Mendoza is the first qualified Olympic boxer from Idaho.

Kate Shoemaker, of Eagle, ID, is a two-time Paralympian and two-time Paralympic medalist. She earned a bronze in the individual freestyle at the Paralympic Games Paris 2024, where she also earned fifth in the individual championship test. Kate helped her U.S. equestrian team earn a bronze medal at the Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020 where she also earned a fourth-place finish in the individual freestyle and a seventh-place finish in the individual championship test.

Idaho Olympians and Paralympians show us all what is possible as they turn their hard work into achievements by facing challenges with perseverance. Thank you, Olympians and Paralympians, for representing our great State and country so well in this extraordinary arena. We thank you for your outstanding examples as we commend you for your remarkable hard work and commitment.

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