The 27 finalists have been announced for the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Hall of Fame class of 2019.
Voting is now open at TeamUSA.org/vote to help determine this year’s induction class, which will include five Olympians, three Paralympians and one team. (In addition to the public vote that ends Sept. 3, U.S. Olympians and Paralympians and the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic family also vote on the inductees.)
Additionally, the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Hall of Fame nominating committee will select two legends, one coach and one special contributor for induction.
Opening in early 2020, the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum in Colorado Springs will become the new permanent home for the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Hall of Fame. Read more about current Hall of Fame members at the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum’s Digital Museum.
The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Hall of Fame finalists for 2019 include these Olympians:
- Gary Anderson, shooting: only shooter to win two consecutive Olympic gold medals in the 300-meter rifle, which was contested from 1900 to 1972.
- Greg Barton, canoe/kayak: three-time Olympian won four Olympic medals, including a pair of gold medals at the Seoul 1988 Olympic Games.
- Laura Berg, softball: only four-time Olympian in USA Softball History won three gold medals and one silver.
- Anne Donovan, basketball: won two Olympic gold medals as a player and as a head coach guided the U.S. to a gold medal in the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.
- Lisa Leslie, basketball: four-time Olympian and four-time gold medalist.
- Nastia Liukin, gymnastics: won five medals at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, including a gold medal in the individual all-around.
- John Mayasich, ice hockey: defenseman helped U.S. win silver at Cortina d’Ampezzo 1956 Olympic Winter Games and gold at Squaw Valley 1960 Olympic Winter Games.
- Misty May-Treanor, beach volleyball: three-time Olympian and three-time Olympic gold medalist.
- Jonny Moseley, freestyle skiing: won gold medal at Nagano 1998 Olympic Winter Games and that year was named Sportsman of the Year by the USOC.
- Apolo Anton Ohno, short track speedskating: three-time Olympian is the most decorated American in the Olympic Winter Games, with eight medals (two gold) in four different events.
- Mark Reynolds, sailing: four-time Olympian won three Olympic medals, including gold medals in star class at the Barcelona 1992 Olympic Games and Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.
- Angela Ruggiero, ice hockey: four-time Olympic medalist is the all-time leader in games played for Team USA.
- John Smith, wrestling: two-time Olympic gold medalist in freestyle wrestling.
- Dara Torres, swimming: five-time Olympian captured 12 Olympic medals, including four gold medals.
- Brenda Villa, water polo: four-time Olympian twice led the U.S. Olympic Team in scoring and helped the team win four medals, including gold at the London 2012 Olympic Games.
The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Hall of Fame finalists for 2019 include these Paralympians:
- Cheri Blauwet, track and field: Won seven medals, including one gold, in events ranging from the 100 meters to the marathon.
- Candace Cable, track and field, Nordic skiing, alpine skiing: nine-time Paralympian won 12 Paralympic medals and was the first woman to medal in both Paralympic Winter Games and the Paralympic Games.
- Muffy Davis, cycling, alpine skiing: Won four Paralylmpic medals over two Paralympic Games in alpine skiing and later took up handcycling, winning three gold medals at the London 2012 Paralympic Games.
- Bart Dodson, track and field: Five-time Paralympian won 20 Paralympic medals, including 13 gold medals.
- Greg Mannino, alpine skiing: Five-time Paralympian won 12 Paralympic medals, including six gold medals.
- Erin Popovich, swimming: Three-time Paralympian won 19 Paralympic medals, including 14 gold medals.
- Marla Runyan, Para track and field, Para-cycling, Olympic track and field: Two-time Paralympian (six medals, five gold) became the first legally blind athlete to compete in the Olympic Games, placing eighth in the 1,500-meter run in the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.
- Chris Waddell, alpine skiing, track and field: Six-time Paralympian won 13 Paralympic medals, including five gold medals.
- Trischa Zorn, swimming: Most successful athlete in Paralympic history, with 52 medals, including 38 gold medals.
The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Hall of Fame finalists for 2019 include these teams:
- 1996 U.S. Olympic Women’s Basketball Team: Compiled a 52-0 pre-Olympic record and went 8-0 at the Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games, winning each of its games by at least 15 points.
- 1998 U.S. Olympic Women’s Ice Hockey Team: Outscored six opponents by a combined 36-8 to win the first-ever Olympic gold medal in women’s ice hockey.
- 2010 U.S. Olympic Four-Man Bobsled Team: Steve Holcomb, Steve Mesler, Curtis Tomasevicz and Justin Olsen won the gold medal at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games.
“It is a privilege to introduce these deserving finalists for induction into the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Hall of Fame,” said Sarah Hirshland, USOPC CEO. “They represent the pinnacle of athletic achievement and personal excellence, both on and off the field of play. We honor them and are pleased to memorialize their legacy as America’s most inspiring athletes and teams.”
Starting in 2019, the Hall of Fame will see increased Paralympic representation to reflect the burgeoning contributions of U.S. athletes to the Paralympic Movement, and now reflects the U.S. Team sizes at the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The class of 2019 will be announced on Monday, Sept. 23, and inducted on Friday, Nov. 1, during a ceremony in conjunction with the all-alumni U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Team Reunion in Colorado Springs.
“Congratulations to the athletes and teams being celebrated as finalists for the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Hall of Fame,” said Dick Fosbury, U.S. Olympians and Paralympians Association president. “These individuals have already achieved so much both on and off the field of play during their careers, breaking barriers and inspiring the next generation of athletes. On behalf of USOPA, we are honored to have these individuals represent the best of Team USA.”
