U-M goes for gold in Beijing Olympics

Lisa Hass has accumulated so many stamps in her passport that she recently authored a "Top 10 International Travel Tips" article for mgoblue.com.

Athletic trainer Lisa Hass, second from left, celebrates with gold medalists Kate McKenzie, Bernadette Teeley and Kate Johnson at the 2002 World Rowing Championships in Spain. (Photo courtesy Lisa Hass)

This advice will come in handy as the U-M athletic trainer travels to Beijing as medical support during the 2008 Olympics.

Hass will join 26 Wolverines who will represent seven countries at the Olympics. Also, an incoming College of Engineering student will represent the United States in September during the International Paralympic Games in Beijing.

"This showing speaks to the commitment and hard work of these individuals, as well as to the global stature of our university," President Mary Sue Coleman says. "We will be watching all of these members of the Michigan family and cheering them on."

Additional U-M staff members who will participate in the Olympics include men's swimming coaches Bob Bowman and Jon Urbanchek, who will join the coaching staff for USA men's swimming.

At the Olympic trials 41 U-M athletes competed in 28 sports, Athletic Director Bill Martin told regents at a recent board meeting.

Martin predicts great success for the athletes, in particular swimmer Michael Phelps, who he believes could win eight gold medals, one more than the record held by U.S. swimmer Mark Spitz.

When Hass arrives in Beijing she initially will work with both the U.S. men's and women's rowing teams during their training camp as well as competitions. Following that she has a two-day assignment for the men's and women's triathlon events. After those events are over she expects to work in the USA clinic and assisting at events where needed.

"The medical staff is large but there always seem to be holes to fill," she says.

During this assignment Hass will function similarly to her job at U-M, where she has worked for 17 years.

"The exposure to elite, driven athletes and coaches has prepared me well for this level of competition," says Hass, who has traveled with the national rowing team to four World Championship events and to the 2007 Pam Am Games. "Working on a daily basis with tremendous athletes who are extremely motivated helps me in my dealings with elite national team members."

U-M roster 2008 Olympics*
*As of July 25

Baseball
Clayton Richard (USA), pitcher

Women's rowing
Ellen Tomek (USA), double sculls
Heather Mandoli (Canada), women's eight
Janine Hanson (Canada), quadruple sculls
Brett Sickler (USA), women's eight alternate
Lisa Hass (USA), athletic trainer

Men's rowing
Matt Hughes (USA), quadruple sculls
Ken Jurkowski (USA), single sculls

Men's swimming
Alon Mandel (Israel), 200m butterfly
Michael Phelps (USA), multiple events
Peter Vanderkaay (USA), multiple events
Scott Spann (USA), 200m breaststroke
Andrew Hurd (Canada), 4x200m freestyle relay
Bob Bowman (USA), men's assistant coach
Jon Urbanchek (USA), special assistant to men's coach

Women's swimming
Natasha Moodie (Jamaica), 50m freestyle
Valeria Silva (Peru), 100m breaststroke

Men's track and field
Stann Waithe (Trinidad and Tobago), 4x400m relay
Nate Brannen (Canada), 1,500m
Kevin Sullivan (Canada), 1,500m
Nick Willis (New Zealand), 1,500m
Scott MacDonald (Canada), team manager

Women's track and field
Anna Willard (USA), 3,000m steeplechase
Nicole Forrester (Canada), high jump

Water polo
Betsey Armstrong (USA), goalie

Wrestling (freestyle)
Andy Hrovat (USA), 84 kg/185 pounds

Wrestling (Greco-Roman)
Steve Fraser (USA), coach

2008 Paralympics Games

Men's track and field
Jerome Singleton (USA), 100m, 200m, 4-by-100m relay