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Newtown SportsBeat: Top 10 Summer Olympians From Connecticut

With the Olympic Games approaching, Patch ranks the best all-time summer Olympians from the state.


[Note: Want your photos and/or write-ups from Bethel youth or recreational sports in featured on Newtown Patch? ]

10. THE WINKLEVOSS TWINS: Cameron and Tyler are well-known for taking Facebook founder, Mark Zuckerberg, to court for allegedly stealing their ideas for the social network. However, the longtime Greenwich residents built a name for themselves in the sport of rowing. They trained at the Saugatuck Rowing Club and competed at Harvard University before earning a spot on the 2008 U.S. Olympic team. In the Beijing Games, Cameron and Tyler participated in the men's coxless pair rowing event, finishing sixth overall.

9. JAMES BLAKE: The Fairfield High School graduate and professional tennis player was a member of the 2008 U.S. Olympic team and competed in men's singles during the Beijing Games. Blake, winner of 10 titles during his career and ranked fourth in the world during his impressive run, beat Roger Federer in the quarterfinals of the Olympics, 6-4, 7-6. Federer was ranked number one in the world at the time. Blake went on to the bronze medal match where he lost to Serbia's Novak Djokovic, 4-6, 6-7.

8. CHARLES NAGY: The former UConn and star, made the 1988 U.S. Olympic baseball team that competed in the Seoul, South Korea games. It was a demonstration sport at the time, but and Team USA sure made it seem like the real thing. They torched the competition on their way to winning the gold medal. Nagy made two appearances and earned a save before embarking on a solid career with the Cleveland Indians. He's currently the pitching coach with the Arizona Diamondbacks.

7. MARIE CORRIDON: Corridon, who was raised in Norwalk, won a gold medal as an 18-year-old in the 1948 Olympic Games in London. Earlier that year, she became the first woman to break the one minute barrier in the 100-yard freestyle with a time of 59.9. Corridon swam the first leg of the woman's 400-yard freestyle relay and helped the United States set a new world record with a time of 4:29:20.

6. CHARLES SMITH: In the last Olympics before NBA stars were allowed to compete, Smith, a former high school star at Warren Harding High School in Bridgeport, helped the U.S. win a bronze medal in the 1988 Summer Olympic Games in Seoul. The former Big East Player of the Year and All-American at the University of Pittsburgh went on to enjoy a solid NBA career.

5. JANEL JORGENSEN: After her junior year at , Jorgensen, then just 17-years old, made the 1988 U.S. Olympic team that competed in Seoul, South Korea. Swimming the butterfly leg of the 400-meter medley relay team, Jorgensen helped the U.S win the silver medal in the event. She also placed fifth in the 100-meter butterfly race. Jorgensen went on to become an All-American at Stanford University and is currently the executive director of Swim Across America, a foundation that raises money for cancer research through swimming events.

4. BUTCH JOHNSON: Considered one the best archers in the world, Johnson has been to the Summer Olympic Games five times. The Woodstock resident won a gold medal in the 1996 Games in Atlanta and a bronze medal in the 2000 Games in Australia. He's currently bidding to make the U.S. Olympic team for a sixth time.

3. KRISTINE LILLY: One of the most decorated players in the history of women's soccer, the former phenom competed in the Olympic Games on three occasions. , an All-American at UNC, won gold medals in 1996 and 2004 and earned a silver medal in the 2000 Summer Games. She missed the 2008 Olympics because of the birth of her child. With 352 caps, Lilly is the most capped player, male or female, in the history of the sport.

2. BILL TOOMEY: After barely missing out on making the U.S. Olympic team in 1964, the former star earned the title of "World's Greatest Athlete" four years later. In the Summer Olympic Games in Mexico City, had a record-setting first day in the decathlon and went on to become the ninth American to win the event.

1. BRUCE JENNER: The graduate went to Graceland College in Iowa to play football, but an injury forced him to quit. He took up the decathlon and went on to become one of the most famous U.S. Olympians ever. took the gold medal in the 1976 Summer Olympic Games in Montreal, setting a then world record of 8,618 points.

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Thomas Paine June 18, 2013 at 01:47 pm
Why is it the panel for this event does not include a single advocate for gun-owners' rights? WithRead More all due respect to Chief McNamara, why does the panel no include a person who can speak to gun safety from a gun-owning civilian's perspective? ML, you claim that the assembled folks "do not offer judgements about gun ownership" but they are not including a single voice that can offer perspective on gun ownership. I have been to "education" sessions sponsored by Meg's March for Change and they are one-sided indoctrinations into gun control advocacy. >>>> I was in Hartford for the public hearings in January when both Meg and March co-founder Nancy gave their personal testimonies and they all but threatened the legislators on the panel with election day retribution for all those who did not tow the gun-control line of thinking (i.e. March and CAGV). To suggest that Meg "does not offer judgements" is fallacious and disingenuous.
DOR June 19, 2013 at 08:56 am
I'm o n Butterfield. No sightings here. Any specifics as to her location?
Carol Chapman June 19, 2013 at 09:23 am
Norma has been spotted this morning at the intersection of Kenan and Currituck. The red leash isRead More still attached. She was trying to eat a dead squirrel on Currituck. Very skittish, but still in the neighborhood (yay). Please watch for her. My husband and sister-in-law (who first spotted her on Currituck this morning) were unable to get near her. She's in the woods, heading toward Butterfield. Her foster mom is on the scene now. Folks in the neighborhood, please watch for her and call 203-942-4008 if you see her.
Carol Chapman June 19, 2013 at 11:20 am
Carolee Mason (Newtown's Animal Control Officer) is watching her from her car at the moment, armedRead More with catfood to tempt her closer. The foster mom is on her way there again, this time with chicken, and Laura is on her way with hamburger. Problem is, this dog is VERY shy, skittish and quick to run away.
Betsy Kraushaar June 17, 2013 at 07:54 am
If you have goodies left that you are interested in donating to our Girl Scout Troop...pleaseRead More contact me. Our troop has been saving/ fundraising for a senior trip to Europe for the past 5 years. Thanks in advance, Betsy
Llyod Christmas June 17, 2013 at 09:01 pm
Hi Betsy! We have tons of children's books left, and would be more than happy to donate them. HowRead More should I get in touch with you to drop them off?
Betsy Kraushaar June 17, 2013 at 10:46 pm
Lloyd, My email is betsykraushaar@charter.net....I'd love to get some books...Thanks!!!
Every Friday, Rain or Shine, Lone Activist Stands
Elissa Bass June 14, 2013 at 08:44 pm
I do too.
Amy Pare June 16, 2013 at 09:28 am
This is amazing. Where is she standing?