THE OLYMPICS ARE HERE

UA makes its presence felt in Beijing

For the next 20 days, all eyes will be on Beijing as the most grand spectacle in athletics takes center stage.

Tonight, the opening ceremony signals the start of the 29th Olympiad, which will run through Aug. 24, displaying the best athletes the world has to offer in 30 different events.

Southern Arizona once again has a serious rooting interest in these games, with 32 athletes, coaches and staff with University of Arizona ties making the trip to the 2008 Summer Olympics.

Out of that group, 25 will actually be taking part in the events, with 10 making their Olympic debut. Seven UA athletes return to Beijing hoping to add to their Olympic medal collection.

Swimmer Amanda Beard (class of 2001) will take part in her fifth Olympiad, with seven medals in her collection. She is currently the most decorated UA Olympian, edging Amy Van Dyken’s six.

Joining Beard on the American swim squad is Tucson resident and 2008 grad Lacey Nymeyer.

Jean Basson (South Africa), Simon Burnett (United Kingdom), Lyndon Ferns (South Africa), Joel Greenshields (Canada), Ryk Neethling (South Africa), Nicolas Nilo (Brazil), Roland Schoeman (South Africa), Albert Subirats (Venezuela), Jake Tapp (Canada), Darian Townsend (South Africa), Juan Veloz (Mexico) and Gerhard Zandberg (South Africa) are among the current or former Wildcats who will compete against Beard and Nymeyer for swimming gold.

Arizona has been among the most dominant swim programs in the NCAA, which reflects in the number of aquatic competitors it has sent to past Olympics. Of the 128 Olympic appearances made by UA athletes since 1984, 52 have come from UA swimmers.

Divers Claire Febvay (France) and Angelique Rodriguez (Puerto Rico) will also represent UA in the Beijing pool.

UA swim coach Frank Busch will serve as an assistant for the U.S. swim staff, with fellow UA coach Rick DeMont assisting the South Africans. Busch also trains Matt Grevers in the 100-meter backstroke.

The American softball squad will employ three familiar faces to those who frequent “Candrea’s corner” — Jennie Finch, Caitlin Lowe and Lovie Jung. Mike Candrea will once again serve as the squad’s head coach after capturing gold in Athens.

Since joining the Olympic events roster in 1996, Arizona has contributed at least one player to America’s softball dominance.

Arizona has sent at least one former or current Wildcat to every Summer Olympiad since 1960, with the 2004 games in Athens serving as the school’s peak, with 26 competitors.

UA track coach James Li serves as the manager for the U.S. men’s track and field team. Former Wildcat standouts Abdi Adbirahman (U.S. distance runner) and Dominic Johnson (St. Lucia pole vaulter, third Olympiad) will attempt to capture Olympic gold. Li also trains Bernard Lagat (U.S. 1,500- and 5,000-meter runner).

Former shortstop Jason Donald will be Arizona’s first participant on the Olympic baseball team. Donald started all 177 games of his career at Arizona. He was a third-round pick in the 2006 Major League Baseball Draft and recently participated in the MLB All-Star Futures Game at Yankee Stadium.

Robertas Javtokas will take the floor with the Lithuanian basketball team, with Kim Glass rounding out the UA representation on the volleyball floor. A three-time All-American as an outside hitter, Glass is making her first Olympic appearance with the U.S. national team.

Wildcat athletes have won a total of 62 Olympic medals: 32 gold, 17 silver and 13 bronze.

The opening ceremony begins at 6:30 p.m. tonight on NBC, with the games running from Saturday through Aug. 24.

nprevenas@gvnews.com | 547-9747