Female+Us+Team+Standouts+6

Sean Reagan and Colin Thomas

As the 2008 Beijing Olympics draw nearer, one female athlete of the U.S. Olympic team stands out. Jessica Hardy of the U.S. swim team just set a new world record in the 50 meter breast stroke at the FINA Short Course World Swimming Championships in Manchester, England. Her time of 29.58 now gives her the world record of 50 meter breast stroke of long and short course. Jessica Hardy is currently a Sophomore at Southern Cal University. She was the 2006 Champion of the 100 yard breast stroke and in High School she was the Los Angeles Times Swimmer of the year twice. She has had more international success becoming a member of the U.S. national team in 2005. She has locked her place in the 2008 Olympics this year.

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Another notable standout Lisa Leslie a three time olympic gold medalist(1996,2000,2004)baketball player also mvp of the 2002 FIBA world championship, will return as a member of the USA 2007-2008 national basketball team. She is one of the original WNBA players and on July 30, 2002 she made history by becoming the first player to perform a dunk in that league.

Position Center Height 6 ft 5 in Awards First WNBA player to reach the 3,000 point plateau Led the WNBA in rebounds in 1997 (9.5 rpg) and 1998 (10.2 rpg) First player ever to garner regular season, WNBA Championship and All-Star Game MVP awards in the same season. MVP of the WNBA Championship and All-Star Game in 2002 Three-time Olympic gold medalist 1996, 2000, 2004 MVP and All-Tournament team honors, USA World Championships, 2002 First player to dunk in a WNBA gamemedia type="youtube" key="acL5v12lVho&hl=en" height="355" width="425" Attended USC

One other exceptional athlete is Jennie Finch an american softball player who just recently pitched a no hitter against louisiana lafayette. She attended Arizona University and her number, 27, is now retired. small international biography

2004 • Member of the 2004 Olympic Gold Medal Softball Team

2003 • Selected to the 2004 US Olympic Team • Member of the USA Pan Am Team; Gold Medalist

2002 • Member of World Championship Team

2001 • Member of the USA Blue Team that won the gold medal at the Pan Am Qualifier in Maracay, Venezuela. Posted a 2-0 record, a perfect game versus Guatemala, with a 0.00 ERA and 27 strikeouts. • Placed fifth with USA Blue at the Canada Cup in Surrey, B.C., Canada.

1999 • Silver medal winner with USA Softball at Junior Women’s World Championship • Finished fourth with her club team at the Canada Cup

1998 • Gold medalist with USA Softball at Junior Superball