Gov. Gregoire hosts Washingtonï¿½s Olympic athletes

September 19, 2008

AS WRITTEN

Thank you Rex.

Welcome to our home this evening.

Mike and I are honored and excited to have all of you here.

When I think what it takes to be an Olympic athlete ï¿½ to compete as the worldï¿½s greatest athletes ï¿½ I must admit I feel a little bit of awe.

All that talent! All that commitment! All that discipline and focus!

I was amazed to hear for example that Jill Kintner of Seattle suffered a ligament injury to her knee during a training ride this past April, and decided to postpone surgery until after the Olympics.

And then she went out and won a bronze medal in BMX cycling!

Howï¿½s that for commitment, discipline and focus?

And all of it represented here in our home tonight!

Maybe I can channel some of that and use it in my work for the benefit of all Washingtonians.

Some of you won medals in Beijing ï¿½ and Iï¿½m very proud of you, as are all Washingtonians. Thatï¿½s an achievement you will have forever.

But weï¿½re proud of all of you ï¿½ all 46 of youï¿½

ï¿½Proud that you competed on the world stage ï¿½ proud that you kept the faith and pushed yourselves to the limit.

Like you Iï¿½m sure, I love the words of the Olympic Creed.

ï¿½The most important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle.ï¿½

That is so true! And tonight I want to honor each of you for the courage and grace it took to not give upï¿½to see your struggles through to the end.

Now I'd like to read from my proclamation celebrating your achievements.

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WHEREAS, 46 athletes from the State of Washington competed in the Games of the 29th Olympiad in Beijing, China winning 15 medals -- 4 bronze, 5 silver and 6 gold; and

WHEREAS, Washington State is proud of its brightest young summer athletes who represented their countries in competition with the best athletes in the world; and

WHEREAS, Washington Stateï¿½s Olympians believe in the Olympic Creed where the most important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win but to take part, just as the most important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle. The essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well; and

WHEREAS, all Washington State Olympians are remarkable athletes and role models for the youth of our state;