Some 42 athletes in 17 different sports on Team USA have local San Diego connections, either as homegrown athletes or as a training base at the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista. Athlete information is courtesy of the NBC Olympics Website.
David Lee - Men's Volleyball
Born: March 08, 1982Hometown: Alpine, CA
Ht: / Wt: 6'8" / 232 lbs
Event(s): Men's volleyball
Position: Middle blocker
A middle blocker making his Olympic debut in Beijing, David Lee has developed into one of the U.S. men's volleyball team's best blockers since joining the national team in 2005. He became a part-time starter in 2007, splitting time with Tom Hoff and finishing the season second on the team in blocks. Lee was the team's second-leading blocker (behind Ryan Millar) and third overall at the 2007 World Cup, where the U.S. finished fourth.
Khatuna Lorig - Women's Archery
Born: January 01, 1974Hometown: Bloomfield, NJ
Residence: Bloomfield, NJ
Ht: / Wt: 5'7" / 136 lbs
Olympics: 2000, 1996, 1992
Event(s): Individual
Lorig is a resident of the OTC in Chula Vista. Though she never threatened Jennifer Nichols for the top spot at the U.S. Trials, Khatuna Lorig never seemed in danger of losing the second spot for a trip to Beijing. Lorig was a full six points behind Nichols at the end of the three-stage U.S. trials, but she held a 5.75 lead over third place Karen Scavotto, denying the 2000 Olympian a return trip to the Games.
Steffen Peters - Equestrian
Born: September 18, 1964Hometown: San Diego, CA
Residence: Escondido, CA
Olympics: 1996
Event(s): Dressage
Steffen Peters returns to the Olympics for the second time in 2008, riding Ravel. The dressage rider won a team bronze medal at the 1996 Games. An alternate for the 2004 Games, Peters has since won a team bronze medal at the 2006 World Equestrian Games and an individual bronze at the 2007 World Cup in Las Vegas.
Trevell Quinley - Track & Field
Born: January 16, 1983Hometown: Tracy, CA
Residence: Sacramento, CA
Ht: / Wt: 6'6" / 200 lbs
Event(s): Long jump
A resident of the OTC in Chula Vista, Trevell Quinley will make his Olympic debut for the United States this summer in Beijing where he will look to contend for a medal in the men's long jump. Quinley was convinced to attend Arizona State by 2004 Athens gold medalist Dwight Phillips. He has also been mentored by world record holder Mike Powell. Quinley is friends with Olympic BMX rider Mike Day, and came out to watch Day compete at BMX Olympic Trials in California in mid-June.
Chris Rast - Sailing
Born: May 21, 1972Hometown: Thun, Switzerland
Residence: San Diego, CA
Olympics: 2004, 1996
Event(s): 49er
Position: Crew
Rast competed in 1996 in the 470 and in the 2004 Games in the 49er, both times for Switzerland. Rast is looking to win his first Olympic medal with Tim Wadlow. In 2007 the two came in second at the North American Championships and fourth at the Miami Olympic Class Regatta. Early in 2008 they placed fifth at Worlds and sixth at Europeans.
Jen Rhines - Track & Field
Born: July 01, 1974Hometown: Liverpool, NY
Residence: Mammoth Lakes, CA
Ht: / Wt: 5'3" / 105 lbs
Olympics: 2004, 2000
Event(s): 5000m
Jen Rhines will represent the United States at the Olympics for the third time in her career this summer in Beijing, where she will run the 5000m. Rhines, 34, has qualified for three Olympics at three different distances - the marathon, the 10,000m and now in the 5000m. The Villanova grad decided to focus on the 5000m because she's mentally stronger in the shorter races.
Donny Robinson - Men's BMX
Born: June 17, 1983Hometown: Napa, CA
Residence: Napa, CA
Ht: / Wt: 5'4" / 150 lbs
Event(s): BMX
Despite his small stature, Robinson, who trains at the OTC in Chula Vista, rides big on the course, being named the Golden Crank "Pro of the Year" and taking home the Overall UCI BMX Supercross Series Championship in 2006. He also scored a win in the National Bicycle League Pro Title that year, and in June 2007, he captured the title at the inaugural USA Cycling BMX National Championship.
Alice Schmidt - Track & Field
Born: October 03, 1981Residence: Chapel Hill, NC
Ht: / Wt: 5'11" / 140 lbs
Event(s): 800m, 1,500m
Alice Schmidt trains at the OTC in Chula Vista.
Jarrod Shoemaker - Triathlon
Born: July 17, 1982Hometown: Sudbury, MA
Residence: Sudbury, MA
Ht: / Wt: 5'10" / 146 lbs
Event(s): Triathlon
Training at the OTC in Chula Vista, Jarrod Shoemaker had every intention of qualifying for the Beijing Games, but few anticipated him earning a spot so soon. And the 25-year-old couldn't have picked a better location to turn in a performance worthy of an Olympic berth. As the top American finisher at the Beijing World Cup in September, Shoemaker automatically earned the first men's spot on the U.S. Olympic triathlon team (Laura Bennett was the women's top finisher). His surprise 11th-place finish was better than former U.S. Olympians Hunter Kemper (15th) and Andy Potts (18th).
Jesse Smith - Water Polo
Born: April 27, 1983Hometown: Coronado, CA
Residence: Coronado, CA
Ht: / Wt: 6'3" / 240 lbs
Olympics: 2004
Event(s): Men's water polo
Position: 2-meter defender
Considered one of water polo's most naturally gifted athletes, Jesse Smith joined the national team when he was still a senior at Coronado High School in 2001. At his first major international tournament, the 2002 FINA World Cup, Smith scored nine goals, good for fourth-best on the team. At 21, Smith became the youngest player on the U.S. Olympic water polo team at the Athens Games. He scored nine goals, including two in his Olympic debut (a win against Croatia) and three in the Americans' final match of the tournament (a win against Italy).
