Indian Country has an extra reason to celebrate today’s opening ceremony of the 2012 Summer Olympics: four Native American women will be competing for a medal in London.
The women are competing one hundred years after Jim Thorpe won two gold medals at the 1912 Stockholm Olympics. If they win, they will join Billy Mills (Oglala Sioux), Duke Kahanamoku (a Native Hawaiian), and Jim Thorpe (Sac and Fox), as Native American medalists.
Mary Killman, a member of the Citizen Band Potawatomi Nation of Oklahoma, will be competing in the Synchronized Duet Technical swimming event. She and her partner Mariya Koroleva qualified by placing 7th at the Federation Internationale de (FINA) Olympic Games Qualification tournament.
Mary Spencer, First Nation Ojibway, will be competing in the 75-kilogram middleweight boxing event for Team Canada in women’s boxing Olympic debut. Spencer has been hailed as one of Canada’s best bets for Olympic gold. According to her official website, Spencer is a three-time world champion and an eight-time national champion.
Tumua Anae, a Native Hawaiian, will be competing as the goalie for the U.S National Water Polo team. She began training with the National Team in 2010. Anae recorded sixteen saves at the 2012 FINA World League Super Final.
Adrienne Lyle, 27, is one of the youngest American dressage riders to compete in the Olympics. Lyle is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation. She earned a place on the American team after placing in the top four at the U.S. Equestrian Federation Dressage Festival of Champions and USEF Dressage Olympic Selection Trials on June 16th.
All four women are distinguished athletes competing not only for their countries, but for their Indigenous nations. Be sure to watch out for their events!
This is truly a great honor to have native’s in the Olympic’s again
It is a special occasion to have the past medalist’s be present.
I wish them all good luck, my prayer’s go out to all.
Congratulations and best wishes and good luck to them!!! I know they will do a good job in representing their nations and the United States.
WTG ladies, you have many nations cheering you on,,
Good Luck in your Competition at the Summer Olympic. You are truly an inspiration to the First nations people , you have made quite an accomplishment for yourself and for others who have dreams of becoming qualified athletes in the Olympic games. You are excellent role models for the youth on and off Reservations, you have given us hope. Good luck to you And may the Great Spirit
guide you in your endeavors..
I am a member of the Cherokee Nation and will be proud to watch a fellow member on the U.S.Olympic team!!! Wado
In honor of the great Jim Thorpe it is wonderful to have Native Americans participate on this world stage. I wish them the best.