Olympics Preview: US Women's Judo Team

We're closing in at less than one month for the 2008 Summer Olympic Games, which are being held in August. To prepare you for the games, we are previewing the US women teams that will be taking part in this year's games.

Today, we will focus on the Judo team. For those who are unfamiliar with Judo, it is a combat sport so to speak. Basically, if you like tossing people, then judo is for you.

The team will send three regulars and three alternates.

Sayaka Matsumoto- Women's 48kg (105 lbs.)

This 4th-degree black belt from Japan will be in her first Olympic games (she was an alternate in 2000). Matsumoto is a 7-time national champion. S he is one of the best Judo fighters in the world. Her alternate will be Ann Shiraishi.

Valerie Gotay- Women's 57kg (125 lbs.)

This 34-year-old is competing in her second Olympics. Gotay competed at the 1992 games in Barcelona. She missed out on the 1996 games and the 2000 games. This veteran has the chance to get far at the Olympics. Gotay's alternate will be Hannah Martin. This 20-year-old was barely four-years-old when Gotay competed in her first games.

Ronda Rousey- Women's 70kg (154 lbs.)

This 21-year-old is the youngest non-alternate member of the Olympic team. She will be starting in her second Olympics. Rousey finished in ninth place at the 2004 games in the 63kg weight class. Rousey has won several events this year, including the US Olympic Trials, USA Senior National Championships and the Budapest World Cup. Don't be surprised to see her medal this year at Beijing. Katie Sell will be Rousey's alternate.

Photo Courtesy: Valley Morning Star

Olympic Preview: US Archery Team

We're less than one month away from the 2008 Olympics, which are being held in Beijing. To prepare you for the event, we are previewing the US Women's teams. Today, our emphasis is on the US Women's Archery team. (NOTE: I couldn't find any photos of the US team themselves, so this will be sufficient for now.)

The women's team had an uneventful time at the last Olympic games in Athens. This time however, the team will only be sending two to Beijing.

Jennifer Nichols made her second straight Olympic games. In 2004, she finished in ninth place, the best finish among the American women in the individual event.

Khatuna Lorig is the only other American competitor in these games. Lorig is competing in her fourth Olympic games, as well as her third different country. She competed for the countries of Georgia and the Soviet Union. She's now a U.S. citizen and looks to bring medals back to her new home.

Olympics Preview: US Women's Tennis

We're now one month away from the beginning of the 2008 Olympic games, which are being held in Beijing, China. To get you ready for the Olympics, we are doing preview of all the U.S. women athletes that are Beijing bound. Today, we're profiling the U.S. women's tennis team.

Venus and Serena Williams will both be making another trip to the Olympics. For Venus it's her third trip and for Serena it's her second. Venus won two gold medals at the Sydney games in 2000. Serena has won only one gold medal and that was with her older sister, in the doubles portion of the 2000 games.

Lindsay Davenport has made it to her third straight summer games. Davenport won the singles gold medal at the Atlanta games in 1996. Davenport was knocked out of the second round at the 2000 summer games. At 32-years-old and a little over a year since she had her first child, there's no guarantees about Davenport's future. This could be her final Olympic games. A strong showing would be a great way for Davenport to finish her career as an Olympian.

Finally, we have a newcomer for the American women, Liezel Huber. Huber became an American citizen last year. The South African native has had doubles success in pro tennis. She now has the chance to make some noise for the American women at Beijing.

Olympics: US Women's Swimming

The 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing are less than a month away and everybody seems to be ready to go. Throughout the month, we will preview all the women taking part in this year's summer games. Today, we start with USA swimming.

For the U.S., all eyes will be on 41-year-old Dara Torres. She'll be competing in her fifth summer games. Torres has won nine medals in her Olympic career, including four gold medals. Torres will compete in the 50 meter-freestyle and the 4x100 freestyle relay.

While Torres might be the oldest swimming Olympian, the youngest is Elizabeth Beisel. At 15, this will be Beisel's first Olympics. She will be competing in the 200-meter backstroke and the 400-meter individual medley.

Chloe Sutton is another teenage swimmer who will be making her Olympics debut in Beijing. The 16-year-old will compete in the 10K marathon swim.

Natalie Coughlin made her debut at the Athens games in 2004. She had a strong showing, winning two gold medals, as well as winning two silver medals and a bronze medal. Coughlin has a chance to win even more medals when she competes in Beijing next month.

Coughlin will compete in several events, including the 100-meter backstroke, 100-meter freestyle and the 200-meter individual medley.

Finally, Amanda Beard has also made it to the Olympics. The two-time gold medalist will be competing in the 200-meter breaststroke.

Keep it tuned here. I'll have plenty of previews for you guys over the course of the next month.


Photo courtesy: Women's Sports Foundation