2025 SESSION

INTRODUCED

25106795D

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 603

Offered February 6, 2025

Commending the Paris 2024 Team USA Olympians from the University of Virginia.

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Patrons—Callsen, Laufer, Cousins, Hope, Martinez, McQuinn, Obenshain, Owen, Rasoul, Seibold and Ward; Senators: Deeds, Cifers, Diggs and Salim

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WHEREAS, in 2024, several students and alumni from the University of Virginia represented the Commonwealth and Team USA at the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad in Paris, France; and

WHEREAS, Emma Navarro made her Olympic debut for Team USA at Paris 2024 and advanced to the round of 16 in the women's singles tennis event; and

WHEREAS, Emma Weber made her Olympic debut for Team USA at Paris 2024, winning a gold medal in the 4x100-meter medley relay and competing in the 100-meter breaststroke event; and

WHEREAS, Gretchen Walsh made her Olympic debut for Team USA at Paris 2024, winning gold medals in the 4x100-meter relay and the mixed 4x100-meter relay and silver medals in the 100-meter butterfly event and 4x100-meter free relay; and

WHEREAS, Alex Walsh has represented Team USA at two Olympic Games, advancing to the 200-meter individual medley final at Paris 2024 and winning a silver medal in the 200-meter-individual medley event at Tokyo 2020; and

WHEREAS, Paige Madden has represented Team USA at two Olympic Games, winning a bronze medal in the 800-meter freestyle event and a silver medal in the 4x200 meter freestyle relay at Paris 2024 and a silver medal in the 4x200-meter freestyle relay at Tokyo 2020; and

WHEREAS, Kate Douglass has represented Team USA at two Olympic Games, becoming the Commonwealth's first-ever female individual gold medalist when she won the 200-meter breaststroke event at Paris 2024; she also holds a gold medal in the 4x100-meter medley relay and silver medals in the 200-meter individual medley and the 4x100-meter freestyle relay from Paris 2024, along with a bronze medal in the 200-meter individual medley event from Tokyo 2020; and

WHEREAS, Emily Sonnett represented the Team USA women's soccer team at Paris 2024 and Tokyo 2020 and was an alternate for Rio 2016; she is a two-time Olympic medalist, winning a bronze medal in 2020 and a gold medal in 2024; and

WHEREAS, Danielle Collins made her Olympic debut for Team USA at Paris 2024 and advanced to the quarterfinals in the women's singles tennis event and to the second round of the women's doubles tennis event; and

WHEREAS, Skylar Dahl made her Paralympic debut representing Team USA in rowing at the Paris 2024 Paralympics, winning a silver medal in the PR3 Mixed 4+ classification; and

WHEREAS, Bridget Williams made her Olympic debut representing Team USA at Paris 2024 and competed in the pole vault event; and

WHEREAS, Katie Grimes has represented Team USA at two Olympic Games, winning a silver medal in the 400-meter individual medley event at Paris 2024, where she became the first American woman to compete both in the pool and open water in the same Olympic games; and

WHEREAS, William Coleman represented the Team USA equestrian eventing team at both London 2012 and Paris 2024; and

WHEREAS, Thomas Heilman the youngest male swimmer since Michael Phelps to qualify for Team USA, made his Olympic debut at Paris 2024, winning a silver medal in the 4x100-meter men's medley relay; and

WHEREAS, the University of Virginia enjoyed remarkable representation at the Paris 2024 Olympics, with the number of students or alumni competing surpassing that of many countries; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend the Team USA Olympians from the University of Virginia for their performance at the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad in 2024; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the Paris 2024 Team USA Olympians from the University of Virginia as an expression of the General Assembly's admiration for their outstanding athletic achievements and best wishes for the future.