August 10, 2000

1992 Olympic Race Walking Champion Yueling Chen Will Be in Sydney as a Member of the U.S. Olympic Team

Colorado Springs-- 1992 Olympic women's race-walking gold medalist Yueling Chen, who became a United States citizen on April 12, has been granted a waiver by the Chinese Olympic Committee and will represent the USA in Sydney at the 2000 Olympic Games.

USOC President Bill Hybl spoke with Chinese Olympic Committee leaders by telephone last night and received a letter this morning from his counterpart granting the needed waiver.

"This sportsmanlike gesture on the part of the Chinese Olympic Committee signals another chapter in the continuing warm and positive relationship we enjoy with them," said Hybl. "The USOC is thrilled that Yueling Chen now gets the chance to realize her dream of competing for the United States in Sydney."

Though it appeared a week ago that the issue was dead, after the Chinese NOC informed the USOC that its original request for the waiver had been rejected, Hybl decided that he would make another attempt on a more personal basis and contact the Chinese Olympic Committee by phone and letter. The two had a fruitful conversation last night and the issue was settled in favor of the athlete.

Chen finished second in the 20K race-walking event at the U.S. Olympic Trials in Sacramento last month, qualifying her conditionally for the U.S. Olympic Team, pending resolution of the waiver issue. The waiver is required by the International Olympic Committee in cases where athletes have been citizens of a new nation for fewer than three years.