The American Family Insurance Badger State Games, the Nation's largest winter amateur sports festival is pleased to announce Suzy Favor Hamilton, All-American runner and Olympian, born and raised in Stevens Point, has been named Honorary Athlete for the 2007 Winter Games.
"Suzy is that type of athlete you are proud to say is from your state," said Ron Vincent, Executive Director for the Wisconsin Sports Development Corporation. "She grew up here, went to UW-Madison and became an All-American, an Olympian, a professional and a great role model for youth not only in Wisconsin, but all over the nation. We are proud to have her as the 2007 Honorary Athlete."
Suzy Favor Hamilton began running at age nine and quickly found a love for the sport. =20 She won 11 state titles and was called one of the top 100 high school athletes of the century by Scholastic Sports Magazine. =20
"We had an incredible summer youth program growing up," notes Suzy. "I think youth development is incredibly important because what you do as a youth sets the stage for a healthy lifestyle later in life. It's great that there are things out there like the Badger State Games for kids to participate in. They can get active at a young age and continue for the rest of their lives."
After her high school career Suzy took her talents to the University of Wisconsin where she became the winningest female collegiate athlete ever, winning a total of nine NCAA Championships. Upon her college graduation in 1991 Suzy embarked on her professional running career. She signed a contract with Reebok and moved to Malibu, CA. Suzy won indoor and outdoor national titles in 1991 and made her first Olympic Team in 1992.=20
Suzy, her husband of 15 years, Mark, and their one year old daughter Kylie make their home in southern Wisconsin. Suzy and Mark spend their time working in the real estate business in Madison.=20
Suzy will be available for autographs from 5:30 pm-6:45 pm at the 2007 American Family Insurance Badger State Games Opening Ceremony which will take place on February 2, 2007 at the Cedar Creek Mall in the Village of Rothschild. Activities for the evening include the traditional Parade of Athletes, free food and drink, music, horse and wagon rides, a hot air balloon, fireworks, entertainment by mentalist Jym Elders and a performance by the Ho Chunk Nation Dancers, a drawing for a trip for four to Mexico and the lighting of the torch by Favor Hamilton. The community is welcome and encouraged to attend.
The 2007 American Family Insurance Badger State Games will take place the last weekend in January and the first weekend in February. Archery, Bowling, Indoor Soccer and Youth and Women's Hockey will take place January 26-28, 2007, while the remaining sports, Alpine Skiing, Badminton, Billiards, Curling, Figure Skating, Freestyle Skiing, Men's Hockey, Nordic Skiing, Quadrathlon, Ski Jumping, Snowboarding, Snowshoe Racing and Speed Skating will occur February 2-4, 2007 in and around north-central Wisconsin.
For more information on the American Family Insurance Badger State Games, log on to www.badgerstategames.org or call 608-226-4780.
The American Family Insurance Badger State Winter Games major sponsors include Charter Communications, the Ho Chunk Nation, Time Warner Cable, Wausau Insurance the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board and Ministry Health Care with special thanks to TravelWisconsin.com.
Wisconsin Sports Development Corporation is a nonprofit sports management organization that helps develop sports tourism in Wisconsin and promotes positive lifestyles and physical fitness through amateur athletic events and health education programs. WSDC owns the American Family Insurance Badger State Games, the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame, the Wisconsin Sports Foundation, Paddle & Portage, Shape Up Wisconsin Kids, Lighten Up Wisconsin and the Fit Kids Challenge. WSDC is also the local host of Ironman Wisconsin