Media

"Olympian Heroes" The Olympian, Summer 2003
"Local Olympian Gold Medalist Receives Prestigious Honor" Trabuco Canyon News, May 2003
1984 Olympian gold medalist, Peter Vidmar has just been named as one of the initial 20 "Olympian Heroes" honored in a new limited edition Olympian collectors' series that is licensed by the U.S. Olympic Committee. Vidmar, a Coto de Caza resident, earned two gold medals and one silver medal in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games. After learning of his selection for this new series, Vidmar participated in a special signing event that included 2004 sheets for the special limited edition program. Other Olympians present at the signing event included decathlon legends Bruce Jenner and Bob Mathias, swimming sensation Mark Spitz, fellow gymnasts Shannon Miller and Mitch Gaylord, as well as fellow Orange County Olympians Dwight Stones, Karch Kiraly and Dr. Sammy Lee. The new limited edition sheets are 24" high and 18" wide.
According to Vidmar, "I feel extremely humble in the presence of such Olympians. In addition, I am impressed with the aesthetics of this sheet. It is truly a piece of great art!" Three-time Olympian Willie Banks' Carlsbad-based Company HSJ, Inc. is the licensee for this series. Banks who was a long-term owner of the world record in the triple jump is equally excited about having Vidmar in the fold of honored Olympians. "Peter Vidmar is a perfect example of an Olympian who is also an excellent role model for our young people and all adults. He embodies the spirit of the Games and is an ideal ambassador for the Games not only in the U.S. but also around the world," Banks emphasizes. Additional information concerning the new "Olympian Heroes" series is available at the new www.olympianheroes.com website or by calling Southern California sales office at (310) 839-1996

Kick Off Press Conference
For Immediate Release U.S. OLYMPIAN HEROES SALUTED IN SPECIAL CEREMONY -- One-Of-A-Kind Olympic Sports Collectible Unveiled -- LOS ANGELES – A host of prominent U.S. Olympians will gather at a special signing event on Wednesday, October 9, at the Century Park Hyatt in Century City, Calif. to unveil a one-of-a-kind Olympic sports collectible entitled Olympian Heroes. This limited-edition uncut trading card poster celebrates 20 of the most distinguished and decorated U.S. athletes in Olympic history, all of whom will personally autograph each original. HSJ Inc., a licensee of the United States Olympic Committee is owned and operated by three-time Track and Field Olympian and former world record –holder (triple jump) Willie Banks (1980, 1984 and 1988 U.S. Olympic Team Member). Olympian Heroes boasts an overall design and layout unlike any other Olympic Trading Card collectible ever created. According to Banks, “The cards have an aesthetic beauty that expresses the timeless nature of the Olympian heroes’ contributions to the Olympic Games and to our society.” The roster of participating Olympians for this signing ceremony includes Mark Spitz (Swimming – 1968 Olympic Games – 2 gold, 1 silver and 1 bronze medal and 1972 Olympic Games – 5 gold medals), Shannon Miller (Gymnastics – 1992 Olympic Games – 2 silver and 3 bronze medals and 1996 Olympic Games – 2 gold medals), Bob Mathias (Athletics – 1948 and 1952 Olympic Games Decathlon gold medalist), Peter Vidmar (Gymnastics – 1980 U.S. Olympic Team and 1984 Olympic Games – 2 gold and 1 silver medal), Mitch Gaylord (Gymnastics – 1984 Olympic Games – 1 gold, 1 silver and 2 bronze medals), Dwight Stones (Athletics – 1972 and 1976 Olympic Games – High Jump bronze medalist and 1984 U.S. Olympic Team Member), Dr. Sammy Lee (Diving – 1948 Olympic Games 1 gold and 1 bronze medal and 1952 Olympic Games – 1 gold medal), Billy Mills (Athletics – 1964 Olympic Games gold medalist – 10,000 meters), Kim Rhode (Shooting – 1996 Olympic Games – 1 gold medal and 2000 Olympic Games – 1 bronze medal) and Cliff Meidl (Canoe-Kayak – 1996 and 2000 U.S. Olympic Team Member).
Banks takes special pride in the Olympians who are depicted in the initial series. “I have selected a group of Olympians who are not only great Olympic athletes, they are also special individuals who represent all Americans and the true Olympic spirit.” Also included in the Olympian Heroes is 2002 Olympian Derek Parra, who became the first Hispanic ever to win a medal for the U.S. at an Olympic Winter Games. Parra, also a member of the 1998 U.S. Olympic Team, won both a gold and silver medal in Long Track Speedskating at the 2002 Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City, Utah. Other prominent multi-medalists included in the Olympian Heroes collection are swimming greats John Naber (Swimming – 1976 Olympic Games – 4 gold and 1 silver medal and Jenny Thompson (Swimming – 1992 Olympic Games – 2 gold and 1 silver medal; 1996 Olympic Games – 3 gold medals and 2000 Olympic Games – 3 gold and 1 silver medal). Banks adds, “I’m also honored to include Cliff Meidl, an Olympian who actually cheated death after coming into contact with 30,000 volts of electricity. His remarkable comeback to make two Olympic teams inspired his teammates to name him as the U.S. Flagbearer for the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games Opening Ceremony. According to Kim Rhode, a two-time Olympian and medalist who will be attempting to make her third straight U.S. Olympic Team for the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece, the Olympian Heroes trading cards are “beyond belief.” “I’ll proudly present a beautifully framed first edition for my parents’ home in appreciation for all that they have sacrificed to make my Olympic dreams come true!” In addition to providing the perfect gift for the sports collector who has everything, purchasers can take pride in the fact that each sale of the limited edition series will benefit the Olympians for Olympians Relief Fund, which is administered by the United States Olympic Committee in Colorado Springs, Colo.