Nine current and former Hurricanes student-athletes and two coaches are participating in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.
The 'Canes include two silver medalists from previous Olympic games, three former UM track-and-field stars, three divers, a swimmer, a sailor, a diving coach, and a track and field coach.
 Randy Ableman |
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Diving Coach for South Africa
Randy Ableman, current UM diving coach, has been selected to coach the South African diving team at the 2008 Beijing Games. For Ableman, it will be his fourth Olympic appearance as a coach after having served on the U.S. coaching staff in 1996, 2000 and 2004. Ableman, a nine-time NCAA Diving Coach of the Year and coach of 12 NCAA Champions during his 19-year tenure at UM, will coach UM senior Jenna Dreyer on the South African squad. |
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 Amy Deem |
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Athletics Coach, Individual Athletes
Amy Deem, one of the nation's most successful college track and field coaches, will be coaching two Olympians this summer in Beijing, former UM great Lauryn Williams for the United States and Debbie Ferguson for the Bahamas. Williams will be competing in the 100-meter dash and will be a member of the 4x100 relay team, while Ferguson will be running in the 200-meter dash. In 18 seasons as the head women's track and field coach, Deem has guided 39 student-athletes to a combined 133 All-American honors and 11 national championships. At the conclusion of the 2008 season, Deem was named Director of Track and Field/Cross Country. With the promotion, Deem becomes the sixth woman to lead the men's and women's program at a Division I school. |
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| Kelci Bryant |
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August 10
Diving, 3m Synchronized
Incoming freshman Kelci Bryant was born in Springfield, Illinois, but now resides in Carmel, Indiana and is participating in the Women's Synchronized 3-meter Diving for the United States. She has been a National Team member from 2005-08 and attended Keystone National High School. Bryant was a 2008 FINA Diving World Cup Three-meter Synchronized Bronze Medalist, 2007 International CAMO Invitational Synchronized Gold Medalist and the 2006 Speedo U.S. Open Gold Medalist. Her sister Katie Beth dove at University of Miami and was selected as an All-American for the Hurricanes in 2001 and 2002.
Bryant Olympic profile and updates |
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| Tabia Charles |
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August 19 and 22
Athletics, Long Jump
Former UM Track Performer will compete in the long jump for Canada.
Tabia Charles will be making her first appearance in the Olympics this summer in Beijing. The Toronto, Ontario native will be competing for the Canadian National Team in the long jump. While attending Miami (2004-06) Charles earned eight All-American honors, including a National Championship in the triple jump in 2006. She was also a seven-time conference champion, three in the triple jump and four in the long jump. Earlier this year in Hania, Greece, Charles set a personal-best in the long jump at 6.82 meters. Charles remains the UM record holder in the indoor and outdoor triple jump and the indoor long jump.
Charles Olympic profile and updates |
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| Jenna Dreyer |
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August 15 - 17
Diving, 3m Springboard
Diver for South Africa, will participate in the 3-meter springboard
UM senior diver Jenna Dreyer did not compete last year due to injury. She competed in 2004 Athens Games in the 3-meter springboard as a high school senior, reaching the semifinals of the event. Dreyer, the 2005 ACC Women's Diver of the Year and two-time All-American, will once again represent South Africa in the three-meter springboard at the 2008 Olympics, this time under the direction of UM head diving coach Randy Ableman.
Dreyer Olympic profile and updates |
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| Ginou Etienne |
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August 16, 17, 19
Athletics, 400m
Track Performer for Haiti, will participate in the 400 meters
Ginou Etienne, 2003-2007, will also compete in Beijing as a member of the Haitian National Team for the first time. She will be competing in the 400-meters, an event where she earned two All-American Honors (2005, 2007) while at the University of Miami. In all, Etienne was named an All-American on six occasions, four as a member of the Hurricane 4x400-relay team (2004-06). In last year's World Championships in Osaka, Japan, Etienne placed sixth in the 400-meters. Her career-best time stands at 51.94 seconds.
Etienne Olympic profile and updates |
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 Felipe Novoa |
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August 10
Judo, 145-lbs Category
Judo for Chile, will participate in the 145-lbs Category
Competing in Judo in the 145-pound category, University of Miami student Felipe Novoa is the third person from Chile ever to make it to the Olympics in the sport. The 24-year-old Novoa, a junior majoring in nursing, started in Judo when he was 4 and has won a Pan American Championship and three South American titles. His father, Eduardo Novoa Sr., competed in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games and is coaching his son in Beijing. Felipe’s mother is Rosina Cianelli, an associate professor and interim associate dean for undergraduate programs at the School of Nursing and Health Studies.
Novoa Olympic profile and updates |
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 Zach Railey |
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August 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 16
Sailing, Finn class
Sailor for the United States, will participate in the Finn class race
St. Petersburg, Florida native Zach Railey, B.S. Ed. ’06, who started sailing when he was 8 years old, is bound for the Beijing Games as a member of the 2008 Olympic Sailing team, competing in the Finn class.
Railey Olympic profile and updates |
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| Rueben Ross |
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August 18 - 19, 22, 23
Diving, 3m Springboard and 10m Platform
Diver for Canada, will participate in the 3-meter springboard and 10-meter platform
UM sophomore diver Rueben Ross will be competing in his first Olympics this year. Ross, the 2008 ACC Men's Diver of the Year and 2008 NCAA Champion in the men's three-meter springboard, will represent Canada in both the 10-meter platform and three-meter springboard in Beijing.
Ross Olympic profile and updates |
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 Manon van Rooijen |
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August 9, 10, 13, 14
Swimming, 4x100m freestyle relay and 4x200m freestyle relay
Swimmer for the Netherlands, will participate in the 4x100 meter and 4x200 meter relay events
Former UM swimmer Manon van Rooijen, 2001-02 to 2003-04, returns to the Olympics this year after winning a silver medal at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney - the first Olympic medal for a Miami swimmer in program history. van Rooijen, whose silver medal came in the 4x100-meter freestyle relay event, will again compete for the Netherlands in the 4x100 freestyle relay in addition to the 4x200 freestyle relay at this year's Games.
van Rooijen Olympic profile and updates |
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| Lauryn Williams |
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August 16, 17, 21, 22
Athletics, 100m and 4x100m relay
Track Performer for the United States, will participate in the 100 meters, 4x100 meter relay and is an alternate in the 200 meters
Lauryn Williams, 2002-2004, will be making her second appearance on the U.S. Olympic Team at the 2008 Beijing Games. She is slated to appear in the 100-meter dash and the 4x100-meter relay. Williams is also listed as an alternate for the 200-meter dash. In the Athens Games in 2004, Williams won the silver medal in the 100-meters. Earlier that year, she won the NCAA National Championship in as a member of the Hurricanes. In her time in a UM uniform (2002-04) she earned a total of nine All-American honors. In 2005, Williams sprinted to Gold in the 100-meters and as a member of the 4x100-relay at the World Championships.
Williams Olympic profile and updates |
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NBC Olympics Video Feature: The Finn
