Olympic Watch: Former Techster Ready for Beach Volleyball in Beijing - latechsports.c

[News_Bot]

A new article has been posted on www.latechsports.com:

Former Louisiana Tech Lady Techster all-star Cristine Sant'Anna is preparing for the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing, China, in beach volleyball.

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Discuss it here.

[inudesu]

Inu-bot: http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/summer...t&lid=tab3pos1

[roughedge]

Mentioned on Fox News tonight as well and quoted Cristine as saying she was proud to play well and beat Russia on behalf of Georgia.

[DogsWin]

This was the talk in our staff meeting this morning about how these incredible Brazilians played for Georgia and beat the Russians. Of course, I informed everyone that Cristine Sant'Anna played at Louisiana Tech University, which shocked the room. lol Great job ladies!!!


"I really felt like we were representing the people of Georgia," Santana said. "I don't want to get political because this is Olympic Games, but down in my heart, I wanted to beat Russia for sure."

[roughedge]

Tech gets a mention in Olympic coverage:
http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/bei...v=ap&type=lgns

“We had to give extra for the Georgian people,” said Santanna, who made just two short trips to Georgia to apply for a passport. “I give my strength to them. I fight here as they fight there.”

“Today,” she said, in an odd but moving mixture of President Kennedy at the Berlin Wall and Lou Gehrig at his Yankee Stadium farewell, “I feel like I am a Georgian.”

When Russian bombs began dropping and the Georgian athletes gathered in the Olympic village to return home, they were prepared to leave as well. “I could be, like, ‘Why should I go home? I’m from Brazil.’ But I thought, ‘Let’s go,’” said Santanna who played college volleyball at Louisiana Tech. “I wanted to support them because they have families there. “

[Cal&Ken]

I watched the match and it was sure nice to hear them say Louisiana Tech a few times.

[dawgtired]

As bad as our volleyball team has been, it's hard to believe we had an Olympian on it.

[Brian96]

As bad as our volleyball team has been, it's hard to believe we had an Olympian on it.

Maybe we should be playing on sand?

[rustondawg5198]

Maybe we should be playing on sand?

If the NCAA started sponsoring women's beach volleyball, it would instantly become one of the top spectator sports in the spring. I don't know how they've dropped the ball on this one so far. (Oh, wait. This is the NCAA we're talking about. How silly of me.)

[Brian96]

If the NCAA started sponsoring women's beach volleyball, it would instantly become one of the top spectator sports in the spring. I don't know how they've dropped the ball on this one so far. (Oh, wait. This is the NCAA we're talking about. How silly of me.)

I was thinking the same thing. Maybe our girls should do a beach volleyball inter-squad scrimmage to promote interest in the program.

[CChandler]

I was thinking the same thing. Maybe our girls should do a beach volleyball inter-squad scrimmage to promote interest in the program.

Fully functioning Olympic-sized court at the frat house!

[Brian96]

Fully functioning Olympic-sized court at the frat house!

How generous of you. :icon_wink:

[NathanDarby]

Great story, And great moment for a Tech grad. However, am I the only one a little uncomfotrable with athletes suddenly becoming citizens of random countries they have never even been to just to play in the Olympics for that country? I know it is done all the time, but it just seems to run counter to the whole idea of the Olympics. There should be a requirement that you have to be a citizen of a country for a minimum of 5-8 years before you can compete for them.

On the other hand, maybe it would be fun to get my Outer Mongolioan citizenship and go to the Olympics in curling or handball or syncronized beer chugging or something.

[Mean Gene]

Great story, And great moment for a Tech grad. However, am I the only one a little uncomfotrable with athletes suddenly becoming citizens of random countries they have never even been to just to play in the Olympics for that country? I know it is done all the time, but it just seems to run counter to the whole idea of the Olympics. There should be a requirement that you have to be a citizen of a country for a minimum of 5-8 years before you can compete for them.

On the other hand, maybe it would be fun to get my Outer Mongolioan citizenship and go to the Olympics in curling or handball or syncronized beer chugging or something.

Nathan - U'll need a partner for the syncronized beer chugging so I'm volunteering!! Let's practice soon - maybe at the tailgate party for the MSU game??!!