Athletes, coaches, teams to be celebrated at weekend festival

By William J. Dagendesh

Every day athletes smear petroleum jelly on their groin, double-lace their shoes and practice their respective sport, hoping their determination will one day reward them with Hall of Fame glory.

This year, that dream will be realized for 14 people when they are inducted into the class of 2025 at the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Hall of Fame Induction ceremony Saturday, July 12, at the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum in Colorado Springs. A festival will be held July 10-13.

In addition to the induction ceremony and opportunities to meet the athletes, the museum hosts a free outdoor celebration on the museum plaza, with live music from Spinphony and Patrick & The Las Vegas Band, plus a comedy set by Joe Hill.

Eight individual athletes, two teams, two legends, one coach and a special contributor will be honored. Scheduled guest speaker is Alex Morgan, two-time World Cup champion and Olympic gold medalist. Some of this year’s Olympians/Paralympians include:

Gabby Douglas, who made history at the 2012 Olympic Games London as the first black woman to win gold in the individual all-around gymnastics event.
Serena Williams who holds four Olympic golds and 23 Grand Slam singles titles.
Susan Hagel who competed in three different sports across six Paralympic Games, best known for her wheelchair basketball career.
Marla Runyan, the first visually impaired athlete to compete in the Olympic Games and the only U.S. athlete to participate in both Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The Paralympics, a series of international multisport events composed of disabled athletes, honors the accomplishments of Olympic and Paralympic athletes, teams and coaches.

Launched in 2022, the festival is a multi-day celebration honoring Team USA athletes and is an opportunity to connect with U.S. Olympic and Paralympic heroes and history. The festival is held every two years in coordination with the induction ceremony.

According to Tommy Schield, the museum’s chief marketing officer, the festival was created to bring Olympic and Paralympic spirit to life in Colorado Springs - Olympic City USA - while honoring Team USA legends. “The festival is a rare opportunity to celebrate the people and moments that define the Olympic and Paralympic movements in the United States,” he said.

Schield said meeting and interacting with HOF athletes and hearing their stories is an experience that brings families, fans and athletes together. “It’s an opportunity to connect fans with the stories, values and athletes that continue to inspire greatness across generations,” Schield said.

“The chance to explore the museum for free across two full days makes this year especially memorable. Combined with expanded community programming and athlete appearances, 2025 promises to be the most accessible and engaging celebration yet.”

The U.S. Olympic & Paralympic HOF was established in 1979 to celebrate the achievements of America's premier athletes in the modern Olympic/Paralympic Games. The first HOF class was held four years later.

“The first HOF class was inducted in 1983 in Chicago and included Team USA greats such as (boxer) Muhammad Ali, (track and field athletes) Bob Beamon and Jesse Owens, (skater) Peggy Fleming, (sprinter) Wilma Rudolph, (swimmer) Mark Spitz, (baseball, basketball and football player) Jim Thorpe and the 1980 ‘Miracle on Ice’ men’s hockey team,” Schield said.

Schield said he hopes visitors leave with an appreciation for the values of excellence, perseverance and unity that define America’s greatest athletes, and a sense of pride in what Olympic City USA represents. “It’s a reminder that greatness is not just something you watch, but something you can be part of,” Schield said.

On July 11, the museum also will debut its new exhibit, Beyond the Podium: Celebrating the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Hall of Fame. This exhibit spotlights iconic Team USA hall of famers and legendary teams, and will include never-before-exhibited artifacts.

Free admission to the museum, 200 S. Sierra Madre St.,will be offered on July 12 and 13. The museum offers parking in the adjacent Park Union District lot for $7.50 per day. Metered parking also will be available on Sierra Madre and Vermijo. To learn more email contact@usopm.org. Also, contact the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee at legal@usopc.org. Phone: 719-497-1234.

William J. Dagendesh is an author, writer and retired U.S. Navy Chief Journalist and public affairs officer. He holds a Bachelor’s in Mass Communication-Journalism from Colorado State University-Pueblo, and an Associate in Visual Communications and an Associate in Education from Pueblo Community College. Currently, he is a freelance writer for The Colorado Gazette-owned Pikes Peak Newspapers and the Colorado Catholic Herald. He and his wife, Peggy, a cat care volunteer, live in Colorado Springs.