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Contra Costa Times (Walnut Creek, CA) May 19, 2004 Column: Olympics DOOR OPEN, SLIGHTLY, FOR RICHMOND JUDO COMPETITOR Author: ANN TATKO, TIMES STAFF WRITER Edition:
Final Estimated printed pages: 3 Article Text: An Olympic berth isn't completely out of reach for Sayaka Matsumoto of Richmond. Last month, Matsumoto appeared out of contention for a spot on the U.S. Olympic judo team. The United States wasn't among the top three Pan American countries at 48 kilograms based on Matsumoto's finishes in qualifying tournaments. The top three ranked countries qualify for the games. But that hasn't closed the door on her chance of going to Athens, Greece, for the Summer Games in August. Some countries that qualify for the Olympics opt not to send an athlete, and it is possible that the United States would be next in line for that spot. Such was the case Tuesday when Cuba withdrew from the men's 60 kg weight class, handing the invitation to the United States. Because just such a scenario can occur, U.S. Judo will contest the 48 kg weight class at next month's U.S. Olympic trials. In Matsumoto's case, she would need two countries to wi! thdraw in order for her to qualify. The United States is ranked fifth behind Colombia, Canada, Brazil and Venezuela. Cuba also has an automatic Olympic berth. One other option exists for Matsumoto, who is the No. 1 U.S. athlete at 48 kg. She also qualified to compete at the Olympic trials in the 52 kg division, where she is ranked fifth. But John Miller, spokesman for U.S. Judo, said it's unlikely Matsumoto would move up a weight division because then she would have to face her good friend Charlee Minkin. The U.S. Olympic trials will be held June 5 at the San Jose State University Event Center. MAKING THE CUT: New York City remained in the running for the 2012 Olympics, but now comes the hard part. The International Olympic Committee selected New York as a finalist Tuesday, along with Paris, London, Madrid, Spain, and Moscow, from among nine cities vying to host the 2012 Summer Games. But Paris jumped out as the front-runner, scorin! g highest in an IOC report that evaluated criteria such as infrastruct ure, transportation and security. New York was not as lucky, ranking fourth behind Madrid and London. Paris also holds the edge in experience. The city failed in bidding for the 1992 and 2008 games. It also hosted last year's track and field world championships and soccer's World Cup in 1998. The IOC will select the host city in July 2005. BACK IN ACTION: Heather Petri, a Miramonte High School graduate, returned to water polo competition this past weekend at the Kirishi Cup in Russia. Petri sat out a training trip to Australia the previous week because of a concussion she sustained last month. After a stress test last Wednesday, Petri was cleared by doctors to play. The United States opened the Kirishi Cup with a 7-4 win over Australia on Sunday. The Americans fell a day later to Russia, 12-10. Former Cal star Ericka Lorenz scored two goals in each game. EXHIBITION SCHEDULED: The Walnut Creek Aquanuts will host the U.S. Olympic synch! ronized swim team May 30 for the "Celebration of Champions" exhibition performance. The show will be held at Larkey Park Pool in Walnut Creek at 4 p.m. Gates open at 3 p.m. Tickets cost $20 and are available at the door or online at www.aquanuts.org. UPCOMING: Livermore's Julia Nichols is one of 16 rowers with world championship experience competing at today's U.S. Olympic Team Trials. Nichols will attempt to make the Olympics in the women's double sculls at Lake Mercer in New Jersey. * The U.S. Olympic softball team will play an exhibition game in Hayward on June 5 at 7:05 p.m. As part of the "Aiming for Athens Tour," the U.S. squad will face a Northern California All-Star team at Larry Standley Field. Tickets cost $12 and are available at www.tickets.com. QUICK HITS: Walnut Creek Aquanuts Annabelle Orme and Missy Knight were named to the 2004 U.S. junior national synchronized swim team. Teammate Kim Probst was selected for the senior nat! ional II team, which is one level below the Olympic squad. * Da nielle Guevara, 16, of Antioch, was named to the U.S. national under-19 rugby team. Next month, the team will play two U.S. regional under-23 teams in Minnesota and then travel to Great Britain for a tournament. Contact Ann Tatko at atatko@cctimes.com. 2012 Olympic Bidders Finalists London Madrid Paris New York Moscow Eliminated Havana, Cuba Istanbul, Turkey Leipzig, German Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Copyright
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DR. DAVID MATSUMOTO