CHICAGO (AFP) — Boxing legend Oscar de la Hoya and retired basketball star David Robinson were among 14 inductees into the US Olympic Hall of Fame announced here Tuesday.
De la Hoya won the 1992 Olympic lightweight crown and captured six world titles as a professional while Robinson helped the San Antonio Spurs to NBA crowns and the US Olympic team to gold in 1992 and 1996.
Also among those selected into the honor list was the 1996 US Olympic women's gymnastics team that captured an unlikely gold medal at Atlanta. The group outpolled Robinson's 1992 Olympic "Dream Team" squad in public voting.
"I'm truly honored. This is a humbling experience. It's amazing," said 1996 US gymnast Dominique Dawes. "And we beat out the 1992 Dream Team? When I talk about the most memorable experiences of my career it's meeting the Dream Team."
A USOC committee narrowed the nominee list before public voting and weighed votes by current and former Olympians. Honorees will be enshrined in ceremonies here on June 19.
Also inducted were six-time Olympic swim champion Amy Van Dyken, 1984 winner of the debut Olympic women's marathon Joan Benoit Samuelson, 1988 Olympic men's figure skating champion Brian Boitano, volleyball star Karch Kiraly, four-time Olympic wrestler Bruce Baumgartner, two-time equestrian eventing champion J. Michael Plumb and 1964 and 1972 Oly shooting champion Lones Wigger.
Others honored in special categories included the late figure skating coach Carlo Fassi, 13-time Paralympic champion swimmer John Morgan, contributor Frank Marshall and Carol Heiss Jenkins, the 1960 women's figure skating champion.
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