September 22, 2000

(INDIANAPOLIS)-- DeDee Nathan (Bloomington, Ind.) will represent the USA at the 27th Olympic Games in her first Olympic appearance after 3 World Championship appearances in her distinguished career.

Sydney Australia plays host to the largest sporting event in the world with the centerpiece of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games being the largest outdoor venue in Olympic history. The Olympic Stadium has a capacity of 110,000, in which four Boeing 747s would fit side-by-side under the span of the main arches of the grandstands.

Nathan will compete in a field of 48 heptathletes in front of over 100,000 spectators in the Olympic Track & Field venue. Nathan begins competition on September 23.

"The Olympic Games are the pinnacle for an athlete pursuing the ultimate challenge", said Invaders Head Coach Chris Buhler. He added, "This experience for DeDee has been a hard earned journey and regardless of the outcome we are sure that she has put herself in position to turn in her best competitive effort ever".

"DeDee has a great support team with her in Sidney and has received exceptional coaching support over the last couple of years from her Indiana University family and personal coaches, John Smith, George Freeman, and David Martin", said Invaders Director Greg Harger.

Nathan won the US Olympic Trials and her first National Championship in Sacramento, California in July. "First and foremost, I'm treating this like just another championship as I'm competing against the same athletes as in any other major Heptathlon", said Nathan. She added, "I know my competitors and they know me, it is in God's hands now." The modern heptathlon was born in 1984 after 20 years as the pentathlon. With the same spirit as the men's decathlon, the two days of competition include the 200m, 100m hurdles and the high jump, shot put, long jump, and javelin, all leading to a concluding 800m run on the track. After enduring two days of competition the heptathlon victor will be crowned the world's greatest female athlete in front of an overall Olympic television audience of 3.7 billion.

Television coverage of the Heptathlon will start at 7 PM this Saturday and will resume Sunday at 7 PM on NBC (Times EST and subject to change). Saturday's competition will start with the 100m hurdles and be followed by the high jump, shot put, and finish with the 200m. Sunday's competition will start with the long jump followed by the javelin throw and ending with the 800m.

Olympic Results available at http://www.olympics.com.

For additional Invaders information, please contact Greg Harger.

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