Athletes make Guam proud as they participate in the 30th Summer Olympics in London

Buenas yan Hafa Adai!

What a proud moment for Guam as we cheer our eight athletes who are in London, representing our island in the 30th Summer Olympics!

I am very proud to have these athletes call Guam home. We acknowledge the hard work and sacrifices they and their families have made to represent their island in these Olympic Games. Congratulations!

The 2012 London Olympics is the highest level of competition for athletes. Justthis weekend, Pilar Shimizu, the islands youngest Olympian finished second in her heat, the 100 meter breaststroke. She set her personal best by shaving off almost half a second from her last personal best. Well done!

Although we may be one of the smallest teams at the Olympics, Team Guam marched its historic march led by Wrestler Maria Dunn, followed by Swimmer Pilar Shimizu and Runner Amy Atkinson.

Behind them was wrestler R.J. Blas, swimmers Ben Schulte and Chris Duenas, runner Derek Mandell and mountain biker Derek Horton.

Team Guam joined more than 10,000 athletes in kicking off one of the worlds greatest sporting events.

Later tonight, Guam time, we will watch another of Guam's swimmers, Chris Duenas, now a two-time Olympian, compete in the 100 Meter Freestyle.

Chris comes from a family of swimmers, His siblings, Kin-Vincent and Quintin, swam for Guam at the East Asian Games and South Pacific Games.

Guam-born Benjamin Schulte, also trains with the Miami Swimming Club on the Gold Coast in Australia, will be the first swimmer from Guam to swim the 10K Marathon. He recently qualified as one of the 25 in the 2012 FINA Olympic 10km Marathon Swimming Qualifier in Setubal Bay, Portugal.

UOG Graduate, Derek Horton will be representing Guam in the Men's Cross-country Mountain Bike event.

Twenty-two year old Amy Atkinson, a daughter of two athletes, one who has played for the national football team in not one, not two, but seven international tournaments will be representing us in the Women's 800 meter sprint.

Derek Mandell, a member of the Koko track Club, will represent Guam in the 800 meter sprint.

The young lady who proudly carried Guam's flag during the opening ceremony, Maria Dunn, a product of our university and a member of the Guam Amateur Wrestling Federation, will represent Guam in the Women's wrestling competition.

Finally we have another two-time Olympian, Ricardo Blas Jr. son of Ricardo Blas, also a judoka. Ricardo began training when he was five. Ricardo also comes from a family of athletes. His cousins, Derrick Anderson and Mariano Aquino, also competed at the 1988 Olympic Games.

Team Guam! Our island and our people proudly cheer you on!