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Local Olympians Trying To Join Select Company

The Associated Press

Fireworks explode above the "Bird's Nest" during the Opening Ceremony in the National Stadium at the Beijing 2008 Olympics in Beijing, Friday, Aug. 8, 2008.

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By JOEY JOHNSTON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 9, 2008

The Olympic Games are under way in Beijing.

Tampa's hopes rest with hurdler Damu Cherry, sprinter Calvin Smith II, windsurfer Ben Barger, diver Chris Colwill and tennis player James Blake.

If any of those athletes achieve the ultimate accomplishment, they will join this list of gold medalists from the Tampa Bay area.

Edward Flynn (boxing, 1932, Los Angeles) - Flynn, from Hillsborough High, was the first gold medalist from Florida. He defeated five opponents in five days, beating Germany's Erich Campe in the welterweight final.

He was given a welcome-home parade in Tampa, then he staged a three-round exhibition match against Jimmy Cunningham, a classmate from Hillsborough.

Flynn, who also won the national AAU and Gold Gloves titles, went 37-3 as a professional fighter. He became an oral surgeon in Tampa. Flynn was named to four Halls of Fame, including the inaugural class of the Tampa Sports Hall of Fame. He was 66 when he died in 1976.

Rowdy Gaines (swimming, 1984, Los Angeles) - The former Winter Haven High star anchored the 4x100-meter freestyle and 4x100 medley relays, while also capturing the 100 freestyle. He probably would have won more in 1980 had the U.S. not boycotted the Moscow Games.

Jeff Turner (basketball, 1984, Los Angeles) - Turner, the former Brandon High player who became an All-SEC player at Vanderbilt and the 17th overall selection in the NBA draft (New Jersey Nets), was a surprise selection to Bobby Knight's team. But Turner, a 6-foot-9 forward, filled a needed role on the team, which featured Michael Jordan and Patrick Ewing.

Ty Griffin and Tino Martinez (baseball, 1988, Seoul) - Griffin, from King High, and Martinez, from Jefferson High, were catalysts during the entire Olympic summer series. In the final, a 5-3 victory against Japan, Martinez smashed two home runs, while Griffin had two hits and one stolen base. Both players were first-round picks that summer - Griffin went ninth overall to the Cubs, and Martinez was taken 14th by the Mariners.

Jennifer Capriati (tennis, 1992, Barcelona) - In her first big splash, preceding her three career Grand Slam tournament singles titles, the Saddlebrook resident beat Steffi Graf 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 in the singles championship match.

Nicole Haislett (swimming, 1992, Barcelona) - The Lakewood High product won three gold medals, capturing the 200-meter freestyle, contributing to the 4x100 relay team and also swimming a leg in the preliminaries for the 4x100 medley relay.

Brooke Bennett (swimming, 1996, Atlanta; 2000, Sydney) - The Plant City native won the 800-meter freestyle, days after the death of her grandfather, in 1996. Four years later, Bennett won two golds - in the 400 and 800 freestyle.

Kenny Brokenburr (track and field, 2000, Sydney) - The Winter Haven High product ran the lead leg in the opening round for the U.S. 4x100 relay team, which eventually captured the gold.

Pat Borders and Bobby Seay (baseball, 2000, Sydney) - Borders, a catcher from Lake Wales, and Seay, a left-handed pitcher from Sarasota, were members of Tommy Lasorda's gold medal-winning team. Seay, who began in the Rays' organization, now pitches for the Detroit Tigers.

Reporter Joey Johnston can be reached at (813) 259-7353 or jjohnston@tampatrib.com.

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