Olympians carry anti-drug message

High-profile Olympic athletes will travel the country talking to kids about the dangers of performance-enhancing drugs and the importance of playing clean in a U.S. Anti-Doping Agency program that’s expected to be announced this month.

The educational initiative, with a handful of athletes dubbed “True Sport Ambassadors,” serves as an extension of “Project Believe,” in which 12 athletes were voluntarily tested a combined 355 times last year by the Colorado Springs-based organization.

Track cyclist Kristin Armstrong, who gave 24 blood and urine samples before winning an Olympic gold medal, wants “the younger generation to not think when someone wins that they must be doing something. We’re trying to change the image.”

“Back in the day, like before I was in sport, it was more run by teams,” Armstrong said of doping rings. “That was the way, and they’ve done a good job by cleaning that up. Now, it’s individual choice. People are doing it on their own — that is something hard to stop.”

USADA chief executive officer Travis Tygart called the program an objective of “Game Plan 2012,” a four-part strategy outlining USADA’s domestic testing efforts.

“The athletes in our program recognize it’s not just about winning,” Tygart said. “What’s more important is doing what’s best and doing it the right way, and the athletes are able to deliver that message.”

Judo player defeated

Olympic Training Center judo player Katie Sell dropped her opening match at the world championships Aug. 29 in Rotterdam, Netherlands. She lost to Mina Watanabe of Japan.

Runner on podium

Colorado Springs runner Gina Lucrezi placed third Aug. 29 at the USA 10-kilometer trail championships in Laurel Springs, N.C. She finished in 50 minutes, 58 seconds.

Weightlifters triumph

Springs weightlifters Christina Brown, James Byers, Rachel Crass, Donovan Ford, Daisy Haman, Patrick Judge, Dalton McGregor and Sarah Robles won last month at the Rodger DeGarmo Memorial at the OTC.

Triathletes among best

OTC resident Matt Chrabot won the USA Triathlon Twenty-12 elite series. Also of the OTC, Tim O’Donnell took third, and Brian Fleischmann was fifth.

Handball players overseas

Fourteen Springs handball players finish a week of training and competition Thursday in Dormagen, Germany. The U.S. under-18 national teams include Canyon Barry, the son of NBA legend Rick Barry.

Etc.

Ten wrestlers were selected to the OTC’s resident freestyle program, most notably world team members Jake Herbert and Trent Paulson. … Springs resident Shon Lewis has been named coach of the U.S. Greco-Roman world team. … Broadmoor Skating Club member Austin Kanallakan begins competition Friday at a Junior Grand Prix in Torun, Poland. … Broadmoor member Rachael Flatt is seventh in the world rankings.