For Immediate Release
Contact: Betsy Heckert
April 28, 2008
719.630-0422 / media@usaba.org

** MEDIA ADVISORY **

USABA Athletes Nominated to Paralympic Team

( Colorado Springs , Colo. ) – The United States Association of Blind Athletes (USABA) is pleased to announce the following judo athletes as nominees to the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Team, sponsored by Tiger Claw.

• Jordan Mouton of Houston , Texas (70kg)
• Scott Jones of Little Rock, Ark. / Little Rock Judo (81kg)
• Andre Watson of Upper Darby, Pa. / Liberty Bell Judo (90kg)
• Myles Porter of Colorado Springs, Colo. / USA Judo National Training Site at the Olympic Training Center (100kg)
• Greg DeWall of Chico, Calif. (+100kg)

Each blind and visually impaired has each competed in various international competitions to qualify them for the Paralympic Trials held this past weekend in Northglenn , Colo. Their participation includes the 2007 World Championships in Sao Paulo , Brazil , the Para Pan-American Games in Rio de Janeiro this past summer as well as the “Sensei Memorial” Invitational Judo Tournament held in February.

During the trials, Mouton challenged and defeated teammate Lisamaria Martinez of Union City , Calif. , to secure her slot on the Paralympic Team. Now destined for Beijing Mouton will try to become the first U.S. woman to win Paralympic gold. In the men's divisions, DeWall, Porter, Jones and Watson, went uncontested for nomination to the team, but still participated in the annual tournament, fighting sighted competitors. Porter took home the gold medal in his weight class.

USABA athletes then participated in a training camp held at the United States Olympic Training Center Dojo, in Colorado Springs , Sunday, April 27 – Wednesday, April 30.

Team coaches include Raul Tamayo of Redwood City , Calif. ; Scott Moore of Englewood , Calif. ; and Marc Vink of Riverton, N.J.

About USABA: Since its founding in 1976, USABA, a community-based organization of the United States Olympic Committee, has reached thousands of blind individuals. USABA's Mission : to enhance the lives of blind and visually impaired people by providing the opportunity for participation in sports and physical activity.  For more information, please visit our Web site: www.usaba.org

About Tiger Claw:  Tiger Claw has been a high-end manufacturer and distributor of martial arts supplies for more than 20 years.  The Tiger Claw product line covers all areas of martial arts supplies from protective gear to uniforms to swords and operates facilities in Fremont , Calif. and Knoxville , Tenn.   Tiger Claw also publishes Claw Marks—the largest circulation martial arts business newsletter in America , and the popular newsstand magazine Kung Fu Tai Chi. For more information, visit www.tigerclaw.com

USABA, a member organization of the U.S. Olympic Committee, is a non-profit organization that provides training for blind and visually impaired athletes for competition in nine sports. USABA members range from blind children developing sports skills to elite athletes who train for competitions such as the Paralympic Games, the world's second largest athletic competition that draws more than 4,000 disabled athletes. Visit www.usaba.org for more information.

The United States Association of Blind Athletes, a member organization of the U.S. Olympic Committee, is a non-profit organization that provides training for blind and visually impaired athletes for competition in nine sports. USABA members range from blind children developing sports skills to elite athletes who train for competitions such as the Paralympic Games, which continually draws more than 4,000 disabled athletes.