From their days at the University of Hawai`i to the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, 10 former UH student-athletes are gearing up for the opening ceremonies Aug. 8, and preparing to compete on the world's biggest stage.

UH is proud to have former student-athletes compete in a variety of sports for several different countries. Five former UH student-athletes will represent the United States, three will represent Australia and two will represent the Netherlands at the Beijing Games.

Representing the United States in volleyball, three former UH standouts will be taking the court. Robyn Ah Mow-Santos, Heather Bown and Kim Willoughby are three of 12 players on the roster. Ah Mow-Santos and Bown will be making their third Olympic appearance, while Willoughby will be making her first.

In women's soccer, Natasha Kai will represent the United States, marking the first time a player from the state of Hawai`i has made the Senior National Team. Kai has been the second leading scorer for the U.S. in 2008, netting 12 goals in 16 games leading up to the Olympics.

The fifth UH player to represent the United States is former men's volleyball star Clay Stanley. Stanley will be making his second appearance in the Olympics. Stanley and the 2004 men's volleyball finished fourth in the Athens Games.

In softball, one former UH student-athlete and one current student-athlete will represent their home country of Australia. Former UH All-American Stacey Porter will be making her second Olympic appearance and current UH pitcher Justine Smethurst will be making her first appearance. Smethurst took 2008 off at UH to play with the Australian National Team on a full-time basis.

The third former UH student-athlete to represent Australia is swimmer Melanie Schlanger. Schlanger will be competing in her first Olympics in the 4x100-meter freestyle and the 4x200-meter freestyle.

Rounding out the 10 Olympians is a pair of water polo players competing for the Netherlands. Former Rainbow Wahine Meike De Nooy and Iefke Van Belkum will be making their first Olympic appearance for the Dutch.

2008 Olympians

Women's Volleyball:
Robyn Ah Mow-Santos - USA
Heather Bown - USA
Kim Willoughby - USA

Women's Soccer:
Natasha Kai - USA

Men's Volleyball:
Clay Stanley - USA

Softball:
Stacey Porter - Australia
Justine Smethurst - Australia

Women's Swimming:
Melanie Schlanger - Australia

Women's Water Polo:
Meike De Nooy - Netherlands
Iefke Van Belkum - Netherlands

-UH-