Foreign Athletes Immigrate to Compete on US Olympic Team
A recent New York Times article reports on the practice of foreign athletes immigrating to the U.S. so they can compete on the U.S. Olympic Team. Since 2000, foreign athletes have helped increase the number of Olympic medals won by the United States.
This year, nine foreign athletes are on the fast-track for U.S. citizenship, including a kayaker from Poland, table tennis players from China, a triathlete from New Zealand, a world-champion distance runner from Kenya, a canoeist from the United Kingdom, and an equestrian from Australia. Some of these athletes have already won medals for their birth countries.
According to many of the athletes, they come to America for love, opportunity, freedom and education, and not just for better chances at making an Olympic team.
Triathlete Matt Reed of New Zealand moved to the U.S. in 2001 after meeting American triathlete Kelly Rees. The couple married in 2003, and Reed was granted U.S. citizenship last year. In Beijing, Reed will be competing against his brother, Shane Reed, one of the top competitors in the sport in the world. In 2004, Matt Reed ran in both the U.S. and New Zealand Olympic trials. He finished eighth in New Zealand and third in the United States.
According to Reed, if he had not immigrated to America, he would not have had the chance to compete at the Olympics. He further added that had he not married an American, he would not have qualified for the U.S. team in time for the games in Beijing.
An athlete who marries an American citizen can obtain a green card within three years. Those who apply for the card as Aliens of Extraordinary Ability, the more common route, can wait up to five years, and often miss the Olympics while waiting.
Synchronized swimmer Anna A. Kozlova of Russia finished fourth in the synchronized swimming duet at the 1992 Olympics. After immigrating to the U.S. later that year, she missed the 1996 Olympics while waiting for a green card. In 2000, Kozlova placed fourth for the U.S. in team and duet, and won two bronze medals in 2004.
According to the U.S. Olympic Committee, they do not recuit athletes from other countries. But the USOC is grateful for the foreign athletes who have healped boost American standings at the Games. In the past, the U.S. has had trouble competing in certain sports, such as field hockey and table tennis. With the addition of foreign athletes to the American roster, the U.S. has become more competitive in these areas.
Since 2000, seven Olympic medals were won by five new U.S. citizens: gymnast Annia Hatch from Cuba and synchronized swimmer Anna A. Kozlova of Russia each won two medals in 2004; sailor Magnus Liljedahl from Sweden and tennis player Monica Seles from Yugoslavia each won one medal in 2000; and ice dancer Tanith Belbin from Canada won a medal in 2006. Belbin’s ability to compete on the U.S. ice dancing team is one of the best-known Congressional maneuvers, which affected the overall standings at the 2006 Olympics. Belbin was one of three foreign-born ice dancers with American partners waiting to become eligible to compete at the U.S. Olympic trials. All three were granted expedited citizenship through special legislation signed by President George W. Bush in December 2005. In 2006, Belbin and her partner won a silver medal, resulting in the United State’s second place overall finish – one medal higher than Canada.
The International Olympic Committee requires all athletes who switch countries to wait three-years before competing. This requirement is waived if the athlete's native Olympic committee and international sports federation give permission. This year, two new Americans such a waiver: gold medalist equestrian Phillip P. Dutton of Australia and canoeist Heather Corrie of the United Kingdom.
< Back | Index | Next >
Print This Page
Disclaimer: This newsletter is provided as a public service and not intended to establish an attorney client relationship. Any reliance on information contained herein is taken at your own risk. | 
