ON THE ROAD TO ATLANTA

North American Olympians of Ukrainian descent

Last week, The Weekly published brief profiles of 10 athletes to watch as they compete for Ukraine at the Centennial Olympics. This week we publish more extensive profiles of five Ukrainian Americans and Ukrainian Canadians to watch during the Olympics: Joanne Malar, Yaro Dachniwsky, Mike Burchuk, Taras Liskewych and Rick Oleksyk.

The group comprises two athletes (whose profiles appear on this page) and three coaches (whose bios are published on the next page) who are active in the sports of handball, swimming and volleyball. They will represent their respective countries at the Summer Games in Atlanta from July 19 to August 4.

The profiles were prepared by W.K. Sokolyk, chairman of the Sports Commission of the Ukrainian World Congress.

Yaro Dachniwsky, U.S. Olympic Handball Team
Joanne Malar, Canadian Olympic Swimming Team
Coach Mike Burchuk, Canadian Olympic Volleyball Team
Coach Taras Liskevych, U.S. Olympic Volleyball Team
Coach Rick Oleksyk, U.S. Olympic Handball Team

Yaro Dachniwsky, U.S. Olympic Handball Team

When Yaro Dachniwsky stepped out onto the playing field of a televised indoor soccer match two years ago, he never imagined that it would change the course of his life.

Guarding the goal for the San Diego Soccers, Mr. Dachniwsky impressed Dennis Berkholtz, a member of the 1972 U.S. Olympic Handball Team who was watching the game at home on television. After the game, Mr. Berkholtz called Mr. Dachniwsky and suggested that the goaltender try out for the U.S. handball team. Mr. Dachniwsky did and in November 1994 became a member of the national team.

On May 7, a dream came true when Mr. Dachniwsky was named to the U.S. Olympic Handball Team for the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.

Mr. Dachniwsky was born in Chicago on January 15, 1963. It is not surprising that he started to play soccer at an early age. His grandfather Dmytro Dachniwsky played soccer for the Sports Club Ukraina in Lviv in the 1920s. His father, Myron Dachniwsky, played the game for the Ukrainian clubs Lions and Wings in Chicago.

In no time the young Mr. Dachniwsky fell in love with soccer, and it became a passion. He played at every opportunity, although time had to be found to attend Ukrainian school and participate in Plast activities.

Mr. Dachniwsky's amateur career included play for Ukrainian-sponsored teams and others in Chicago, and culminated with the capture of the 1984 U.S. Open Cup with the Chicago Croatia and a spot on the United States team at a CONCACAF tournament.

Some years earlier, Mr. Dachniwsky got his first taste of indoor soccer with the Wings. Subsequently, he made the reserve team of the Chicago Sting. In 1984, he signed his first professional contract with Memphis Storm of the National Professional Soccer (indoor) League. In 1986-1987, he led the league with the lowest goals against average at 3.33. The record still stands. During the 1992-1993 and 1993-1994 seasons, he helped the Atlanta Magic register back-to-back undefeated seasons.

Upon joining the handball team in late 1994, Mr. Dachniwsky juggled the two sports for a brief time. Despite a busy professional career, Mr. Dachniwsky found time to represent Ukraine at the 1984 Free Olympiad in Toronto and the Ukrainian diaspora in matches against teams in Ukraine in 1990.

After the conclusion of the 1994-1995 indoor soccer season, Mr. Dachniwsky committed himself exclusively to handball. He played with the Atlanta Storm and the national team. The 6-foot-3-inch, 185-pound athlete got his first taste of international competition at the elite level at the 1995 World Championships. There the United States placed in the bottom third of a 24-country pool.

The transition from soccer to handball has not been easy. According to Mr. Dachniwsky, from a goaltender's perspective there are two aspects of the game that are significantly different. In soccer, the trajectory of the ball is predominantly from the ground up. In handball, it is predominantly from the sky level down. In addition, while soccer games are low scoring, handball games are not. As a result, in handball a goalie must be mentally prepared to give up goals.

By naming Mr. Dachniwsky to the Olympic team, the national and Olympic team coach Rick Oleksyk no doubt believes that the goaltender has successfully made the transition: "[He's] lightning quick with cat-like reactions, Yaro brings 10 years of professional indoor soccer experience to this Olympic sport," said Coach Oleksyk.

With the announcement of the roster of the U.S. Olympic team, the final preparations for the Olympic Games have begun. The U.S. team saw action in Budapest in May and at the UPS Cup in Atlanta in June. The last days leading up to the Olympics will be spent fine-tuning team strategy and game plans.

Then on July 24, Mr. Dachniwsky's and the other members of the United States Handball Team will begin their Olympic handball competition with a game against Sweden.

Those wishing to help sponsor Yaro Dachniwsky's Olympic dream may do so by contacting him through the United States Team Handball Federation at (770) 956-7660.

Joanne Malar, Canadian Olympic Swimming Team

Joanne Malar was 3 years old when her father endeavored to enroll her in a local swim club. Membership was denied as the club did not accept swimmers under the age of 7. Ms. Malar's father nevertheless persisted, suggesting that the 3-year-old prove herself. After swimming lengths in four different strokes - freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly - the tyke was accepted.

It will be these same four strokes that a 20-year-old Ms. Malar will rely on as she steps onto the starting blocks for her first event of the 1996 Olympic Games: the qualifying heat of the 400-meter individual medley (IM).

Ms. Malar was born on October 30, 1975, in Hamilton, Ontario. She was still an infant when her father, Gordon, an avid swimmer and water polo player, introduced her to swimming. At age 3 she became a member of the Hamilton-Wentworth Athletic Club and began swimming competitively.

Over the years Ms. Malar developed her swimming skills, establishing her first provincial record at age 10. She also began to excel in other sports: basketball, tennis, volleyball, gymnastics and cross-country running.

In grade 9, Ms. Malar opted to concentrate on swimming. At age 14, she became a member of the national team and competed in the 1990 Commonwealth Games. The youngest athlete in any event, she made the finals of both the 200- and 400-meter individual medleys.

The following year, she won five medals - four silver and a bronze - at the Pan American Games. At the 1992 Olympics, Ms. Malar placed 11th in the 400-meter individual medley. That result confirmed that Ms. Malar's development was on course to have her peak in her prime at the 1996 Olympics.

During the 1993 and 1994 swimming seasons, Ms. Malar continued to improve. She made the finals of two individual events at the 1993 World Short Course Championships, three events at the 1994 Commonwealth Games, culminating with a fourth-place finish in the 400-meter IM at the 1994 World Championships.

In 1995, Ms. Malar established herself as one of the world's top swimmers. She won six medals at the Pan-American Games; two gold (200- and 400-meter individual medleys), three silver (4 x 100-meter and 4 x 200-meter freestyle relays and 4 x 100-meter medley relay) and one bronze (200-meter backstroke). She also had two fourth-place finishes (100-meter backstroke and 100-meter butterfly).

At the World Short Course Champion-ships at Rio de Janeiro she won gold in the 400-meter and the 4 x 200-meter freestyle relay. When the year ended she was ranked third in the world in both the 200- and 400-meter. She was also named Canada's Female Swimmer of the Year.

Swimming at the elite level has not detracted Ms. Malar from pursuing a degree in kinesiology at McMaster University in Hamilton. In 1994 she refused to be wooed by out-of-town recruiters and enrolled at McMaster to be close to her family and long-time coach Gaye Stratten. Even as the Olympics approached, Ms. Malar did not lighten her commitment to the kinesiology program. For the 1995-1996 academic year, she was one of seven students nominated for the dean's Award of Excellence.

Perseverance, endurance, abundance of energy, goal-setting, being focused and self-motivation are characteristics that make Ms. Malar succeed. During the academic year, she trains eight or nine times a week. Morning sessions last from 6:45 to 8:30 a.m. and the afternoon ones from 3 to 5 p.m. In between she attends classes. Evenings are reserved for studying. Pool training includes swimming up to 60,000 meters a week. Ms. Malar also does sit-ups. She discarded weight training some time ago when she realized that she swam better without it.

Ms. Malar's busy schedule also includes personal appearances and television commercials on behalf of her and or Swim Canada's sponsors: insurance companies, a swimsuit manufacturer and a hair care manufacturer; she's done modeling work and her face adornes a cereal box. As the games approached, most of these activities ceased. Some time earlier, she also had to discontinue being a spokesperson for the Canadian Lung Association, a volunteer job.

Ms. Malar's life has always been busy. While sports have occupied much of her time, she has also studied piano, done ballet, danced with the Ukrainian troupe Chaika of Hamilton and sang with the Chaika choir.

At the 1996 Canadian Olympic Swimming Trials held on March 30-April 4 at Montreal's Olympic pool, Ms. Malar won four gold medals, established one Canadian record and qualified for the Atlanta Olympic Games in five events. She won the 200-meter backstroke with a time of 2:15.33, the 200-meter freestyle in a personal best of 2:01.36, the 200-meter in 2:15.49, and the 400-meter in a Canadian record time of 4:43.39. She has the option of representing Canada in these events as well as the 4 x 200-meter relay. There are indications, however, that she will not compete in the backstroke because of a scheduling conflict.

When Ms. Malar steps onto the starting blocks at the 1996 Olympic Games, nearly 20 years of swimming - of preparing for Atlanta - will be on the line. Watching from the stands will be her parents, no doubt, reflecting on a day 17 years back when little Joanne first proved she could power her way across a swimming pool using four different strokes.

Coach Mike Burchuk, Canadian Olympic Volleyball Team

It all came down to one match: a victory against the Dominican Republic at the final of the Investors Group Continental Cup Olympic Qualifying Tournament held in Winnipeg on March 16 would ensure Canada of an Olympic berth. A defeat would mean another four years in waiting. Mike Burchuk, in his seventh year as head coach of the Canadian Women's Volleyball team, was privy to that waiting. His team had failed to qualify in 1992.

Born in Ste. Rose de Luc, Manitoba, on October 18, 1949, Mr. Burchuk began his volleyball coaching career while a physical education instructor with the Lord Selkirk High School in Winnipeg. He led the school to back-to-back provincial titles in 1977 and 1978. In 1978, he also coached Manitoba's provincial team to a third-place finish in the national championship and, a year later, to the gold medal at the Canada Games.

These early successes resulted in Mr. Burchuk being hired prior to the 1980-1981 season by the University of Winnipeg to coach the women's volleyball team. In his first season with the team, Mr. Burchuk's club won 45 games, lost 23, and tied two to place second in the GPAC conference. The following year, the club placed fifth in the nation.

It was quickly becoming evident that a national championship team was in the making. It came sooner than most expected. During the 1982-1983 season, the club did not lose once in 60 starts as it powered its way to the Canadian Interuniversity Athletic Union (CIAU) championship. It was the first of six consecutive national titles for perhaps the most successful dynasty in the history of Canadian women's volleyball. In those six years the club lost only 11 games in 365 starts. It posted two undefeated seasons and won 33 of 36 tournaments that it entered.

Before Mr. Burchuk left the University of Winnipeg in the spring of 1989, the teams he coached played a total of 539 games in nine seasons, winning 478, tying five and losing 56 for a winning percentage of 89.4. In addition, the team won 43 of the 56 tournaments they entered.

During his University of Winnipeg days, Mr. Burchuk also coached the Wesmen juvenile Volleyball Club to two national juvenile titles in 1983 and 1988, and the Prairie Blue Volleyball Club to the national championship in 1984.

For his efforts, Mr. Burchuk was recognized as the CIAU Coach of the Year in 1981-1983 and 1987. In 1983, he was also named the Manitoba Ukrainian Sportsman of the Year.

In 1980 Mr. Burchuk made his international coaching debut when he was named assistant coach of Canada's team to the NORCECA junior championships. Thereafter, he served as an assistant coach of Canada's senior team at one World Championship, the World University Games and the 1984 Olympics. In 1986 he was named coach of Canada's junior team.

In the spring of 1989, Mr. Burchuk was named head coach of the Canadian National Women's Volleyball Team. While the team failed to qualify for the 1992 Olympics, it has had success in international competition: a seventh place finish at the 1990 Goodwill Games, 14th place at the 1990 World Championship, three silver medals at the Canada Cup 1993, 1994 and 1995, a bronze medal at the 1995 Pan American Games - a first for Canadian women's volleyball and a bronze medal at the 1995 NORCECA Championships.

En route to the 1994 women's World Volleyball Championships in South America, the Ukrainian team played four matches against the Canadian team in the Toronto area. While the Ukrainian team disposed of the Canadians, one had to admire the imaginative plays of the Canadian team and the ability of their coach to read the opposition. The margin of victory for the Ukrainians diminished with each game.

A day prior to the match against the Dominican Republic, the Canadian team went out to a restaurant for dinner. Invited to join the team were family members and close friends. Mr. Burchuk wanted everyone involved to be part of the pre-Olympic experience.

A day earlier, after defeating Puerto Rico in the semi-finals, Mr. Burchuk commented on the fact that all of the players on the team had contributed in the quest for an Olympic berth: "It's incredible when you think of it, but all 13 athletes on this team have started for the national team at one point, and I'm not talking about for a weekend. I'm talking about an extended period involving international play." Even at this critical time, Mr. Burchuk was able to indirectly highlight some aspects of his coaching philosophy: opportunity, participation, sharing and unity.

The match against the Dominican Republic was one-sided. Canada easily defeated its opponent, 15-0, 15-3 and 15-0, and advanced to the 1996 Olympic Games. A proud Mr. Burchuk spoke highly of the dedication and hard work of his players: "... we paid a big price to be part of this program. We've gone through a lot together, and that's the strength I talked about, and it showed on the court today."

Perhaps setter Michele Sawatzky best summed up the team that Mr. Burchuk assembled and is about to coach in the 1996 Olympic Games: "Compared to other countries, we don't have the same backing, we don't have all the 6-foot-5-inch players. But we have some guts and some real team unity, and that's what brought us this far.

Coach Taras Liskevych, U.S. Olympic Volleyball Team

Taras (Terry) Liskevych has established a number of milestones during his tenure as head coach of the U.S. national women's volleyball team; he has more wins, has led the U.S. in more Olympics, has coached longer and participated in more international matches than any other coach.

Nevertheless, the most elusive milestone for the U.S. women's volleyball team - an Olympic gold medal - is still to be had. A strong team and home court status may just be the ingredients that will place the United States on the top medal pedestal in 1996 and Mr. Liskevych's name in the record book.

Mr. Liskevych was born on October 14, 1948, in Munich, West Germany, into a family of refugees from the Soviet Union. When Taras was 3, the family settled in Chicago. Growing up, Mr. Liskevych led a life fairly typical of a post-World War II Ukrainian immigrant child: in addition to public school, he attended Ukrainian school and was a member of Plast the Ukrainian scouting organization.

It was in Plast that Mr. Liskevych began to play volleyball at the rather late age of 18. His skills developed rapidly, and within a few years he was playing for the Kenneth Allen Club of Chicago, one of the top teams in the United States.

A bachelor of science graduate from the Loyola University in 1970, Mr. Liskevych opted to pursue medical studies. After a year though, he switched to physical education, earning a master's degree in 1972. In 1976, Mr. Liskevych completed his Ph.D. in physical education - with an emphasis on sports psychology and international sport - at Ohio State University.

While studying for his master's, Mr. Liskevych's coaching career began, as an assistant at George William College. There, under head coach Jim Colman, a U.S. Volleyball Hall of Fame member, Mr. Liskevych began developing his coaching skills and philosophy.

A short two years later, Mr. Liskevych was hired as head coach of the Ohio State Buckeyes men's volleyball team. He guided that team to its initial National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Tournament appearance and two third-place NCAA finishes. For his efforts, Mr. Liskevych was twice selected as the Midwest Intercollegiate Volleyball Association Coach of the year (1975, 1976).

Beginning in the fall of 1976, Mr. Liskevych spent nine seasons as the head coach of the women's volleyball team at the University of the Pacific in Stockton, Calif. In a short period of time he was able to develop an also-ran team into a national championship contender.

Mr. Liskevych's teams won six conference titles and had top-five finishes in the nation (NCAA) four times, with the best result, a third place, occurring in 1984. Mr. Liskevych was recognized as the conference coach of the year on five occasions and in 1983 was named the Collegiate Volleyball Coaches Association National Division 1 Coach of the Year.

In 1985 Mr. Liskevych was appointed coach of the U.S. women's volleyball team. His international coaching debut, in fact, had occurred 10 years earlier, when he was named assistant coach of the U.S. women's 1975 Pan-American Games team. Mr. Liskevych's task in 1985 was anything but enviable. After the 1984 Olympics, at which the U.S. team won the silver medal, the coaching staff and all the players left. It was Mr. Liskevych's task to rebuild the team - a task made more difficult by the non-existence of a national junior team from which players could be drawn.

Mr. Liskevych experimented with his line-up: some 40 different players were tried in the first year. Nevertheless, the team posted a winning record in 1985 and in 1986 won the Canada Cup and placed third at the Goodwill Games.

In 1987 the U.S. team won the bronze medal at the Pan-American Games. A second-place finish at the NORCECA Zone Championships that year qualified the long-shot U.S. team for the 1989 Seoul Olympic Games. In Seoul, the team placed seventh.

After those Olympic Games, the U.S. team underwent its second major transition in four years. Once again the objective was to build a team what would qualify for the Olympics and possibly challenge for a medal. By 1990 Mr. Liskevych had established the American team as a dominant force in women's volleyball. A third-place finish at the World Championship and fifth at the Goodwill Games confirmed the fact.

The following year the team placed fourth at the World Cup and qualified for the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. Mr. Liskevych gained personal recognition that year when he was asked to coach the World All-Stars in a match against the defending World Champion USSR at the World Gala. Mr. Liskevych's squad won 2-0.

At the Barcelona Olympics, Mr. Liskevych guided the U.S. team to the bronze medal. Later that year, the Americans placed third at the Super Four Tournament.

With the United States being the host nation for the Centennial Olympics, all American teams gained automatic berths in the games. While this eliminated the pressures involved with qualifying, it nevertheless created new challenges. But the pressure to do well at home is always present. As a result, the task of preparing for these games took on a new dimension.

The results at first were disappoining. In 1993, the team won only 36 percent of its games - the worst record since it came under the tutelage of Mr. Liskevych. A year later the team rebounded with a winning season and a sixth-place finish at the World Championships. Mr. Liskevych predicted: "This team will be good in 1995, and very good in 1996."

As predicted, the U.S. team continued to improve in 1995. It won 78 percent of its games - the best ever under Coach Liskevych. The Americans captured the Canada Cup (defeating among others, the Ukrainian national team), the Coca-Cola Cup and the $2 Million World Grand Prix Final defeating Cuba, China and Brazil, perhaps the strongest contenders for Olympic gold in 1996. The Americans placed second at the Pan-American Games and a disappointing seventh at the World Cup. In both tournaments, the Americans were unable to keep pace with the eventual winner, Cuba.

Mr. Liskevych is considered by many to be an innovative coach. For the 1986 World Championships he installed a new tactical system of play. Prior to the 1988 Olympics, he had men dressed as women helping the team in its Olympic preparation. The starting six players from countries in the same opening pool as the U.S. were videotaped. Former members of the U.S. men's team were then recruited, asked to study an opposing player and then play exactly like her in scrimmages against the U.S. Assembled into teams, the men were also asked to duplicate the style of play of entire teams. Eventually a fake Olympic tournament was staged. The opposing teams were even dressed in authentic uniforms with correct player numbers.

On July 20, Mr. Liskevych and the United States women's volleyball team begin their quest for an Olympic gold medal. Should they succeed, it will be another milestone for the coach and team. Ironically, the opponent of the United States in the first match, and the first barrier in the quest, will be Ukraine - a land to which Mr. Liskevych traces his roots.

Coach Rick Oleksyk, U.S. Olympic Handball Team

In May 1995, Rick Oleksyk was appointed head coach of the United States Men's Handball Team. At the time, the team was ranked between 40th and 45th in the world. With the Atlanta Olympics just one year away, Mr. Oleksyk nevertheless managed to focus on the positive side, stating "I think we'll surprise a lot of people."

A year has since passed. The Olympics are but weeks away, and the United States Handball Team has already surprised a lot of people: at the end of June, it was ranked in the top 15 in the world.

Mr. Oleksyk was born on March 10, 1963, in Parma, Ohio. He attended St. Josaphat's Ukrainian Catholic School (primary). While in high school, he played baseball and basketball, and participated in track and field. He lettered in the former two.

In 1981, Mr. Oleksyk enrolled at the United States Military Academy at West Point, N.Y. In his freshman year he played baseball and basketball. A knee problem resulted in surgery, rehabilitation and conditioning in order to get back into shape.

While walking through the gym one day, he came across a handball team going through its paces on the court. Mr. Oleksyk picked up an unattended ball and threw it. The throw impressed a coach, and he asked Mr. Oleksyk to try the sport. Mr. Oleksyk did and became captivated by the game that is not widely known in North America. He also became a member of the West Point team, gaining a regular position towards the end of the season.

In his junior year, his first full year with the team, Mr. Oleksyk developed into the team's leading scorer. For his efforts he was recognized as the Collegiate Rookie of the Year. At the end of the season he was named to the U.S. junior team and competed at the 1984 World Junior Championships in Italy. While the American side placed 14th, Mr. Oleksyk was named to the World Junior Championship All-Tournament Team at the right-wing position.

In his senior year at West Point, as team captain Mr. Oleksyk led the academy to the NCAA championship and a second-place finish at the U.S. championship. He was honored that year as the collegiate MVP. He also represented the United States at the World University Games with the team placing seventh.

Upon graduation from West Point in 1985 with a bachelor's degree in political science and with the rank of second lieutenant, Mr. Oleksyk embarked on a career with the U.S. military. He served at Fort Bliss, Texas, and at Fort Carson, Col. In 1992 he left the Army with the rank of captain.

Military service did not impede Mr. Oleksyk's pursuit of handball. In 1985, he was named to the national team. Two years later, at the Pan-American Games, the underdog U.S. team surprised everyone by winning the gold medal in front of a partisan home crowd in Indianapolis.

Mr. Oleksyk recalled: "We played tremendously as a team. Individually we played as close to our potential as possible." The victory assured the team of a berth at the 1988 Olympics. Six weeks before the games, disaster struck as Mr. Oleksyk injured his hand and did not make the team (he was named an alternate).

That Olympic disappointment did not discourage Mr. Oleksyk. He was soon back in form. In 1989 he was named team captain and served in that capacity at the 1990 Goodwill Games (fourth- place finish) and the 1991 Pan-American Games (bronze medal). The American team failed to qualify for the 1992 Olympic Games, missing a berth by one spot. At the 1995 Pan-American Games the U.S. team placed fourth.

During his competitive career, Mr. Oleksyk played at the right-wing position, which suits him because of his quickness, good jumping ability, accurate throwing arm and the fact that he is left-handed. At 6 foot, 1 inch and 180 pounds he is highly competitive and determined, refusing to concede anything. These physical and mental traits made Mr. Oleksyk one of America's top handball players.

In May 1995, 32-year-old Mr. Oleksyk was named head coach of the U.S. Men's Handball Team. At the time, the U.S. Team Handball Federation gave Mr. Oleksyk, who was still a starter on the team, an opportunity to continue as a player. He nevertheless declined, suggesting that it would be impossible to do both jobs well.

Mr. Oleksyk's debut in coaching, in fact, had occurred a number of years earlier. In 1989, he coached the U.S. junior team; that same year, he was named assistant playing coach of the national team. Over the years, he played and studied under head coach Vojtec Mares, hired by the Americans after he led Czecho-Slovakia to fifth place at the 1988 Olympics. After Mr. Mares' resignation in 1995, a Spaniard was appointed interim coach. Two months later, the U.S. Team Handball Federation announced the appointment of Mr. Oleksyk as the head coach.

According to associate executive director of the federation Don O'Shea: "[Oleksyk] is a great analyst, not only of team play but individual play in the course of the game... He's got them uptempo, moving in a very positive direction." The players also liked the appointment, believing that an American coach would better understand American athletes.

Many would consider coaching a national and Olympic team a full-time job. For Mr. Oleksyk though, there is also a professional career. A graduate with an M.B.A. from the University of West Florida (1993), Mr. Oleksyk is currently employed as an assistant project manger with the marketing department of Kimberly-Clark. The company hired Mr. Oleksyk under the Olympic Jobs Opportunity Program, and fully supports his Olympic dream by providing time for training, travel and competition.

Mr. Oleksyk is a big promoter of team handball, a sport that he believes "encompasses the best of all the athleticisms." It has "the running and jumping of basketball, the throwing of baseball, the foot-work of soccer and the physical contact of [American] football. One has to be a well-rounded athlete to succeed in the sport."

Mr. Oleksyk considers the prospects for this relatively unknown sport to be good in the United States. To that members of the U.S. Handball Team taught the game to thousands of youngsters attending Atlanta's middle schools over the past year.

In one year, under the guidance of Mr. Oleksyk, the United States Handball Team has surprised a lot of people. The team has improved its world ranking by some 30 positions. In the month of May, it defeated the eighth-ranked team and tied the 11th. The U.S. team may yet again surprise in Atlanta.

Rick Oleksyk believes that he will have succeeded as a coach, if at the Olympics, "the [United States handball] team plays as close to its potential as possible." Interestingly, the last time this occurred was at the 1987 Pan-American Games where the Americans won the gold medal.

Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, July 14, 1996, No. 28, Vol. LXIV

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