Allison Oster
Public Relations Manager
(626) 815-4518
Olympic Gold Medalist Returns to Hawaii
August 27, 2008
AZUSA, Calif. –
Honolulu, Hawaii — Bryan Clay may be the world’s greatest athlete with his gold-medal wining performance in 2008 Olympics in Beijing, but his heart belongs to Hawaii. Clay returns home Aug. 29 to celebrate the victory of Team Clay with family, friends, and the people of Hawaii.
Schedule of events:
Fri., Aug. 29
• 3-4 p.m. – Bryan Clay Homecoming at the Royal Grove at the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center (http://www.royalhawaiiancenter.com/hawaii-visitor-info).
This event is open to the public and includes music and proclamations from the governor and mayor. Clay will address the audience and share stories from his gold medal quest. Members of the media are encouraged to attend to capture sound bites, b-roll, and photos.
The event is sponsored by Straub/Hawaii Pacific Health, Royal Hawaiian Center, Azusa Pacific University, and Youth for Christ. For event details and parking information, call Lei ‘Ohu Guest Services at (808) 922-2299.
• 4-5 p.m. – An autograph session immediately follows the main event. Exclusive Bryan Clay Beijing Olympics Signature Series Shirts by Angry Genes will be available during this time.
Sat., Aug. 30:
• 7 p.m. – Clay addresses the military at Marine Corps Hawaii (Kaneohe). Contact Andrea McAleenan at (608) 239-0026 for additional information.
Sun., Aug. 31:
• 8:30 a.m. – Clay speaks to local youth at the Kamehameha Schools’ chapel service. Sponsored by Youth for Christ.
• 10 a.m. – Team Clay joins the Center for Tomorrow’s Leaders Fellows for brunch. Sponsored by Youth for Christ.
• 5 p.m. – Clay appears during halftime at the University of Hawaii’s Women’s Volleyball Tournament at the Stan Sherriff Center.
About Clay
Clay, a 2003 Azusa Pacific University graduate and 1998 Castle High School graduate, met all expectations to win the gold medal in track & field’s decathlon during the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing, China. Clay finished with 8,791 points to claim the title of not only the “world’s greatest athlete,” but more importantly Olympic champion.
During his four-year collegiate career (1999-2002) at Azusa Pacific, Clay captured an NAIA-record 23 All-America honors and led the Cougars to a sweep of the 2002 NAIA indoor and outdoor track & field team titles. Within two years of concluding his college competition, Clay was an Olympic silver medalist, finishing second at the 2004 Athens Games with a then-personal-best score of 8,820 points (the second-best score in U.S. history). The following year he was crowned world champion, winning the decathlon at the World Championships in Helsinki, Finland. Now at age 28, he won his third U.S. championship by taking the Olympic Trials with another personal-best tally of 8,832. For more on Clay, visit www.bryanclay.com.
Related Links:
• APU online coverage: www.apu.edu/athletics/trackandfield/stories/12705/
• Final results of the 2008 Olympic decathlon
• APU Olympians
• Bryan Clay Life on Film
About Azusa Pacific University
Featured in TIME magazine and ranked as one of the nation’s best by U.S.News & World Report and The Princeton Review, Azusa Pacific is a comprehensive, Christian, evangelical university, committed to God First and known for excellence in higher education. Azusa Pacific’s main campus lies just 26 miles northeast of Los Angeles in the San Gabriel Valley, while its seven Southern California regional centers bring convenience and extend quality programming. The university offers more than 60 areas of undergraduate study, 26 master's degree programs, and 7 doctorates to a total student population of more than 8,100.
