The athletes that arrived in Brazil today are excited and ready for the Games to begin.

Please see below for athlete quotes upon arrival in Rio de Janeiro.

Kendrick Farris (Shreveport, La.):

“It feels good to finally be down here. I’ve been training for all of these weeks trying to get ready for the competition and to finally make it and go through all of the processing, get my identification, getting settled into the Village; it feels pretty good knowing that I can finally relax and look forward to the competition. I’m looking forward to seeing the city. There is a kid back in Shreveport (La.) that is actually from Rio and he has family that lives here. He told me that you haven’t lived until you come to Brazil, so I feel alive now.”

Jackie Berube (Colorado Springs, Colo.):

“It is unbelievable to here. I’m just grateful to have this opportunity I want to make the most of it and do the best I can while I’m here and live it up. It’s going to be a great experience to be here with all of the other sports and to be a part of something bigger than weightlifting.”

Natalie Woolfolk (Arnold, Md./Colorado Springs, Colo.):

“I’m super, super excited to be here. It’s really nice in Brazil and I’m ready for tomorrow to have a chance to actually see some things, meet lots of new people which is really nice, being here with lots of new sports. I am really excited and ready to lift on Monday.”

For more information on the 2007 Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, please visit: http://www.rio2007.org.br/.