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Monday, September 18, 2000

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Viloria wins
Olympic opener

He will face Brahim Asloum
of France on Sept. 22

On TV

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By Pat Bigold
Star-Bulletin

Waipahu light flyweight Brian Viloria outpointed Russian Sergei Kazakov, 8-6, Sunday in Sydney to move into the second round of Olympic boxing.

The 19-year-old world champion shut out Kazakov in the first round and held him to one point in the second.

But the Russian staged a strong comeback in the final two rounds forcing Viloria to toughen his resolve for the close win.

It was Viloria's second win over Kazakov. He defeated him in another close fight, 11-10, in 1998.

Viloria will face Brahim Asloum of France on Sept. 22.

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UH alum O’Toole
helps U.S. water polo
team to victory

U.S. women’s volleyball team
also posts a win in prelim play

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By Pat Bigold
Star-Bulletin

Former University of Hawaii player Maureen O'Toole helped keep the U.S. women's water polo team unbeaten by scoring two goals and assisting on three others in a 7-5 victory over Russia, in Olympic competition at the Ryde Aquatic Center in Sydney.

The U.S. improves to 2-0-1 and faces host nation Australia (2-1-0) today. The Americans meet Kazakstan tomorrow, their last game before the semifinals, which begin Friday.

O'Toole, 39, the oldest player on her team, set up the goal that salvaged an 8-8 tie with Canada with four seconds left Saturday night.

Meanwhile, the women's volleyball team, which includes former Wahine Robyn Ah Mow and Heather Bown, improved to 2-0 in prelim play with 3-0 sweep of Kenya. The women play Croatia tomorrow.

The U.S. men's volleyball team,which includes Hawaii's Mike Lambert, lost its first match to Argentina, 3-1.

Waipahu's world amateur champion light flyweight Brian Viloria, who outpointed Russian Sergei Kazakov, 8-6, Saturday night, will fight Brahim Asloum of France on Thursday.

Viloria defeated Asloum in the quarterfinals of the world championships in August 1999 in Houston.

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Court ruling could
help Hawaii Olympic
medal count

Naturalized citizen Angel Newton
can compete on U.S. K-4 kayak team

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Star-Bulletin staff and wire reports

Hawaii's medal count at the 2000 Olympics could increase as a result of a surprise move by the highest-ranking amateur sport court in the world.

The International Court of Sport has granted Cuban refugee Angel Perez permission to compete with Kailua's Peter Newton in the K-4 kayak at the Olympics.

The court had rejected Perez's appeal only five days ago, theoretically knocking the four-man U.S. boat out of the medal picture. Team morale had plummeted.

A substitute for Perez was to be chosen but the team's cohesion would have been disrupted.

Perez made it to the semifinals of the 1992 Olympics for Cuba. "I can't put into words what I am feeling right now," said Perez. "I can't believe it. I had my bags packed to go back to the US. I didn't expect the decision to go in my favor."

Perez immigrated to the U.S. in May of 1993. He was awarded resident status in 1995. His citizenship was confirmed in 1999, when he was sworn in as a U.S. citizen.

But under Rule 49 of the Olympic Charter, if an athlete has "changed his nationality or acquired a new nationality," he may represent his country "three years after such change or acquisition," or have the permission of his former National Olympic Committee in order to compete.

Cuban president Fidel Castro had refused to Perez permission, so he appealed to the International Olympic Committee for a waiver. He was turned down.

Perez then began the last-ditch appeal process before the International Court of Sport.

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When to watch

Today: Gymnastics, swimming rowing, equestrian, 4-9 p.m.; Volleyball, whitewater canoes, 9:35-11:05 pm., NBC (KHNL Channel 13/Cable 8)
Boxing, cycling, sailing, weightlifting, 2-6 p.m., CNBC (OC 16/Dig. 116)
Archery, basketball, beach volleyball, whitewater canoes, judo, rowing, softball, 7 a.m.-2 p.m.; 9 p.m.-4 a.m. (repeat), MSNBC (OC40/Dig 107)

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U.S. Olympic Committee photo
Former University of Hawaii swimmer Maureen O'Toole scored two goals in the U.S.'s 7-5 win today over Russia in water polo.

Hawaii's Olympians

Competing today, times HST

Softball: Canada (Kristy Odamura) vs. Australia (Brooke Wilkins), 10:30 p.m.
Men's swimming: 100 free (Nick Folker, South Africa), 1 p.m.
Men's beach volleyball: U.S. (Kevin Wong), prelims, noon.
Men's indoor volleyball: U.S. (Mike Lambert) vs. Russia, 5:30 p.m..
Women's water polo: U.S. (Maureen O'Toole) vs. Australia, 4 p.m.Canada (Marie-Luc Arpin) vs. Netherlands), 10:15 p.m.;

Athletes listed are either current or former Hawaii residents, or current or former University of Hawaii/UH-Hilo athletes.

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Sydney 2000 Olympics