Preview: 2012 U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony

Team USA Honors Olympians at Hall of Fame Ceremony
Team USA

Dan O'Brien

2012 U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony (NBC Sports Network, 7pm) - The U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame was established in 1979 to celebrate the achievements of America’s premier athletes in the Modern Olympic Games.

 The first U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame class was inducted in 1983 during ceremonies in Chicago and included Olympic greats such as Bob Beamon, Cassius Clay, Peggy Fleming, Al Oerter, Jesse Owens, Wilma Rudolph, Mark Spitz, Jim Thorpe and the 1980 “Miracle on Ice” men’s ice hockey team.

Annual additions continued through 1992 and included Olympic legends such as Bart Conner, Donna de Varona, Dorothy Hamill, Sugar Ray Leonard, Carl Lewis, Greg Louganis, Phil Mahre, Debbie Meyer, John Naber and Mary Lou Retton.

In 2004, after a 12-year hiatus, the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame was revived through the support of the Allstate Insurance Company as the presenting sponsor. Allstate hosted induction ceremonies in Chicago in 2004, 2006, 2008 and 2009 and inductees included the 1992 “Dream Team” men’s basketball team, Michael Johnson, Karch Kiraly and Picabo Street to name a few.