Cammi Granato Biography

Hockey is basically in Cammi Granto's blood. Her parents, Don and Natalie, are huge hockey fans and went to a Chicago Blackhawks game on their first date. They also flooded their backyard every winter to make an ice rink so Cammi and her brothers and sister could play hockey. Cammi wanted to play organized hockey when she was a kid, but there were no leagues for girls in Downers Grove, Illinois where she grew up. Instead, Cammi joined a boys team which she played for until her junior year in high school. After high school, she went to college on a hockey scholarship and played for Providence College.

Cammi began playing for the US womens hockey team in 1990 and led TEAM USA to the first Olympic gold medal in women's hockey at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan. That raised the profile of women's hockey in the USA and made Cammi one of the most recognizable female athletes in America. She was picked to be the US flag bearer during the Olympics' closing ceremony and her picture was even put on a box of Wheaties.

Cammi has now become involved in teaching girls the game of hockey. She loves working with kids and runs a hockey camp for girls with the help of her brother, Tony, who played 14 seasons in the NHL. Cammi is now working on getting ready for the 2002 Winter Olympics which start February 8th. The games are in Salt Lake City, Utah, so Cammi and the rest of Team USA will have the advantage of playing in front of their home fans.

Cammi Granto - Did You Know?

Cammi touches a stuffed frog, named "Floppy" before every game for good luck.

Cammi used to work as a radio broadcaster for the Los Angeles Kings. She gave up the job to get ready for the 2002 Olympics.

She was invited to the New York Islanders training camp in 1997 but turned down the offer because she was worried about getting hurt.

For more on the 2002 Winter Olympics, head to www.saltlake2002.com.

Related Stories:

Picabo Street

NHL Season Preview

Dumb Olympic Sports

Read more: Trivia