SEGA announces cover athletes for Beijing 2008 game

SEGA today announced that top U.S. gold medal contenders Amanda Beard, Tyson Gay, Nastia Liukin and Reese Hoffa will appear on the cover of the Beijing 2008 Olympics video game, scheduled for releases on Xbox 360, the PlayStation 3, and PC this summer.

“These talented individuals epitomize what it is to be an Olympic athlete and we are extremely excited to have them grace the cover of our Beijing 2008 video game,” said Sean Ratcliff of SEGA. “With Beijing 2008, SEGA is striving to develop the very best Olympic video game ever and we couldn’t be more proud to have them represent our game and our country this summer.”

Amanda Beard, a seven time Olympic medalist, is expected to continue her success as she prepares for her fourth Olympic Games this year in Beijing, China. She has competed in the Atlanta 1996 Games, Sydney 2000 Games and Athens 2004 Games, making her one of the most prolific Olympic athletes ever. Amanda became the second youngest gold-medal swimmer in USA swimming history when she won her first gold medal at the Atlanta Games at the age of 14. She currently holds the Olympic Record in the 200m breaststroke and the American record in the 100m breaststroke, 200m breaststroke and 200m individual medley.

Tyson Gay will be sprinting for the title of “Fastest Man on Earth” as he makes his bid to win gold and shatter Olympic Records this year at the Beijing 2008 Games. Last summer, he became a double World Champion at 100m and 200m, and topped that off by winning gold as part of the U.S. 4x100m relay team. Tyson was selected as the IAAF (International Association of Athletics Federations) male World Athlete of the Year for 2007 and is currently ranked #1 in the world.

Nastia Liukin is a Senior International Elite gymnast and is expected to be one of the top contenders on the U.S. Women’s Gymnastic Olympic Team. Specializing in uneven bars and balance beam events, she is a two-time world champion, a six-time world medalist, a four-time U.S. National Champion and has won the American Cup titles in 2006 and 2008. Tied for the most ever, Nastia is a nine-time World Championship medalist and is widely considered to be the most graceful and artistic gymnast in the world today.

Reese Hoffa is poised to take home gold in men’s shot put, when he makes his second Olympic Games appearance of his career this summer in Beijing. A member of the U.S. Olympic Team in the Athens 2004 Games, he has earned a number of prestigious titles in his shot putting career including 2007 USA outdoor champion, 2006 world indoor champion, 2004 world indoor silver medalist and 2003 Pan American Games gold medalist. Reese is the reigning world champion in shot put and currently ranks 11th on the world all-time list for the sport.

Beijing 2008 features over 35 events (the most of any Olympic video game) from the upcoming Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. The online functionality of all three platforms will allow players to compete against other gamers across the globe. SEGA today announced that top U.S. gold medal contenders Amanda Beard, Tyson Gay, Nastia Liukin and Reese Hoffa will appear on the cover of the Beijing 2008 Olympics video game.

SEGA today announced that top U.S. gold medal contenders Amanda Beard, Tyson Gay, Nastia Liukin and Reese Hoffa will appear on the cover of the Beijing 2008 Olympics video game.