Whereas, of the 243 athletes on the 2018 United States Olympic Team (referred to in this preamble as “Team USA”), 23 have ties to the State of Minnesota, making it the third-most represented State on Team USA; Whereas, if the State of Minnesota had competed in the 2018 Olympic Winter Games as a country, that State would be tied for twelfth place in the number of gold medals won; Whereas Minnesota has a long tradition of winter sports and has produced some of the most talented winter Olympians in the world; Whereas Jessie Diggins of Afton, Minnesota, won a gold medal in the cross-country skiing team sprint and was chosen by the members of Team USA as the United States flagbearer for the Olympic closing ceremony; Whereas the gold medal won by Jessie Diggins is the first gold medal for the United States in Olympic cross-country skiing; Whereas the women’s Olympic hockey team beat Canada and won the first Olympic gold medal for the team since 1998; Whereas the following 8 members of the women's Olympic hockey team have ties to Minnesota: Hannah Brandt, Dani Cameranesi, Amanda Kessel, Gigi Marvin, Sidney Morin, Kelly Pannek, Maddie Rooney, and Lee Stecklein; Whereas the men’s curling team defeated Sweden to win the first gold medal for Team USA in curling; Whereas the following 4 members of the men's curling team have ties to Minnesota: John Shuster, Tyler George, John Landsteiner, and Joe Polo; Whereas Lindsey Vonn, born in St. Paul, Minnesota, and a member of the Buck Hill Ski Team, won a bronze medal in downhill skiing; Whereas the following members of Team USA also have ties to Minnesota: Will Borgen, Cory Christensen, Rosie Frankowski, Aileen Geving, Annie Hart, Leif Nordgren, Tabitha Peterson, Ryan Stoa, and David Chodounsky; and Whereas Minnesota stands united in respect and support for the athletes on Team USA: Now, therefore, be it