LEADDOG SIGNS OLYMPIC GOLD MEDAL WINNER TARA NOTT
First ever winner of women’s Olympic weightlifting competition

NEW YORK, NY – October 23, 2000

LeadDog Marketing Group, a marketing, production and management company, has added 2000 Olympic Gold Medalist Weightlifter, Tara Nott, to its client base. LeadDog Marketing Group will manage special appearances, corporate endorsements, publicity and speaking engagements on Nott’s behalf.

At 5-foot-1 and 105 pounds, Nott was one of the smallest athletes in the 2000 Summer Olympic Games. Nott lifted a total of 407.75-pounds (combined in two lifts, the snatch and the clean-and-jerk) in the 48kg weight class to earn her spot in Olympic history, becoming the first American to win an Olympic weightlifting gold medal since 1960 and becoming the first woman in the world to earn a gold medal in the event. The Sydney Games marked the first time women participated in the Olympic weightlifting competition.

"We are extremely excited to have this opportunity to use our experience and resources to promote a tremendous athlete and role model," said Dan Mannix, LeadDog President & CEO. "Tara truly epitomizes the Olympic spirit and I cannot think of a better person to be affiliated with in this role."

Formerly an all-state gymnast and soccer player (NCAA Division I & U.S. Olympic Festival Team Captain), Nott first became interested in weightlifting while serving on the soccer competition staff for the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. After one year of training, she reached the top of her weight class (50 kg/106 lbs.) by capturing her first of four U.S Weightlifting National Championships in 1996. She went on to win the national title in 1997 and back-to-back national championships in 1999 and 2000. At the U.S. Olympic Trials, Nott was successful in all six of her lifts, breaking three records in her weight class and securing a position on the Olympic squad.

Nott finished in the top ten in the 50kg weight class at the past three World Championships, finishing 10th in 1997, sixth in 1998 and ninth in 1999. Prior to her Olympic gold medal, Nott also won gold at the 1999 Pan American Games.

"When I met the LeadDog staff, I immediately felt confident that they would approach all potential promotional opportunities with my best interests at heart, said Nott. "I am looking forward to sharing my Olympic experience and motivating others along the way to get involved in weightlifting."

Raised in Stilwell, Kansas, Nott currently resides at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Her success and passion to compete have not gone unnoticed. In 1999 she was named the Olympic Training Center Athlete of the Year and is currently a nominee for the 2000 U.S. Olympic Spirit Award (awarded to the athlete who has most inspired others by upholding and representing Olympic ideals).

LeadDog was formed in December 1999 by two former NBA Executives, Dan Mannix and Siobhan Dennehy, Vice President. LeadDog specializes in event marketing, promotions and management within the sports industry.

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