BURLINGTON, Vt., July 27 – As the Summer Olympics open today in London.  U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders singled out Lea Davison, Trevor Moore and Andrew Wheating, three Vermonters representing the United States in the world’s most prestigious athletic competition.

Lea Davison won the first mountain bike race she ever entered when she was 17 years old.  A native of Jericho, Vt., Lea competed in cross country and was a Division I alpine ski racer at Middlebury College before becoming the youngest woman to join the professional mountain biking tour.  Lea has become one of the dominant forces in professional women’s mountain biking, but still takes time to give back to the community, running a summer camp for girls from Vermont who are interested in cycling.

Trevor Moore began sailing with his father and brother at a very young age.  When he moved to North Pomfret, Vt., as a teenager his passion for competition led him to play for Woodstock Union High’s tennis and soccer teams.  At Hobart College, Trevor was an accomplished sailor and a three-time All American, in addition to being named the 2007 College Sailor of the Year.  He will be competing with Erik Storck in the 49er category in London.

Andrew Wheating from Norwich, Vt., competed for the track team in the 800-meter race at the Beijing Olympics in 2008.  Recruited by the University of Oregon, he was the NCAA champion in the 800 meters in 2009 and 2010, and in the 1600 meters in 2010.  Andrew is renowned for his ability to come from behind in races, and will be competing in the 1600 meters in London.

“Vermont is proud of Lea, Trevor and Andrew, and we all wish them the best of luck at the 2012 Olympic Games,” Sanders said in remarks entered in the Congressional Record.