FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
July 24, 1996

AMERICAN VON HEILAND BOWS OUT OF WOMEN'S SINGLES BADMINTON COMPETITION
 
(ATLANTA, Ga.) -- Team USA's Erika Von Heiland (Anaheim, Calif.) came 
into her women's singles match at the 1996 Olympic badminton competition 
with nothing to lose.  Ranked 89th in the world, she fought 44th ranked 
Jeng Shwu-Zen (TPE) tooth and nail, but in the end it was not enough as 
she was defeated 11-2, 11-6.

Playing on battered knees (5 surgeries), Jeng's quickness and pinpoint 
drop shots were just too much for Von Heiland to handle in the first, as 
she easily fell 11-2.

The second proved to be much better for the two-time Olympian, as Von 
Heiland actually took a 4-2 lead at one point.  But again the cat like 
quickness of Jeng prevailed as she battled back to take the second 11-6, 
and the match.

"I knew going in it was going to be tough, but if I played defensively I 
knew I would be mincemeat," said Von Heiland.  "In the first game I was 
a bit nervous and played tentative, but in the second I just played 
freely."

Von Heiland was a true crowd favorite, as chants of "U-S-A" and "Let's 
go Rick" filled the stadium.  

"I've never played in front of a crowd like this," said Von Heiland.  
"If I didn't have them behind me, I doubt I would have gotten six points 
in the second.  You can't give up on that last lunge when the crowd is 
behind you."

Von Heiland will be on center stage for the U.S. once again tomorrow, as 
she pairs with partner Linda French (Elmhurst, Ill.) to take on 
Denmark's Lisbet Stuer-Lauridsen and Marlene Thomsen (No.3 World Ranked) 
at 2:45 p.m. at Georgia State University.  Von Heiland and French are 
currently ranked 42nd in the world.

RESULTS - WOMEN'S SINGLES, ROUND 1
Jeng Shwu-Zen (TPE) def. Erika Von Heiland (USA) 11-2, 11-6

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