Colorado Springs, July 9------The 2010 Rocky Mountain State Games in Colorado Springs, July 30-August 1, will showcase the skills and dreams of 7,000 athletes from across the state, and each has a story worth telling.

This summer, two-time U.S. Olympic Skeleton Team athlete Katie Uhlaender of Breckenridge has registered to compete in women’s weightlifting and give herself an experience away from sliding on ice, where she has won two World Cup titles and competed for the USA at the Olympic Winter games in Torino (6th) and Vancouver (11th).

Colorado athletes from more than 120 towns and cities will make their way to Colorado Springs in three weeks to compete in 35 sports at 23 venues across the city, and with one event, cycling, taking place in Salida.

Registration for athletes of all ages and skill levels is open at www.coloradospringssports.org, and Wyoming athletes have also been invited this year by the host Colorado Springs Sports Corporation.

The Opening Ceremony is set for the evening of Friday, July 30, at the Colorado Springs World Arena, with the celebrity entertainer to be announced soon. Opening Ceremony tickets are available at www.ticketswest.com

Here’s a sample of Colorado athletes already signed up to compete:

Katie Uhlaender (26, Breckenridge) Weightlifting, 2006, 2010 U.S. Olympic Skeleton team member in Vancouver,2007, 2008 World Cup champion, 2007 Colorado SportsWoman of the Year, four-time Skeleton National Champion.

Brandon Wegner (14, Canon City) Karate, Silver medalist at the 2009 State Games of America

Christina Brown (15, Colorado Springs)  Weightlifting, 2010 National School-Age Champion, 2009 State Games of America gold medalist

Shirley Callaway (57, Grand Junction) Weightlifting, 2010 National Masters Champion at 58kg

Kaden Campbell (10, Greeley) Wrestling, 2009 State Games of America bronz medalist, Colorado Girls age-group state champion

Kiersten Clowes (15, Monument) Gymnastics, 2009 State Games of America gold medalist

The Cook Family, Glenwood Springs, Karate,  Mother Sherry, 46, daughter Rachel, 16, son Matthew, 17

David Faires (73, Pueblo)  Bowling, 37th year in the sport, member of Colorado Springs Bowling Hall of Fame, has competed in 14,700 games in his career

Christina Fasci (15, Aurora) Track & Field,  Rangeview High sophomore finished 5th in USATF Nationals in the discus, 4th in the National AAU Championships in the javelin

Mary Holzer (47, Pine) Target Archery, 2005, 2008 National Champion in Barebow event, 2009 State Games of America gold medalist

Kathryn Kananen (13, Florissant) Shooting, 2009 State Games of America gold medalist in rifle/pistol events, 2009 National Junior Olympics champion

Marshall Kraker (20, Parshall) Track & Field, former West Grand High star was a silver medalist in the 2009 State Games of America in the high jump

Neal McLaughlin (51, Highlands Ranch) Triathlon, 2009 USATF National champion, seven-time All-American