When you watch the Summer Olympics in August, keep an eye out for UC Davis connections — because, just like the concept of "six degrees of separation," it's amazing how close we all are.

UC Davis has coaches, alumni and a current student all somewhat connected to the Aug. 8-24 event. Let us count the degrees of separation to show you how close UC Davis is to this summer's Olympic action. And then, let the Games begin!

Connected: UC Davis' husband and wife veterinary team of Jack Snyder and Sharon Spier are headed for Hong Kong next week, where they will coordinate the equine veterinary facility for the 2008 Summer Olympic Games.

Snyder and Spier will lead an international corps of 30 veterinarians, who will advise the veterinarians accompanying the horses. They will be prepared to evaluate lameness, treat injuries and even perform emergency surgeries. Snyder will be in charge of surgical procedures while Spier, an internal medicine specialist, will deal with infections and internal diseases.

One degree: To finish the final "chapter" of her documentary on weightlifter Cheryl Haworth, UC Davis faculty member Julie Wyman will be in Beijing Aug. 13-20 with a tiny entourage: a director of photography and a Chinese translator/"fixer" of logistics.

The assistant technocultural studies professor is using video to change how people think about body weight and health. Her focus is on Haworth, a 5-foot-9, 300-pound Olympic athlete.

Watch for the film's premiere on national TV sometime after it is finished next year.

You can read about Wyman's experiences during the Olympics on a blog that UC Davis will be hosting at http://blogs.ucdavis.edu.

One degree: Janie Duran, office manager for the UC Kearney Research and Extension Center, will be in the stands watching daughter Andrea compete on the USA Olympic Softball team Aug. 17-22.

A staff member of the UC Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources for 24 years (she was eight months pregnant with the future Olympic contender when she applied for the position at the Fresno County UC center), Duran has been a parental sports backstop since her daughter was 11.

One degree: UC Davis alumnus Allen Lim may not have an official role at the Olympics, but you can bet your carbon-fiber wheel fork that top contenders on a variety of national teams have this physiologist to thank for their success.

Lim coaches Team Garmin-Chipotle H30, which is in the midst of the July 5-27 Tour de France.

A number of Lim's team members, who span several nationalities, have been offered slots on Olympic teams. Few have accepted yet, since they are currently focused on the French road race.

One degree: Two former UC Davis athletes — decathlete Matt Chisam and distance runner Heather Gibson — competed at the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials at Eugene, Ore., with Chisam finishing 15th in his event and Gibson taking 22nd in the 10,000-meter run.

The onetime Aggie All-Americans qualified for the prestigious events, vying for an opportunity to compete later this summer in Beijing, China, at the Olympic Games. But they will not be on the Olympic team since they did not finish in the top three slots nor have top qualifying scores.

One degree: Although he captured his best finish ever in the breaststroke competition, UC Davis swimmer Scott Weltz did not make the cut in early July during U.S. Olympic Team Time Trials held in Eugene, Ore., in early July.

Two degrees: Track-and-field coaches Jon and Deanne Vochatzer had their hands full at the Olympic Trials in Eugene, Ore., by helping athletes compete for a berth in Beijing.

Jon was in charge all of the jumping and throwing events, making sure the competitions ran like clockwork.

Deanne was chief troubleshooter for event crises such as when Olympic medalist Tyson Gay sprained a muscle in his leg and was inundated by the national sports media. Deanne commandeered a security guard and golf cart to help Gay make a get-away.

To read a more detailed story on our Olympic connections, visit http://www.ucdavis.edu.