The U.S. Olympic Committee and Allstate Insurance Company (NYSE: ALL) today announced the list of nominees eligible for induction into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame presented by Allstate and invited fans to start voting for those athletes and teams they feel are most deserving of a spot in the Class of 2012.

Public voting period for 2012 Hall of Fame class begins today at TeamUSA.org/halloffame

Among the 18 individual Olympic athletes is sprint kayaker Greg Barton. The four-time Olympic medalist is the most decorated U.S. Olympic canoe/kayak athlete. Barton won the bronze medal in men’s K-1 1000m at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. He then earned two gold medals in K1 1000m and K2 1000m at the Seoul 1988 Olympics. Barton won his fourth Olympic medal in the K1 1000m at the Barcelona 1992 Games. He also earned three World Championship titles.

Greg Barton, U.S. Olympic Kayaker: “Getting into the Hall will be tough as I'm up against some great athletes in sports with higher visibility. It's an honor to be considered among the greatest U.S. Olympians of all time.”

Joe Jacobi, USA Canoe/Kayak CEO: “To see Greg on this list of distinguished finalists is a terrific and well-deserved recognition. On and off the water, both personally and professionally, Greg is the Gold Standard of paddlesports. We hope this is the year he is not just a finalist but takes his rightful place in the US Olympic Hall of Fame.”

Peter Newton, three-time U.S. Olympian kayaker: “Greg is an inspiring person, not only because of his accomplishments in the Olympics, but also because of how he became an Olympian. When Greg was a young boy he had to endure many painful surgeries as a result of being born with “club feet”. Because of his problems with his feet his doctors didn’t think he would be able to do much physical activities. He proved them wrong by picking up the sport of kayaking and eventually winning four Olympic medals, two gold and two bronze, and becoming the best American kayaker ever.”

“The U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame celebrates a commitment to excellence and perseverance and recognizes American athletes who are role models and heroes,” said Mark LaNeve, Allstate’s chief marketing officer and senior executive vice president of agency operations. “Allstate is proud to protect the legacy of these athletes and their accomplishments while offering fans the chance to play an important role in selecting who will be eternally etched in Olympic history.”

The public is invited to vote for their preferred candidates and teams by visiting a dedicated voting portal at TeamUSA.org/halloffame. Voters will be allowed to vote once per day, per category, through April 9, 2012. Recognizing the ongoing support that fans give U.S. Olympians, Paralympians and hopefuls in their training and competition, the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame presented by Allstate was one of the first major sports halls of fame to incorporate fan voting into the selection process.

Once voting closes, the public vote totals will be added to the vote totals of Olympians, Paralympians and U.S. Olympic Family members to determine the six Olympians, one Paralympian and one team that will make up the 2012 class. The U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame presented by Allstate Class of 2012 will be announced in May and inducted on July 12 during an induction ceremony at the Harris Theater in Chicago, Ill.

“It is a privilege to introduce this incredibly deserving group of nominees for induction into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame and an honor to invite the American public to vote for who they want to be a part of the class of 2012,” said Scott Blackmun, USOC chief executive officer. “With excitement building ahead of the London Games this summer, there is no better time than now to honor the legacy of the great individual and team performances, and make them a permanent part of U.S. Olympic Team history.”

The nominees for the 2012 U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame presented by Allstate class were selected by a nominating committee comprised of individuals representing the following areas of the U.S. Olympic Movement: United States Olympians Association, Athletes’ Advisory Council, media members, USOC executive team, USOC Board of Directors, one at-large committee member and a Paralympic sports representative.

Public voting period for 2012 Hall of Fame class begins today at TeamUSA.org/halloffame