Wednesday, November 6, 2024

Path to Paris: Virginia Athletes to Watch at the Paris 2024 Summer Olympic Games

15 athletes competing at the Paris Summer Olympic Games have Virginia ties. (Photos courtesy of U.S. Soccer/Getty Images, U.S. Diving, U.S. Equestrian, U.S. Swimming/Mike Lewis, U.S. Fencing/Serge Timacheff, U.S. Field Hockey, U.S. Track and Field, U.S. Cycling/Beatrice Trang, U.S. Rowing, and the Paris Olympic Committee)

WILLIAMSBURG — July 26 kicks off the opening ceremonies to the 2024 Paris Summer Olympic Games — the 33rd Olympiad — and 15 athletes from Virginia are preparing to compete in their respective sports for gold.

Here’s who to watch from the Commonwealth:

EQUESTRIAN

Will Coleman, 41, of Gordonsville, will return to the Olympics for a second time after competing in the London 2012 Games. During the London Games, Coleman placed seventh in the team event and 37th in the individual competition.

The Equestrian competition kicks off on July 27.

ROWING

Claire Collins, 27, of McLean, will return to her second consecutive Olympic Games. During the Tokyo 2020 Games, Collins placed seventh in the four women’s rowing event.

Christian Tabash, 25, of Alexandria, will head to his first Olympic Games. He discovered rowing after watching the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. He served as coxswain for the 2021 Under 23 World Championship four-men team.

The Rowing competition kicks off on July 27.

FIELD HOCKEY

Leah Crouse, 24, of Virginia Beach, will head to her first Olympic Games. Among her international playing experience are four appearances at the FIH World Championships.

The Field Hockey competition kicks off on July 27.

CYCLING

Justin Dowell, 24, of Virginia Beach, will head to his second Olympic Games. While at the Tokyo Olympic Games, Dowell placed eighth in the freestyle competition. He currently has a pair of medals, one gold and one silver, from world championship competitions.

The Cycling competition kicks off on July 30.

DIVING

Greg Duncan, 25, of Oakton, qualified for his first Olympic Games. He placed fourth in the 3m springboard synchro competition at the 2023 World Championships.

The Diving competition kicks off on July 27.

TRACK AND FIELD

Grant Holloway, 26, of Chesapeake, qualified for his second consecutive Olympic Games. In 2020 at the Tokyo Olympic Games, Holloway earned a silver medal in the 110m hurdles. He also has four gold medals from the World Championships in both the 110m hurdles and 60m hurdles.

Noah Lyles, 26, of Alexandria, qualified for his second consecutive Olympic Games. In the 200m, Lyles brought home a bronze medal. He also has three gold medals from the 2023 World Championships in the 100m, 200m, and 4x100m relay.

The Track and Field competition kicks off on August 1.

FENCING

Hadley Husisian, 20, of Oakton, qualified for her first Olympic Games. She fences as an epee and helped lead the most recent epee team to a 10th-place finish at the World Championships.

The Fencing competition kicks off on July 27.

SWIMMING

Torri Huske, 21, of Arlington, qualified for her second consecutive Olympic Games. She earned a silver medal at the Tokyo Olympic Games for her performance in the 4x100m women’s relay. She also placed fourth in the 100m Butterfly and fifth in the 4x100m mixed relay. Overall, her World Championship experience has brought her 20 medals; 10 gold, 5 silver, and 5 bronze.

Charlie Swanson, 26, of Richmond, qualified for his first Olympic Games. At the 2022 World Championships, Swanson placed 11th in the 200m breaststroke and 12th in the 200m breaststroke in the short course.

Thomas Heilman, 17, of Crozet, qualified for his first Olympic Games. He is the youngest swimmer since Michael Phelps to qualify for the Olympic Games. In 2023, he won gold at the 2023 World Championships in the 4x100m medley.

The Swimming competition kicks off on July 27.

SOCCER

Emily Fox, 26, of Ashburn, qualified for her first Olympic Games. During her career at the University of North Carolina, Fox was named to the All-ACC team and an All-America selection for the Tar Heels. She was drafted first overall by Racing Louisville FC in 2021. During that same year, she was named a finalist for Rookie of the Year in the National Women’s Soccer League.

Kevin Paredes, 21, of South Riding, qualified for his first Olympic Games. In 2022, he began playing professionally for Vfl Wolfsburg in Germany. He joined the United States senior national team in August 2023.

Griffin Yow, 21, of Cliffton, qualified for his first Olympic Games. He began playing professional soccer in 2019 for Loudon United FC. He was called up to the under-23 national team in March 2024.

The Soccer competition kicked off on July 25.

The opening ceremonies will be broadcast on NBC beginning at noon on July 26. For all the up-to-date information on the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics, visit olympics.com/en/paris-2024.

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