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Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana athletes to watch for in the 2024 Paris Olympics

Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana athletes to watch for in the 2024 Paris Olympics
THE WAY. ALL RIGHT, WELL, WE’RE LESS THAN 21 HOURS AWAY NOW FROM THE OPENING CEREMONIES AT THE OLYMPICS IN PARIS. AND ALREADY A BIG DAY FOR AMERICAN ATHLETES. THANKS FOR JOINING US AT 5:00. I’M SHEREE PAOLELLO, AND I’M MIKE DARDIS. CINCINNATI’S ROSE LAVELLE AND THE USA SOCCER TEAM WINNING THEIR OPENER AGAINST ZAMBIA THREE TO NOTHING. THE FINAL. IT JUST FINISHED MOMENTS AGO AND WLWT NEWS FIVE’S CHRIS JACOBS IS HERE WITH A FAN FRENZY RIGHT HERE IN TOWN. HI THERE CHRIS. YEAH, HOW ARE YOU GUYS DOING? WELL, THE US WOMEN’S SOCCER TEAM HAT KICKED OFF AT 3:00. OUR TIME, THEY FACED OFF AGAINST ZAMBIA. THEIR FIRST MATCH IN GROUP B, A WATCH PARTY AT THE PITCH ON THE WEST END DREW PLENTY OF FANS. THEY WERE ALL DECKED OUT IN THEIR TEAM USA GEAR AND OF COURSE WALKED AWAY PRETTY HAPPY WITH THIS ONE. EVEN THOUGH HOMETOWN HERO ROSE LAVELLE WAS SUBBED OUT AT THE HALF. SO WE’LL HAVE MORE FROM THAT CELEBRATION COMING UP AT SIX. AS FOR THE MATCH, THE U.S. LOOKED PRETTY RELENTLESS THROUGH MOST OF IT ALL, SCORING FIRST IN THE 17TH MINUTE, THEN SCORING THEIR NEXT TWO GOALS WITHIN ONE MINUTE OF EACH OTHER. NOW, MALLORY SWANSON’S TWO GOALS WERE ONLY 66 SECONDS APART. IT’S ACTUALLY A RECORD. THAT’S THE FASTEST TWO GOALS BY A SINGLE PLAYER IN A MAJOR TOURNAMENT IN THE TEAM’S HISTORY, AND A RED CARD FOR ZAMBIA CRIPPLED THE TEAM EVEN MORE. AGAIN, THAT FINAL THREE TO NOTHING TEAM USA WINS GROUP B ALSO INCLUDES GERMANY AND AUSTRALIA. TEAM USA NEEDS TO WIN THE GROUP TO ADVANCE TO THE KNOCKOUT ROUND. THEIR NEXT GAME WILL BE AGAINST GERMANY ON SUNDAY AND THAT IS AGAIN AT 3:00. CHRIS JACOBS WLWT NEWS FIVE. CHRIS, THANKS SO MUCH. GREAT START FOR THE WOMEN, WHICH WE EXPECTED. NOT SO GREAT START LAST NIGHT FOR THE MEN. YEAH, I KNOW IT WAS KIND OF A LETDOWN, BUT MIKE, EVEN WITH THE TEAM USA WOMEN’S, YOU LOOKED UP THEIR SHOT DIFFERENTIAL BETWEEN ZAMBIA PRETTY IMPRESSIVE. IN THE LAST COUPLE OF MINUTES. THEY HAD 25 SHOTS TO SEVEN.
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Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana athletes to watch for in the 2024 Paris Olympics
The 2024 Olympic Games in Paris are underway. Several local athletes are vying for their shot at Olympic glory. Below is our list of athletes who are from or have connections to Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana that will compete in the Olympic games. The athletes are listed alphabetically, by state. Click here for a full list of the Team USA Olympic roster.OHIO Katelyn Abeln, ShootingHometown: Douglasville, GASchool: Ohio State UniversityHunter Armstrong, SwimmingHometown: Dover, OhioTrevor Bassitt, Track and FieldHometown: Bluffton, OHSchool: Ashland UniversitySimone Biles, GymnasticsHometown: Columbus, OhioBiles is the most decorated U.S. gymnast in history. She has won four gold medals, one silver, two bronze in the Rio and Tokyo Olympics.Molly Bruggeman, RowingHometown: Dayton, OhioSchool: University of Notre Dame ’14Bruggeman was born and raised in Dayton before going to the University of Notre Dame and then landing a job as a rowing coach at the University of Minnesota.Bruggeman, who will be competing in the women's four, is one of six Olympic veterans making up the team.Nina Castagna, RowingHometown: Cincinnati, OhioSchool: University of Notre Dame ’14Castagna is from Cincinnati and will participate in the women's eight. The Walnut Hills graduate started rowing her freshman year in high school before heading to the University of Washington. Castagna says her mom and dad have given up so much to support her and her dream, so going to Paris and competing on the biggest stage is a testament to them as well.The crew Castagna will helm, the women's coxed eight, won the gold in every Olympic games between 2004 and 2016. In the delayed 2020 games, the U.S. finished in fourth place.Sunny Choi, BreakingHometown: Queens New York and Louisville, KYMarcus Christopher, CyclingHometown: Canton, OHStephen Curry, BasketballHometown: Akron, OhioAnthony Davis, BasketballHometown: ChicagoSchool: University of KentuckyAnnette Echikunwoke, Track and FieldHometown: Pickerington, OHSchool: University of CincinnatiUniversity of Cincinnati graduate and Ohio native Annette Echikunwoke qualified for the Paris Olympics at the US Olympic Track & Field trials in the women's hammer throw competition.Echikunwoke, 27, took down a loaded field for the women's hammer throw competition. She won the women's title with a throw of 245 feet.The Cincinnati Track and Field standout is headed to Paris. She was set to throw for Nigeria in the Tokyo games but a testing protocol error from the African Federation of Nigeria deemed her ineligible to compete.Four years later, she turned heartbreak into a ticket to the 2024 Olympics.Echikunwoke went to Pickerington North High School before attending the University of Cincinnati.The 27-year-old earned numerous honors during her Track & Field days with the Bearcats, including American Athletic Conference Champion in the hammer throw in 2016 and 2017 and the conference champion of the indoor and outdoor shot put events in 2017 and 2018.Carson Foster, SwimmingHometown: Cincinnati, OH / Mason Manta RaysAfter already qualifying for the Olympics in the 400-meter individual medley race on Sunday during the US Olympic swimming trials at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Carson Foster secured his spot in another event on Friday night. Foster's time of 1:55:65 in the 200-meter individual medley placed first among eight competitors, qualifying him for the Olympic event alongside Shaine Casas. Blake Haxton, Para-rowingHometown: Columbus, OHSchool: Ohio State UniversityMax Holt, VolleyballHometown: Cincinnati, OHSchool: Pennsylvania State UniversityLeBron James, BasketballHometown: Akron, OHJoe Kovacs, Track and FieldHometown: Bethlehem, PA, lives in Powell, OHWon silver in both Rio and Tokyo Olympics.Lilly King, SwimmingHometown: Evansville, INDuring the Olympic Swim Trials, King finished with a time of 2:21:93 in the 200-meter breaststroke to advance to Paris for her second event. King will join Kate Douglass in representing the US in the women's 200-meter breaststroke.After the event, King had another memorable moment, when she and her boyfriend got engaged.She also finished first in the women's 100-meter breaststroke race with a time of 1:05:43.Ada Korkhin, ShootingHometown: Brookline, MASchool: The Ohio State UniversityRose Lavelle, SoccerHometown: Cincinnati, OHSchool: Mt. Notre DameCincinnati native Rose Lavelle has been named to the U.S. women's national soccer team roster for the 2024 Paris Olympics.Lavelle is one of five midfielders named to the roster and one of four players on the squad to have appeared in 100 games for the U.S. This is the second time Lavelle has been named to an Olympic team, after she was named to the 2020 Tokyo Olympic team. She scored once in the tournament, during a 6-1 group stage win against New Zealand.She's one of eight players from the 2020 roster to make the 2024 squad.Lavelle has battled injuries earlier this year, missing the SheBelieves Cup due to a leg injury but has returned to the pitch in Olympic tune-up matches.The Mt. Notre Dame product notched her 100th cap for the USWNT earlier this month in a 3-0 win for the U.S. over South Korea in St. Paul, Minnesota.Across her 100 appearances for the Stars and Stripes, Lavelle has recorded 24 goals and 24 assists.The USWNT will have two final tune-up matches before kicking off their Olympic run on Thursday, July 25 against Zambia.The U.S. will also play Germany (Sunday, July 28) and Australia (Wednesday, July 31) in Olympic group stage play.Henry Leverett, ShootingHometown: Bainbridge, GASchool: Ohio State University McKenzie Long, Track and FieldHometown: Ironton, OHSchool: NC State, Ole Miss Grad SchoolMorelle McCane, BoxingHometown: Cleveland, OHDerrick Mein, ShootingHometown: Paola, KSTies to Ohio: After competing in Tokyo 2020, Mein opened Cardinal Center Sporting Clays in Marengo, Ohio. Katie Moon, Track and FieldHometown: Olmsed Falls, OHSchool: Ashland UniversityCompeted in Tokyo Olympics in 2020 and won gold. Ruby Remati, Artistic SwimmingHometown: Andover, MASchool: Ohio State UniversityMiles Robinson, SoccerHometown: Arlington, MATeam: FC Cincinnati Patrick Schulte, SoccerHometown: St. Charles, MOTeam: Columbus CrewKyle Snyder, WrestlingHometown: Silver Spring, MDSchool: Ohio State UniversityJordan Thompson, VolleyballHometown: Edina, MNSchool: University of CincinnatiKENTUCKY Bam Adebayo, BasketballHometown: Newark, NJSchool: University of KentuckyDevin Booker, BasketballHometown: Grand Rapids, MISchool: University of KentuckyMariah Denigan, SwimmingHometown: Walton, KYSchool: Barren Academy of Virtual and Expanded Learning (online)Denigan placed sixth at the 2024 World Aquatics Championships, qualifying to swim the 10K at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. Denigan swam for Indiana Swim Club in Bloomington, Indiana. The former Hoosier placed 15th in the 10K race in the FINA World Championships in 2019, followed up with a 7th place finish in the 4x1500 meter event. This event, she improved even further. Denigan finished +00:04.30 behind the winner, Sharon Van Rouwendaal. She was positioned in 27th place at the start of lap four of six before coming back to post her sixth-place finish.She also now becomes just the fifth woman in U.S. history to qualify for the Olympics in the 10K, joining Katie Grimes, Haley Anderson, Ashley Twichell, and Chloe Sutton.Denigan becomes the 40th American athlete across all sports and the second from Indiana to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics.Andrew Evans, Track and FieldHometown: Portage, MISchool: University of KentuckyCompeted in the Rio 2016 OlympicsAlexis Holmes, Track and FieldHometown: Cheshire, CTSchool: University of Kentucky Rhyne Howard, BasketballHometown: Cleveland, TNSchool: University of KentuckyLee Kiefer, FencingHometown: Lexington, KYSchool: Notre Dame UniversityOhio-born and Kentucky-raised right-handed fencer Lee Kiefer has qualified for her fourth Olympic games (2012, 2016, 2020, 2024). She made history at the Tokyo Olympics, becoming the first American to win an Olympic gold medal in individual foil.The four-time NCAA champion in foil fencing and a ten-time Pan American champion made history after beating defending champion Inna Deriglazova of the Russia Olympic Committee 15-13 in the women’s individual foil final.Kiefer made her Olympic debut in 2012 in London, finishing fifth in the individual competition and sixth with her team. In 2016, she finished tenth in Rio.She will compete in both team and individual events.Sydney McLaughlin, Track and FieldHometown: New Brunswick, NJSchool: University of KentuckyCompeted in Rio and Tokyo Olympics and won two gold medals. She set a world record and trials record when competingGerek Meinhardt, FencingHometown: Lexington, KYSchool: University of KentuckyYared Nuguse, Track and FieldHometown: Louisville, KYSchool: Notre DameIvan Roe, ShootingHometown: Manhattan, Mont.School: Murray State '19/ Sgt. in U.S. Army Marksmanship UnitDaniel Roberts, Track and FieldHometown: Hamton, GASchool: University of KentuckyMasai Russell, Track and FieldHometown: Potomac, MDHometown: University of KentuckyAvery Skinner, VolleyballHometown: Katy, TXSchool: University of KentuckyMary Tucker, ShootingHometown: Sarasota, FLSchool: Sarasota Military Academy (Sarasota, Fla.) ‘19 University of Kentucky '23, KinesiologyHailey Van Lith, BasketballHometown: Wenatchee, WASchool: University of Louisville INDIANA Korbin Albert, SoccerHometown: Grayslake, IllinoisSchool: Notre DameSarah Bacon, DivingHometown: IndianapolisSchool: University of MinnesotaCanyon Barry, BasketballHometown: Fort Wayne, IndianaSchool: College of CharlestonAndrew Capobianco, DivingHometown: Mineola, NYSchool: Indiana UniversityCapobianco won Silver at Tokyo Olympics 2020 in synchronized springboardTyler Downs, DivingHometown: Ballwin, MO and West Lafayette, INAnnie Drews, VolleyballHometown: Elkhart, INSchool: Purdue UniversityWon gold in Tokyo 2020 OlympicsGreg Duncan, DivingHometown: Oakton, VA and West Lafayette, INChloé Dygert, CyclingHometown: Brownsburg, INChris Guiliano, SwimmingHometown: Douglassville, PASchool: Notre DameCole Hocker, Track and FieldHometown: Indianapolis, IndianaSchool: University of OregonSarah Hildebrandt, WrestlingHometown: Granger, INSchool: King UniversityNick Itkin, FencingHometown: Los AngelesSchool: Notre DamePiper Kelly, Sport climbingHometown, Indianapolis, INSchool: Xavier UniversityXavier University graduate Piper Kelly has qualified for the Paris Summer Olympics in 2024.The Indianapolis native and 2023 Xavier University graduate is one of the quickest rock climbers in the world. This past October at the Pan-American Championships in Santiago, Chile, Kelly claimed first place in speed climbing.After a decade of work, Kelly is now repelling down with a new title: Olympian."I was tearing up a little bit," Kelly said. "That was probably one of the craziest moments of my life."Olympic speed climbing is a sprint up 48 feet. The climbing wall formation is an identical setup that athletes study and practice their entire careers.Indonesia and China are among the nations with decorated histories in the sport.Being from the Midwest, Kelly was an underdog from the start. Kelly will be one of two American women on Team USA going to Paris for speed climbing. Only 14 competitors from around the world will converge to fight for the Gold Medal. Kelly credits her parents, John and Stephanie, for their unconditional support and encouragement.Drew Kibler, SwimmingHometown: Carmel, IN Jewell Loyd, BasketballSchool: Notre DameJosh Matheny, SwimmingHometown: Pittsburgh, PASchool: Indiana UniversityKayla Colleen Miracle, WrestlingHometown: Bloomington, INSchool: Campbellsville UniversityMason Parris, WrestlingHometown: Lawrenceburg, INSchool: University of MichiganMason Parris has qualified for his first Olympic games.The former Michigan Wolverine and Lawrenceburg native took home the Big Ten heavyweight championship for wrestling last year. Parris was able to beat Penn State's Greg Kerkvliet with a score of 5-3 to become the first Wolverine to win the heavyweight title since 1998.Parris also made the news in 2021 by signing a contract with World Wrestling Entertainment using the NCAA's new Name, Image, and Likeness program. Upon graduation, Parris will have a preset pipeline to become a professional wrestler if he chooses.While attending Lawrenceburg High School, Parris won three Indiana State wrestling championships. He graduated with a total record of 206-1, including going 152-0 in his last three years.Blake Pieroni, SwimmingHometown: Valparaiso, INJessica Parratto, DivingHometown: Dover, NH and Bloomington, INRajeev Ram, TennisHometown: Carmel, IndianaSchool: University of IllinoisCompeted in Rio and Tokyo OlympicsErin Reese, Track and FieldHometown: Mt. Prospect, ILSchool: Indiana StateHannah Roberts, CyclingHometown: Buchanan, MI (Started riding in South Bend, Indiana)Roberts took home Silver in the Tokyo Olympics in 2020.Magda Skarbonkiewicz, FencingHometown: Portland, ORSchool: Notre DameAaron Shackell, SwimmingHometown: Carmel, IndianaMary Theisen-Lappen, WeightliftingHometown: Eau Claire, WISchool: Indiana State UniversityCarson Tyler, DivingSchool: Indiana UniversityMarcus Tupuola, RugbyHometown: Carson, CASchool: Notre Dame UniversityJayden Ulrich, Track and FieldHometown: East Alton, IllinoisSchool: Illinois/Indiana University and University of LouisvilleLuke Whitlock, SwimmingHometown: Noblesville, INDaryn Wright, DivingHometown: Plainfield, IndianaSchool: Purdue UniversityJackie Young, BasketballSchool: Notre Dame

The 2024 Olympic Games in Paris are underway.

Several local athletes are vying for their shot at Olympic glory.

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Below is our list of athletes who are from or have connections to Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana that will compete in the Olympic games. The athletes are listed alphabetically, by state.

Click here for a full list of the Team USA Olympic roster.


OHIO

Katelyn Abeln, Shooting
Hometown: Douglasville, GA
School: Ohio State University


Hunter Armstrong, Swimming
Hometown: Dover, Ohio


Trevor Bassitt, Track and Field
Hometown: Bluffton, OH
School: Ashland University


Simone Biles, Gymnastics
Hometown: Columbus, Ohio

Biles is the most decorated U.S. gymnast in history. She has won four gold medals, one silver, two bronze in the Rio and Tokyo Olympics.


Molly Bruggeman, Rowing
Hometown: Dayton, Ohio
School: University of Notre Dame ’14

Bruggeman was born and raised in Dayton before going to the University of Notre Dame and then landing a job as a rowing coach at the University of Minnesota.

Bruggeman, who will be competing in the women's four, is one of six Olympic veterans making up the team.


Nina Castagna, Rowing
Hometown: Cincinnati, Ohio
School: University of Notre Dame ’14

Castagna is from Cincinnati and will participate in the women's eight.

The Walnut Hills graduate started rowing her freshman year in high school before heading to the University of Washington.

Castagna says her mom and dad have given up so much to support her and her dream, so going to Paris and competing on the biggest stage is a testament to them as well.

The crew Castagna will helm, the women's coxed eight, won the gold in every Olympic games between 2004 and 2016. In the delayed 2020 games, the U.S. finished in fourth place.


Sunny Choi, Breaking
Hometown: Queens New York and Louisville, KY


Marcus Christopher, Cycling
Hometown: Canton, OH


Stephen Curry, Basketball
Hometown: Akron, Ohio


Anthony Davis, Basketball
Hometown: Chicago
School: University of Kentucky


Annette Echikunwoke, Track and Field
Hometown: Pickerington, OH
School: University of Cincinnati

University of Cincinnati graduate and Ohio native Annette Echikunwoke qualified for the Paris Olympics at the US Olympic Track & Field trials in the women's hammer throw competition.

Echikunwoke, 27, took down a loaded field for the women's hammer throw competition. She won the women's title with a throw of 245 feet.

The Cincinnati Track and Field standout is headed to Paris. She was set to throw for Nigeria in the Tokyo games but a testing protocol error from the African Federation of Nigeria deemed her ineligible to compete.

Four years later, she turned heartbreak into a ticket to the 2024 Olympics.

Echikunwoke went to Pickerington North High School before attending the University of Cincinnati.

The 27-year-old earned numerous honors during her Track & Field days with the Bearcats, including American Athletic Conference Champion in the hammer throw in 2016 and 2017 and the conference champion of the indoor and outdoor shot put events in 2017 and 2018.


Carson Foster, Swimming
Hometown: Cincinnati, OH / Mason Manta Rays

After already qualifying for the Olympics in the 400-meter individual medley race on Sunday during the US Olympic swimming trials at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Carson Foster secured his spot in another event on Friday night.

Foster's time of 1:55:65 in the 200-meter individual medley placed first among eight competitors, qualifying him for the Olympic event alongside Shaine Casas.


Blake Haxton, Para-rowing
Hometown: Columbus, OH
School: Ohio State University


Max Holt, Volleyball
Hometown: Cincinnati, OH
School: Pennsylvania State University


LeBron James, Basketball
Hometown: Akron, OH


Joe Kovacs, Track and Field
Hometown: Bethlehem, PA, lives in Powell, OH

Won silver in both Rio and Tokyo Olympics.


Lilly King, Swimming
Hometown: Evansville, IN

During the Olympic Swim Trials, King finished with a time of 2:21:93 in the 200-meter breaststroke to advance to Paris for her second event. King will join Kate Douglass in representing the US in the women's 200-meter breaststroke.

After the event, King had another memorable moment, when she and her boyfriend got engaged.

She also finished first in the women's 100-meter breaststroke race with a time of 1:05:43.


Ada Korkhin, Shooting
Hometown: Brookline, MA
School: The Ohio State University


Rose Lavelle, Soccer
Hometown: Cincinnati, OH
School: Mt. Notre Dame

Cincinnati native Rose Lavelle has been named to the U.S. women's national soccer team roster for the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Lavelle is one of five midfielders named to the roster and one of four players on the squad to have appeared in 100 games for the U.S.

This is the second time Lavelle has been named to an Olympic team, after she was named to the 2020 Tokyo Olympic team. She scored once in the tournament, during a 6-1 group stage win against New Zealand.

She's one of eight players from the 2020 roster to make the 2024 squad.

Lavelle has battled injuries earlier this year, missing the SheBelieves Cup due to a leg injury but has returned to the pitch in Olympic tune-up matches.

The Mt. Notre Dame product notched her 100th cap for the USWNT earlier this month in a 3-0 win for the U.S. over South Korea in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Across her 100 appearances for the Stars and Stripes, Lavelle has recorded 24 goals and 24 assists.

The USWNT will have two final tune-up matches before kicking off their Olympic run on Thursday, July 25 against Zambia.

The U.S. will also play Germany (Sunday, July 28) and Australia (Wednesday, July 31) in Olympic group stage play.


Henry Leverett, Shooting
Hometown: Bainbridge, GA
School: Ohio State University


McKenzie Long, Track and Field
Hometown: Ironton, OH
School: NC State, Ole Miss Grad School


Morelle McCane, Boxing
Hometown: Cleveland, OH


Derrick Mein, Shooting
Hometown: Paola, KS
Ties to Ohio: After competing in Tokyo 2020, Mein opened Cardinal Center Sporting Clays in Marengo, Ohio.


Katie Moon, Track and Field
Hometown: Olmsed Falls, OH
School: Ashland University

Competed in Tokyo Olympics in 2020 and won gold.


Ruby Remati, Artistic Swimming
Hometown: Andover, MA
School: Ohio State University


Miles Robinson, Soccer
Hometown: Arlington, MA
Team: FC Cincinnati


Patrick Schulte, Soccer
Hometown: St. Charles, MO
Team: Columbus Crew


Kyle Snyder, Wrestling
Hometown: Silver Spring, MD
School: Ohio State University


Jordan Thompson, Volleyball
Hometown: Edina, MN
School: University of Cincinnati


KENTUCKY

Bam Adebayo, Basketball
Hometown: Newark, NJ
School: University of Kentucky


Devin Booker, Basketball
Hometown: Grand Rapids, MI
School: University of Kentucky


Mariah Denigan, Swimming
Hometown: Walton, KY
School: Barren Academy of Virtual and Expanded Learning (online)

Denigan placed sixth at the 2024 World Aquatics Championships, qualifying to swim the 10K at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.

Denigan swam for Indiana Swim Club in Bloomington, Indiana.

The former Hoosier placed 15th in the 10K race in the FINA World Championships in 2019, followed up with a 7th place finish in the 4x1500 meter event. This event, she improved even further.

Denigan finished +00:04.30 behind the winner, Sharon Van Rouwendaal. She was positioned in 27th place at the start of lap four of six before coming back to post her sixth-place finish.

She also now becomes just the fifth woman in U.S. history to qualify for the Olympics in the 10K, joining Katie Grimes, Haley Anderson, Ashley Twichell, and Chloe Sutton.

Denigan becomes the 40th American athlete across all sports and the second from Indiana to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics.


Andrew Evans, Track and Field
Hometown: Portage, MI
School: University of Kentucky

Competed in the Rio 2016 Olympics


Alexis Holmes, Track and Field
Hometown: Cheshire, CT
School: University of Kentucky


Rhyne Howard, Basketball
Hometown: Cleveland, TN
School: University of Kentucky


Lee Kiefer, Fencing
Hometown: Lexington, KY
School: Notre Dame University

Ohio-born and Kentucky-raised right-handed fencer Lee Kiefer has qualified for her fourth Olympic games (2012, 2016, 2020, 2024). She made history at the Tokyo Olympics, becoming the first American to win an Olympic gold medal in individual foil.

The four-time NCAA champion in foil fencing and a ten-time Pan American champion made history after beating defending champion Inna Deriglazova of the Russia Olympic Committee 15-13 in the women’s individual foil final.

Kiefer made her Olympic debut in 2012 in London, finishing fifth in the individual competition and sixth with her team. In 2016, she finished tenth in Rio.

She will compete in both team and individual events.


Sydney McLaughlin, Track and Field
Hometown: New Brunswick, NJ
School: University of Kentucky

Competed in Rio and Tokyo Olympics and won two gold medals. She set a world record and trials record when competing


Gerek Meinhardt, Fencing
Hometown: Lexington, KY
School: University of Kentucky


Yared Nuguse, Track and Field
Hometown: Louisville, KY
School: Notre Dame


Ivan Roe, Shooting
Hometown: Manhattan, Mont.
School: Murray State '19/ Sgt. in U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit


Daniel Roberts, Track and Field
Hometown: Hamton, GA
School: University of Kentucky


Masai Russell, Track and Field
Hometown: Potomac, MD
Hometown: University of Kentucky


Avery Skinner, Volleyball
Hometown: Katy, TX
School: University of Kentucky


Mary Tucker, Shooting
Hometown: Sarasota, FL
School: Sarasota Military Academy (Sarasota, Fla.) ‘19 University of Kentucky '23, Kinesiology


Hailey Van Lith, Basketball
Hometown: Wenatchee, WA
School: University of Louisville


INDIANA

Korbin Albert, Soccer
Hometown: Grayslake, Illinois
School: Notre Dame


Sarah Bacon, Diving
Hometown: Indianapolis
School: University of Minnesota


Canyon Barry, Basketball
Hometown: Fort Wayne, Indiana
School: College of Charleston


Andrew Capobianco, Diving
Hometown: Mineola, NY
School: Indiana University

Capobianco won Silver at Tokyo Olympics 2020 in synchronized springboard


Tyler Downs, Diving
Hometown: Ballwin, MO and West Lafayette, IN


Annie Drews, Volleyball
Hometown: Elkhart, IN
School: Purdue University

Won gold in Tokyo 2020 Olympics


Greg Duncan, Diving
Hometown: Oakton, VA and West Lafayette, IN


Chloé Dygert, Cycling
Hometown: Brownsburg, IN


Chris Guiliano, Swimming
Hometown: Douglassville, PA
School: Notre Dame


Cole Hocker, Track and Field
Hometown: Indianapolis, Indiana
School: University of Oregon


Sarah Hildebrandt, Wrestling
Hometown: Granger, IN
School: King University


Nick Itkin, Fencing
Hometown: Los Angeles
School: Notre Dame


Piper Kelly, Sport climbing
Hometown, Indianapolis, IN
School: Xavier University

Xavier University graduate Piper Kelly has qualified for the Paris Summer Olympics in 2024.

The Indianapolis native and 2023 Xavier University graduate is one of the quickest rock climbers in the world.

This past October at the Pan-American Championships in Santiago, Chile, Kelly claimed first place in speed climbing.

After a decade of work, Kelly is now repelling down with a new title: Olympian.

"I was tearing up a little bit," Kelly said. "That was probably one of the craziest moments of my life."

Olympic speed climbing is a sprint up 48 feet. The climbing wall formation is an identical setup that athletes study and practice their entire careers.

Indonesia and China are among the nations with decorated histories in the sport.

Being from the Midwest, Kelly was an underdog from the start.

Kelly will be one of two American women on Team USA going to Paris for speed climbing. Only 14 competitors from around the world will converge to fight for the Gold Medal.

Kelly credits her parents, John and Stephanie, for their unconditional support and encouragement.


Drew Kibler, Swimming
Hometown: Carmel, IN


Jewell Loyd, Basketball
School: Notre Dame


Josh Matheny, Swimming
Hometown: Pittsburgh, PA
School: Indiana University


Kayla Colleen Miracle, Wrestling
Hometown: Bloomington, IN
School: Campbellsville University


Mason Parris, Wrestling
Hometown: Lawrenceburg, IN
School: University of Michigan

Mason Parris has qualified for his first Olympic games.

The former Michigan Wolverine and Lawrenceburg native took home the Big Ten heavyweight championship for wrestling last year.

Parris was able to beat Penn State's Greg Kerkvliet with a score of 5-3 to become the first Wolverine to win the heavyweight title since 1998.

Parris also made the news in 2021 by signing a contract with World Wrestling Entertainment using the NCAA's new Name, Image, and Likeness program. Upon graduation, Parris will have a preset pipeline to become a professional wrestler if he chooses.

While attending Lawrenceburg High School, Parris won three Indiana State wrestling championships. He graduated with a total record of 206-1, including going 152-0 in his last three years.


Blake Pieroni, Swimming
Hometown: Valparaiso, IN


Jessica Parratto, Diving
Hometown: Dover, NH and Bloomington, IN


Rajeev Ram, Tennis
Hometown: Carmel, Indiana
School: University of Illinois

Competed in Rio and Tokyo Olympics


Erin Reese, Track and Field
Hometown: Mt. Prospect, IL
School: Indiana State


Hannah Roberts, Cycling
Hometown: Buchanan, MI (Started riding in South Bend, Indiana)

Roberts took home Silver in the Tokyo Olympics in 2020.


Magda Skarbonkiewicz, Fencing
Hometown: Portland, OR
School: Notre Dame


Aaron Shackell, Swimming
Hometown: Carmel, Indiana


Mary Theisen-Lappen, Weightlifting
Hometown: Eau Claire, WI
School: Indiana State University


Carson Tyler, Diving
School: Indiana University


Marcus Tupuola, Rugby
Hometown: Carson, CA
School: Notre Dame University


Jayden Ulrich, Track and Field
Hometown: East Alton, Illinois
School: Illinois/Indiana University and University of Louisville


Luke Whitlock, Swimming
Hometown: Noblesville, IN


Daryn Wright, Diving
Hometown: Plainfield, Indiana
School: Purdue University


Jackie Young, Basketball
School: Notre Dame