The 2024 Olympics officially kick off July 26, when the Opening Ceremony is set to take place along the Seine waterway through Paris, marking the first time an Opening Ceremony occur outside of a stadium.
More than 60 athletes competing in the Olympics have ties to the state of Georgia. From two-time NBA All-Star Anthony Edwards, who is from Atlanta and played for the University of Georgia, to Atlanta Dream player Rhyne Howard to fencer Antonio Chen, who represents Savannah College of Art & Design’s first Olympian, there are plenty of opportunities for Georgians to have extra rooting interest.
Here’s a look at all the Olympic athletes set to compete in Paris with Georgia ties.
If you know of any athlete with Georgia ties currently not on this list, please email [email protected]
Men’s Basketball:
- Anthony Edwards (USA)
- An Atlanta native, Edwards was the nation’s top-scoring freshman while playing for the University of Georgia in 2019-20.
- Jose Alvarado (Puerto Rico)
- Played college basketball for Georgia Tech from 2017-21. In his senior season, he helped lead the team to its first ACC title since 1993.
Men’s Diving:
Men’s Fencing:
- Antonio Chen (Taiwan)
- Chen’s qualification represents the first time a student at Savannah College of Art & Design (SCAD) will compete at the Olympics.
Men’s Golf:
- Sepp Straka (Austria)
- Competed at the University of Georgia from 2011-16
- Has qualified for Paris, however the Austrian golf team has not been officially announced.
Men’s Gymnastics:
Men’s Shooting:
Men’s Soccer:
Men’s Swimming:
- Berke Saka (Turkey) – 200m Backstroke
- Current Georgia Tech athlete
- Brooks Curry (USA) – 4×200 Relay
- Chase Kalisz (USA) – 400m IM
- Attended UGA from 2012-17 while competing for the swimming and diving team. He became the third male Georgia Bulldogs swimmer or diver to win three individual NCAA titles.
- Javier Acevado (Canada) – 100m Backstroke, 4x100M Freestyle Relay
- Swam at UGA from 2016-2021
- Luca Urlando (USA) – 200m Butterfly
- Current UGA athlete. Redshirted his 2023-24 collegiate season to prepare for the Olympic games
- Nic Fink (USA) – 100m Breaststroke
- Swam at UGA but also trained at Georgia Tech while he was completing his master’s degree
- Steven Insixiengmay (Laos) – 100m Breaststroke
Men’s Tennis:
- Christopher Eubanks (USA) – Men’s Singles
- Raised in Atlanta and played college tennis for Georgia Tech. A two-time all-American and twice named ACC Player of the Year.
- Jan Zielinksi (Poland) – Men’s Doubles
- Played tennis for UGA and finished his senior season as Georgia’s top-ranked singles and doubles player. Attended from 2015-19
Men’s Track & Field:
Men’s Weightlifting:
Women’s Basketball:
- Rhyne Howard (USA)
- Guard for the Atlanta Dream
- Dearica Hamby (USA)
- From Marietta
- Following injury to Sparks’ teammate, Cameron Brink, a vacancy opened on Team USA’s women’s 3×3 basketball team, and Hamby was selected
Women’s Gymnastics:
- Csenge Bácskay (Hungary)
- Transferred to UGA and will compete for the 2025 gymnastics team
Women’s Shooting:
Women’s Speed Climbing:
- Emma Hunt (USA)
- From Woodstock and currently competes for Kennesaw State
Women’s Soccer:
- Emily Sonnett (USA)
- Croix Bethune (USA alternate)
- Played soccer at the University of Georgia in 2023.
- Hal Hershfelt (USA alternate)
- Attended Lassiter High School in Marietta
- Jane Campbell (USA alternate)
Women’s Swimming:
- Ariana Dirkzwager (Laos) – 200m Freestyle
- Currently swims for Georgia Tech, will be coached in Paris by Tech swimming and diving coach Courtney Hart
- Ela Naz Ozdemir (Turkey) – 4x200m Freestyle Relay
- Incoming freshman at Georgia Tech
- Giovana Reis (Brazil) – 4x400m Freestyle Relay
- Incoming freshman at Georgia Tech in swimming for 2024
- Ieva Maluka (Latvia) Women’s 200m IM
- Transferred to UGA this year and will swim her junior year for the Bulldogs
- Imane El Barodi (Morocco) – 100m Breaststroke
Women’s Tennis:
- Ellen Perez (Australia) – Women’s Doubles
- Played tennis for UGA and was an All-America honoree in both singles and doubles. Attended from 2014-17
- Maria Lourdes Carlé (Argentina) – Women’s Singles
- Played tennis at UGA from 2018-19.
Women’s Track & Field:
Women’s Volleyball:
- Julia Bergmann (Brazil)
- Played volleyball for Georgia Tech from 2019-22.
Source link
