PARIS, FRANCE (Michigan News Source) – The excitement is building as the Paris Olympics are set to kick off on Friday and Michigan is sending a group of 16 athletes to compete on the world stage. The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee has announced its 592-member team, and among them are many talented individuals from the state of Michigan, ready to go for gold in a variety of sports.
Here are the star athletes from across the Great Lakes State, listed by their hometowns…
Ann Arbor – Zach Hammer: Climber
This 18-year-old climber from Ann Arbor has captured attention with his impressive skills. “Climbing was honestly just for fun until a few years ago,” Hammer told MLive. “An Olympic dream seemed disconnected for me.”
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But now Hammer is on his way to the Olympics – and he hopes it won’t be his only Olympics visit. He said about the trip, “This experience is hopefully not once in a lifetime.”
Hammer’s Team USA page here
Sport climbing schedule here
Media story about Hammer here
Instagram page here
Ann Arbor – Hobbs Kessler, Track & Field – 800 and 1,500-meter
An Ann Arbor native, 21-year-old Kessler will compete in the 800 and 1,500-meter races. He made the team by clocking in his personal-best of 3 minutes and 31.53 seconds and finishing third in the 1500-meter run. Kessler’s journey from a high school phenom to an Olympic contender showcases his dedication and progress over the years.
Kessler’s Team USA page here
Track & Field schedule here
Media story about Kessler here
Instagram page here
Buchanan – Hannah Roberts, BMX Freestyle
This 22-year-old BMX freestyler from Buchanan won a silver medal at the Tokyo Games in 2020 and is looking to upgrade to gold. Roberts, a five-time world champion, recently secured her fourth consecutive BMX freestyle world title, demonstrating her dominance in the sport.
Team USA page here
Media story about Roberts here
BMX Freestyle schedule here
Instagram page here
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Caledonia – Alena Olsen, Rugby Sevens
28-year-old Olsen played on the women’s rugby club at the University of Michigan from 2014-18. About the game of rugby, she told WIVB4, “I want to win. I want to win more than I can breathe.”
Team USA page here
Media story about Olsen here
Rugby schedule here
Instagram page here
Dexter – Abby Tamer, Field Hockey
A field hockey player from Dexter, 21-year-old Tamer took an Olympic redshirt year off from the University of Michigan’s team to compete in Paris. During her time at the University of Michigan, she achieved significant success, including being named a two-time All-American. Talking about her family, she said, “Calling my family competitive would be an understatement.” She’ll be proving that in Paris.
Team USA page here
Media story about Tamer here
Hockey schedule here
Instagram page here
Fowlerville – Adam Coon, Wrestling
29-year-old Coon is making a comeback in wrestling after briefly pursuing a professional football career. He talked to Fox 16, about overcoming the obstacles to make to the Olympics team and said, “there was that relief and excitement all at the same time of the relief that I finally am taking that step and on the journey that was toward my dream.”
Team USA page here
Media story about Coon here
Wrestling schedule here
Instagram page here
Grand Blanc – Grant Fisher, Track & Field – 5K & 10Km
27-year-old Fisher is the American record holder in both the 5,000 and 10,000 meters. He’s eyeing gold after finishing fifth in the 10,000 at the Tokyo Olympics. He is known for his powerful closing speed and strategic race execution, attributes that have helped him secure multiple American records and a strong presence on the international stage.
Team USA page here
Media story about Fisher here
Track & Field schedule here
Instagram page here
Grand Haven – Evan Medell, Para-Taekwondo
Evan Medell, 27, is a Paralympian competing in taekwondo. He is known for his resilience and strategic approach to the sport and secured a bronze medal at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics. Medell’s journey in taekwondo began relatively recently, but he has quickly risen to become one of the top competitors in the world.
Team USA page here
Media story about Medell here
Taekwondo schedule here
Instagram page here
Grand Rapids – Devin Booker: Basketball
NBA sensation and Grand Rapids native 27-year-old Devin Booker is one of the most prominent names heading to Paris. Booker, who plays for the Phoenix Suns, returns to the Olympics after winning gold with the men’s basketball team in Tokyo.
Team USA page here
Media story about Booker here
Basketball schedule here
Instagram page here
Grosse Pointe Park – Sorin Koszyk, Rowing
A 26-year-old rower from Grosse Pointe Park, Koszyk and his teammate Ben Davison of Florida secured their spot by finishing first in the men’s double sculls at the qualification regatta in Switzerland. A Cornell University alum, Koszyk has a strong rowing background that includes multiple national championships and significant achievements in collegiate rowing.
Team USA page here
Media story about Koszyk here
Rowing schedule here
Instagram page here
Kalamazoo – Heath Baldwin, Track & Field – Decathlon
Hailing from Kalamazoo, 23-year-old Baldwin is a Michigan State graduate student who won the decathlon at the U.S. Track and Field trials, making him the first Spartan to qualify for the Olympic decathlon since 2014. In addition to his Olympic qualification, Baldwin has set multiple records throughout his collegiate career at Michigan State. His versatility and strength in various events, such as the javelin and pole vault, have been pivotal in his rise to the top of U.S. decathlon rankings.
Team USA page here
Track & Field schedule here
Media story about Baldwin here
Facebook page here
Lowell – Kate Brim, Para-Cycling (Handcyclist)
Rising star Kate Brim, 26, represents Team USA on its Paralympic team, and will compete in para- cycling. Brim has made a remarkable ascent in her sport over the past two years. Brim’s journey to the Paralympics is particularly inspiring given her background. After a spinal cord injury in 2017 due to surgery complications, she began participating in adaptive sports, including wheelchair rugby and handcycling. Her competitive spirit and determination quickly propelled her to the top of her sport.
Team USA page here
Media story about Brim here
Information on para cycling-events can be found here
Instagram page here
Muskegon – Aaron Cummings, Rugby
This 27-year-old Muskegon native is part of the rugby team and has two national championships under his belt from his time at Davenport University. The Grand Haven High School graduate’s journey to the Olympics includes playing for the Dallas Jackals and being a part of the USA Men’s Sevens residency in Chula Vista, California.
Team USA page here
Media story about Cummings here
Rugby schedule here
Instagram page here
Portage – Andrew Evans, Discus Throw
33-year-old Evans is returning to the Olympics after competing in the 2016 games in Rio de Janeiro. Evans secured his place by winning gold at this year’s U.S. Olympic Trials with a throw of 218’6”. Evans is a graduate of Portage Northern High School and the University of Kentucky. He has an impressive career marked by resilience and determination, overcoming a significant setback due to a plantar fascia rupture last year, which made his recent success at the trials even more remarkable.
Team USA page here
Media story about Evans here
Discus Throw schedule here
Instagram page here
St. Johns – Jayci Simon, Para-Badminton
Jayci Simon, 19, will represent the Team USA Paralympic Team in para-badminton. Diagnosed with acromicric dysplasia, a rare form of dwarfism, Simon has overcome significant challenges to excel in her sport. She is currently ranked sixth in the world in singles and, along with her partner Miles Krajewski, will compete in the SH6 mixed doubles category. Despite not having a regular coach or training facility near her home in Lansing, Michigan, Simon has creatively adapted by practicing with local able-bodied players and training at her church.
Team USA page here
Media story about Simon here
Badminton schedule here
Instagram page here
White Lake – Grace Stark, Track & Field – 100m Hurdles
Representing White Lake, 23-year-old Stark will take on the 100-meter hurdles. She secured a place on the Olympics team following a remarkable comeback from a severe injury in 2022, where she suffered a tibial plateau fracture and a torn meniscus during the SEC Outdoor Championships. Stark’s resilience and determination have been key to her success, enabling her to overcome past injuries and excel on the track.
Team USA page here
Media story about Stark here
Track & Field schedule here
Instagram page here
All about the Olympics and how to watch
The Opening Ceremonies for the Olympic Games are set for Friday, July 26th, and Michigan will be cheering on its athletes as they strive for Olympic glory competing in medal events from July 27th Sunday, August 11th. The 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris will be held from August 28th to September 8th.
Paris is six hours ahead of Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) so events may not always be shown in real- time. The NBC network typically airs a combination of live coverage and tape-delayed events to accommodate different time zones and maximize prime-time viewership in the United States.
The Olympics games will be on the NBC network as well as their Peacock streaming service. Live streams of every Olympic event can also be watched on a web browser, phone, tablet or connected TV device through NBCOlympics.com, NBC.com, the NBC app or the NBC Olympics app.
According to NBC, their coverage of the Opening Ceremony will begin at 12:00 p.m. ET with a preview show. The event officially gets underway at 1:30 p.m. ET. An enhanced encore will be broadcast on NBC at 7:30 p.m. ET.
For more information on how to watch the Olympics, click here.
From seasoned Olympians to promising newcomers, Michiganders are ready to make their mark on the world stage. Let’s go, Team Michigan!
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