With the Olympic Trials coming to an end this past week, many athletes have officially punched their tickets to Tokyo. As Team USA prepares to head across the world, here are the local athletes you should keep an eye out for at the Summer Olympics.
Ariel Atkins
Women’s Basketball
NoVA ties: Guard on the Washington Mystics
Also making her Olympic debut is Washington’s second-leading point scorer. The Mystics guard has been named to the WNBA all-defensive second team the last three seasons.
Bradley Beal
Men’s Basketball
NoVA ties: Guard on the Washington Wizards
The star of the Wizards will be continuing his dominant season in Tokyo. As one of the 12 members of the men’s team, Beal is facing his first Olympic competition.
Tina Charles
Women’s Basketball
NoVA ties: Center on the Washington Mystics
The veteran, and Mystics newbie, Tina Charles was named to her third Olympic team earlier this month. She’s looking to add a third gold medal to her collection.
Claire Collins
Women’s Four Rowing
NoVA ties: Hometown is McLean
For the first time since 1992, and second time ever, the women’s four program will be back in the Olympic roundup.
Torri Huske
Swimming
NoVA ties: Hometown is Arlington, 2021 graduate from Yorktown High School
Before heading to Stanford this fall, this graduate is going to try to bring home some medals for Team USA. The 18-year-old will be swimming the 100 meter butterfly, in which she just set the American record earlier this month.
Troy Isley
Boxing
NoVA ties: From Alexandria, trains at Alexandria Boxing Club
The 22-year-old boxer will be entering the ring for Team USA when the middleweight matches start opening weekend.
Lucas Kozeniesky
Rifle Shooting
NoVA ties: Graduated from Robinson Secondary School in 2013
This Fairfax grad clinched a spot in his second games in the 10-meter air rifle event with a world record.
Noah Lyles
Track and Field
NoVA ties: Born in Alexandria, graduated from TC Williams High School (now Alexandria City High School)
Lyles clinched his ticket to Tokyo on the last night of the Olympic trials with the world’s fastest time in the 200m this year at 19.74 seconds.
Kelley O’Hara
Women’s Soccer
NoVA ties: Defenseman on the Washington Spirit
The gold medalist is heading back to her third Olympics this summer. Catch her on the field starting July 21 (two days before the games open).
Andrew Seliskar
Swimming
NoVA ties: Hometown is McLean, graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School
The Thomas Jefferson High School and University of California grad clinched a spot in the 4×200 relay after his performance in the 200-meter freestyle.
Emily Sonnett
Women’s Soccer
NoVA ties: Defenseman on the Washington Spirit
Part of the 2019 World Cup winning team, Sonnett is headed off to her second Olympic games, her first as a part of the full roster.
Kendall Williams
Track & Field
NoVA ties: Born in Arlington
Going for gold in her second Olympic bid, catch Williams in the two-day heptathlon competition.
Feature image, ©lazyllama/stock.adobe.com
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