Ohioans to watch at the Olympics
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Katie Moon won gold in Tokyo. Photo: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images
LeBron James will carry the American flag during Friday's opening ceremonies for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, but he's not the only Ohio athlete worth watching in the weeks ahead.
Why it matters: Fourteen Ohio natives will compete for Team USA, including several with Northeast Ohio connections.
Plus: Ohio State University announced that 24 of its current, former and incoming student athletes are competing in the games, representing 10 countries — its second-largest contingent ever.
The locals
🚵 Marcus Christopher, BMX (freestyle), Hartville
- The Canton-area native won the gold medal in BMX park riding at the X Games in California last month.
🐐 LeBron James, basketball, Akron
- The GOAT needs no introduction.
🥇 Katie Moon, track and field (pole vault), Olmsted Township
- The decorated pole vaulter, who won gold in Tokyo in 2021, was born in Lakewood and won a state championship for Olmsted Falls High School in 2009.
🥊 Morelle McCane, boxing, Cleveland
- The Glenville High School alum and Cleveland Golden Gloves champion qualified for the Olympics via the Pan American Games in Chile last year.
🏊 Between the lanes: Jonny Marshall, who won three consecutive state titles in the 100-meter backstroke at Firestone High School in Akron, will swim on the British team.
Other Ohioans
- Hunter Armstrong, swimming (100-meter backstroke), Dover
- Trevor Bassitt, track and field (400-meter hurdles), Bluffton
- Molly Bruggeman, rowing (women's eight), Dayton
- Nina Castagna, rowing (women's eight), Cincinnati
- Carson Foster, swimming (200-meter and 400-meter individual medley), Montgomery
- Maxwell Holt, volleyball, Cincinnati
- Joe Kovacs, track and field (shot put), Dublin
- Rose Lavelle, soccer, Cincinnati
- McKenzie Long, track and field (200m), Ironton
- Annette Nneka Echikunwoke, track and field (hammer throw), Columbus