Jul 26, 2024 - Sports

Olympic spotlight: 20-year-old Denverite goes for gold in breaststroke

John Frank

Emma Weber competes in the U.S. Olympic Team Swimming trials June 19. Photo: Al Bello/Getty Images — Emma Weber competes in the U.S. Olympic Team Swimming trials in June. Photo: Al Bello/Getty Images

The much-hyped Olympic swimming competitions will feature Denver's Emma Weber in the breaststroke.

State of play: This is the 20-year-old's first Olympics but not her first moment in the spotlight. Weber was the state champion in the 100-meter breaststroke and 200-meter individual medley at Regis Jesuit High School and helped lead the University of Virginia to a national championship this March.

She finished second in the U.S. Olympic trials just behind reigning Olympic gold medalist Lydia Jacoby and ahead of world-record holder Lilly King.
Weber didn't expect to qualify and instead bought spectator tickets to cheer on her college teammates, her mother told reporters.

Fun fact: Her great-grandmother, Louise Weigel, competed in the 1932 and 1936 Olympics as a figure skater.

What to watch: The first 100-meter breaststroke heats air at 3am Sunday on Peacock and NBCOlympics.com. The final is Monday.

Go deeper: A Colorado guide to the 2024 Paris Olympics

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Olympic spotlight: 20-year-old Denverite goes for gold in breaststroke

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