Miami Olympians honored with keys to the county
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Team USA Olympians pose with Miami-Dade County leaders after receiving keys to the county. Photo: Martin Vassolo/Axios
The stars of the sports world came out yesterday to honor Miami's hometown Olympians, who received golden keys to Miami-Dade County.
Why it matters: The accomplishments of our local athletes at the Paris Games will inspire the next generation of Miami athletes, many of whom were in attendance during Wednesday's ceremony.
Zoom in: Team USA honorees included gold-medal basketball player Bam Adebayo of the Miami Heat, gold-medal sprinter Twanisha "Tee Tee" Terry and silver-medal artistic swimmer Daniella Ramirez.
- Angelica Delgado (Judo), Sarah Newberry Moore (Sailing) and Russell Robinson (Track and Field) were also given keys to the county.
What they're saying: Terry, a Miami Northwestern Senior High alumna, was cheered on during the ceremony by the school's legendary track and field coach Carmen Jackson and a group of student-athletes.
- Terry, 25, who won gold in the women's 4x100m relay, told Axios that as a young girl she used to rewatch the 2012 U.S. women's relay team "every single day."
- "Being able to continue on [their legacy] and then start my own journey with Team USA is just an amazing feeling."
- Wearing her gold medal, Terry said her message to the next generation is that "they can do anything they put their mind to."
Case in point: Aisha Hane, a 17-year-old senior who runs track and field at Northwestern, told Axios seeing the Olympians further inspired her to try following in their footsteps.
- "I know once they were in my shoes and they just worked so hard," Hane, who runs the 100 and 400-meter hurdles, said.
- "It's very motivating that they're just people from here that were on the same level as me, so one day I can be like that."
Star power: Adebayo brought an entourage of famous friends and loved ones to celebrate his moment, including former Heat stars Udonis Haslem and Caron Butler, who now work with the team.
The intrigue: One special guest caused a stir on social media.
- Team USA women's basketball star A'ja Wilson attended the ceremony amid internet rumors that she and Adebayo are dating.
- Mayor Daniella Levine Cava sent nosy basketball fans into a frenzy when she addressed Wilson's attendance: "I guess that has something to do with Bam and the Heat, huh? Being here today," Levine Cava said with eyebrows raised.
The other side: A'ja Wilson, who was seated next to Adebayo's mother, shrugged her shoulders and laughed.
- The two-time WNBA MVP later responded on X with a clip from an episode of "Jerry Springer" titled "Real Girlfriend vs. Online Girlfriend."