Jul 22, 2024 - Sports
Oregonians to watch at the Paris Olympics
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Ryan Crouser of Boring aims for his third Olympic gold in the men's shot put in Paris. Photo: Patrick Smith/Getty Images
The Paris Olympics open this Friday, and there are plenty of athletes with Oregon connections to cheer on.
Why it matters: Watching Team USA on a nine-hour tape delay is your solemn duty, but when the athlete is a friend of a friend, or a kid from your car pool, it gets exciting.
🤸 Jade Carey. Women's gymnastics. Beaver.
- Carey is a floor and vault specialist on the U.S. women's gymnastics team.
- You will see the Oregon State University undergrad alongside Simone Biles.
- She is the sixth-most-decorated U.S. female gymnast of all time (eight Olympic and world championship medals) and received a team silver from Tokyo 2021.
- Jordan Chiles of Vancouver, Washington, will be there with her too.
⚫ Ryan Crouser. Men's shot put. Born in Boring.
- Crouser is the shot put world record holder (74 feet, 11 inches), and after battling injuries this year, he will attempt to become the first three-time champion in Olympic history.
⚫ Jaida Ross. Women's shot put. Duck.
- Jaida Ross finished third in the U.S. Olympic trials at Hayward Field. Wherever you see reigning U.S. champion Chase Jackson and Raven Saunders, look for Ross.
🤺 Magda Skarbonkiewicz. Fencing/saber. Portlander.
- Magda's dad and coach nearly made the 1996 Olympics but couldn't convert his Polish citizenship in time. Now Magda is off to her first Olympics.
🏃 Matthew Centrowitz. Track and field, men's 1,500 meters. Duck alum.
- Centrowitz won gold in Rio in 2016, and now he's back, having finished second in the Olympic Trials last month in Eugene. He calls himself an "old dog" at 34.
🏃 Woody Kincaid, Track and field, 5k, 10k. UP Pilots alum.
- Kinkaid's Olympic qualifying 10k time was 27:50.74 — what's yours?
🚣 Pieter Quinton. Men's eight rowing. Grant High alumn.
- Fun fact: His brother is a defender for MLS team Real Salt Lake.
🏌️ Wyndham Clark. Golf. Duck alum.
- Clark is the first golfer in the University of Oregon's 151-year history to make the Olympic team. He is ranked the No. 5 men's golfer in the world and will play alongside top names Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele.
⚽ Sophia Smith. Soccer. Thorn.
- Sophia Smith is on Axios' list of athletes to watch, but there are five other Portland Thorns playing soccer in Paris.
- Sam Coffey joins Smith with the U.S. women, Jessie Fleming and Janine Beckie are there for Canada, Mackenzie Arnold plays in goal for Australia, and Nicole Payne is with Nigeria.
Learn the lingo: No faux pas with this list.
Editor's note: This story has been corrected to reflect that there are a total of six Portland Thorns playing soccer in Paris, not five.