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Meet L.A. and OC's Olympians headed to Paris
By Ryan Lenney,
2 hours ago
Chris Joslin from Hawaiian Gardens competes during the Skateboarding Men's Street Final on day four of the Olympic Qualifier Series Shanghai on May 19, 2024. (Fred Lee)
Los Angeles is still four years away from hosting the next summer Olympics , but Southern California will see some of our best local athletes hit the world stage this month at the 2024 Paris Games. The region will send at least 39 athletes, with 24 from Los Angeles County, 13 from Orange County, and two from Riverside County.
They’ll join the nearly 100 athletes from across the state, giving California the largest delegation on Team USA's roster.
The para track and field, para powerlifting, and para cycling team announcements will be released in the coming weeks, according to a Team USA spokesperson.
The 2024 Summer Olympics begin July 26, and the Paralympics on Aug 28.
Athletes from L.A. County
L.A. County’s Olympic lineup includes a wide range of athletes — from longtime professionals like Kawhi Leonard of the L.A. Clippers to rising stars like Miles Partain, a beach volleyball player from UCLA.
An outsized share of Angelenos will compete in men's water polo, men's basketball, and women’s track and field. It’s also no surprise to see several local skaters joining Team USA in the newly recognized Olympic sport, skateboarding.
Kendall Ellis of North Hollywood competes in the women's 400 meter final on at U.S. Olympic Team Trials Track and Field on June 23, 2024. (Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
The majority of qualified O.C. Olympians are competing in volleyball, beach volleyball or water polo. That includes Kaleigh Gilchrist, Maddie Musselman, and Rachel Fattal, each of whom played on the U.S. women’s water polo team that won gold in the 2016 and 2020 Olympics.
Several first-timers will also head to Paris, including wheelchair rugby player Clayton Brackett from Irvine and surfer Griffin Colapinto from San Clemente.
BELLS BEACH, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 26: Griffin Colapinto of the United States surfs in their first heat during the 2024 Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach on March 26, 2024 in Bells Beach, Australia. (Photo by Morgan Hancock/Getty Images) (Morgan Hancock/Getty Images)
Riverside County is home to two qualified Olympic athletes for the Paris Games. Michael Norman is a gold medalist sprinter who previously held the world record for the indoor 400-meter dash. Tara Prentice will make her first Olympic appearance, but was on the U.S. women’s water polo team that won gold in the 2022 and 2024 world championships.
DOHA, QATAR - FEBRUARY 08: Tara Prentice of Team United States competes in the Women's Water Polo Preliminary Round Group A match between Team United States and Team Kazakhstan on day seven of the Doha 2024 World Aquatics Championships at Aspire Dome on February 08, 2024 in Doha, Qatar. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images) (Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
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