<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3lyhcp_0uv0s8IC00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3lyhcp_0uv0s8IC00" width="900" height="675" ></figure>Current and alumni Razorback athletes and one former graduate student garnered four gold medals, two silver medals and two bronze medals during the 2024 Olympiad in Paris, France. It was the U of A's highest medal count since Razorbacks began winning medals in 1948. A group of professional athletes who train at Fayetteville also received a total of seven medals: four gold, two silver and a bronze.If the medals won by U of A athletes were combined with those won by professional athletes who train in Fayetteville, they would have placed at No. 14 in the Olympic medal count, just behind Canada and Uzbekistan.<h2>Razorback Medalists</h2>, competing for Jamaica, broke the Olympic record for discus with a gold-medal winning throw of 229 feet, 8 inches (70.00 meters) at the Stade de France. Stona became Jamaica’s first gold medalist in a field event. “It’s a great feeling, it’s what I’ve been praying for and what I’ve been dreaming of,” Stona said. "To come here and actually do it, it’s the best feeling in my life."Through the final three rounds, Stona was in seventh place. "It doesn’t get any more difficult than that," he said. "I knew I had nothing to lose so I just went for it.” His throw improved on the world record by 2 inches., a former graduate student and grad assistant for the Razorbacks women's basketball team, won her second Olympic gold medal as part of this year's U.S. women's Olympic basketball team. The U.S. team narrowly squeaked by France in the final game, 67-66. In 2021, Plum helped the United States win the first-ever Olympic gold medal awarded in 3x3 basketball when the sport was introduced. She currently plays for the Las Vegas Aces in the WNBA, which won national championships in 2022 and 2023.Chris Bailey, a Razorback alumnus who still trains at Fayetteville, led off the U.S. men's 4x400-meter relay team, which won gold with finished sixth in the men's 400-meter race with a time of 44.58. During semi-final qualifying rounds, Bailey ran a career best time of 44.31 during his split.<h2>U of A Competitors</h2>Romaine Beckford, a senior this year who swept NCAA high jump titles indoors and outdoors, finished in the men's high jump finals, competing for Jamaica. Alumna Shafiqua Maloney, the first athlete from St. Vincent and the Grenadines to reach an Olympic finals, was less than a quarter second away from medaling in the 800-meter final. She finished fourth with a time of 1:57.66 in the race.Nickisha Pryce, the Jamaican national record holder in the 400-meter race, made it to the semi-finals but failed to advance to the finals, which were won by Marileidy Paulino of the Dominican Republic.Joscelyn Roberson, who will start classes in a couple of weeks, was chosen as a traveling alternate athlete for the U.S. women's gymnastics team going to the Olympics, but didn't see competition.<h2>Athletes Who Train at Fayetteville</h2>In addition to current Razorback athletes and alumni, the following 10 competitors with ties to the U of A or Fayetteville also qualified:<ul><li>Ryan Crouser, a volunteer assistant coach for the Razorbacks, became the first athlete to win three gold medals in the shotput. He won gold medals previously in Rio and Tokyo, and holds the world record in shotput. </li><li>Tara Davis-Woodhall, who trains in Fayetteville after competed for Georgia and Texas as a collegian, won gold in the women's long jump. Her husband, Hunter Woodhall, competed for the Razorbacks and was a 200-meter silver medalist in the 2016 Paralympics and two-time bronze medalist in 2016 and 2021.</li><li>Anna Cockrell, who trains at Fayetteville, placed second in the women's 400-meter hurdles for the Olympic silver medal.</li><li>Shamier Little, an Arkansas volunteer assistant and two-time silver medalist in the World Championships, and Alexis Holmes, a professional runner training in Fayetteville, were part of the U.S. 4x400-meter relay team that set an American record while winning gold. Holmes also finished sixth in the 400-meter race.</li><li>Brittany Brown, a professional runner who trains in Fayetteville, won bronze in the women's 200-meter race, competing for the United States.</li><li>Andranette Knight, who trains in Fayetteville, was part of Jamaica's relay pool for the women's 4x400-meter relay, which placed fourth, and the mixed 4x400-meter relay.</li><li>Jah-Nhai Perinchief, who trains at Fayetteville and was the flag bearer for Bermuda during the Opening Ceremony, competed in the men's triple jump but didn't make it to the finals.</li><li>Cindy Sember, who trains in Fayetteville, represent Great Britain in the women's 100-meter hurdles but was not able to finish during a semifinal race or advance to the finals.</li><li>Gianna Woodruff represented Panama for a second time in the Olympic Games. She placed seventh in the 400-meter hurdles at the Tokyo Olympics. In Paris, she competed through the first round but was unable to move to the finals.</li></ul><h2>PREVIOUS MEDALISTS</h2>U of A athletes, students and alumni have won 33 Olympic and Paralympic medals through the years:2024Chris Bailey – 4x400 Relay – GoldKaylyn Brown – 4x400 Relay – GoldKelsey Plum – 5x5 Basketball – GoldRoje Stona – Discus – GoldKaylyn Brown – Mixed 4x400 Relay – SilverWayne Pinnock – Long Jump – SilverAmber Anning – 4x400 Relay – BronzeAmber Anning – Mixed 4x400 Relay – Bronze2021Anna Hopkin – 4x100 Mixed Medley Swim Relay – GoldKelsey Plum – 3x3 Basketball – GoldHunter Woodhall – Paralympics 400-meter Dash – Bronze2016Taylor Ellis-Watson – 4x400 Relay – GoldOmar McLeod – 110-meter Hurdles – GoldSandi Morris – Pole Vault – SilverVeronica Campbell-Brown – 4x100 Relay – Silver2012Veronica Campbell-Brown – 100 meters – BronzeVeronica Campbell-Brown – 4x100 Relay – Silver2008Veronica Campbell-Brown – 200 meters – Gold2004Veronica Campbell-Brown – 100 meters – BronzeVeronica Campbell-Brown – 200 meters – GoldVeronica Campbell-Brown – 4x100 Relay – GoldDeena Drossin Kastor – Marathon – BronzeMatt Hemingway – High Jump – Silver2000Veronica Campbell-Brown – 4x100 Relay – SilverJohn Register — Paralympics long jump — Silver1996Calvin Davis – 400-meter Hurdles – Bronze1992Mike Conley Sr. – Triple Jump – Gold1984Joe Kleine – Basketball – GoldAlvin Robertson – Basketball – GoldMike Conley Sr. – Triple Jump – Silver1948Clyde Scott – 110-meter Hurdles – SilverGordon Carpenter – Basketball – GoldR.C. Pitts – Basketball – Gold</div></body>

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NewsBreak

Six Former or Current Athletes Connected to U of A Win Medals at Paris Olympics

Current and alumni Razorback athletes and one former graduate student garnered four gold medals, two silver medals and two bronze medals during the 2024 Olympiad in Paris, France. It was the U of A's highest medal count since Razorbacks began winning medals in 1948. A group of professional athletes who train at Fayetteville also received a total of seven medals: four gold, two silver and a bronze.