Open in App
  • U.S.
  • Election
  • Newsletter
  • Axios Charlotte

    Meet the Olympians and Paralympians with North Carolina ties heading to Paris

    By Ashley Mahoney,

    11 hours ago

    It's time for the 2024 Olympic Games .

    State of play: The opening ceremony for the Olympic Games in Paris is Friday, July 26, which you can watch at 1:30pm on NBC's platforms, including Peacock. NBC will air the opening ceremony again at 7:30pm Friday night.


    Here are the athletes with North Carolina ties competing in the Olympics and Paralympics.

    Editor's note: Athletes are listed alphabetically and will compete for Team USA unless otherwise noted.

    Liel Abada

    Charlotte FC's forward will represent Israel at the Olympics. They open their Olympics campaign against Mali at 3pm on Wednesday, July 24.

    Sport: Soccer

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1p65Wi_0ubUtJje00 Photo: Steve Limentani/ISI Photos/Getty Images

    Bam Adebayo

    The Miami Heat player grew up in Pinetown, North Carolina.

    Sport: Basketball

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=36m2KL_0ubUtJje00
    Photo: Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images

    Hannah Aspden

    The Paralympian swimmer, Raleigh native and Queens University of Charlotte alumna is heading to her third Paralympic Games.

    • She won two bronze medals in Rio in 2016 and two bronze medals in Tokyo during the 2020 Games.

    Sport: Paralympics swimming

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3k4tYx_0ubUtJje00
    Hannah Aspden competes in the women's 200-meter individual medley in the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. Photo: Adam Pretty/Getty Images

    Elizabeth Balogun

    The Duke alumna will represent Nigeria. This will be her second Olympics.

    Sport: Basketball

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2ZzC1C_0ubUtJje00 Photo: Marco Steinbrenner/DeFodi Images/DeFodi via Getty Images

    R.J. Barrett

    The former Duke Blue Devil will represent Canada.

    Sport: Basketball

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=13BnoL_0ubUtJje00 Photo: Cole Burston/Getty Images

    Ana Belac

    The former Duke golfer will represent Slovenia.

    Sport: Golf

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3wnvJS_0ubUtJje00 Photo: Alex Slitz/Getty Images

    Katharine Berkoff

    Berkoff is an N.C. State alumna.

    Sport: Swimming

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1MeAS7_0ubUtJje00
    Photo: Sarah Stier/Getty Images

    Celine Boutier

    The former Duke golfer will represent France.

    Sport: Golf

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1jYzFS_0ubUtJje00 Photo: Matthew Lewis/Getty Images

    Kaylyn Brown

    The Charlotte native and Mallard Creek High alumna is currently enrolled at Arkansas. The 19-year-old has run the 400-meter distance under 50 seconds more than five times.

    Sport: Track and Field

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=4Vh5TL_0ubUtJje00 Kaylyn Brown celebrates winning the 4x400 meter relay during the Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships in June. Photo: C. Morgan Engel/NCAA Photos via Getty Images

    Cierra Burdick

    The Charlotte native and Butler High alumna has won seven gold medals with USA Basketball.

    Sport: 3x3 basketball

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=4TbBLE_0ubUtJje00 Photo: Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images

    Gianluca Busio

    The Greensboro native plays professional soccer in Italy for Venezia FC.

    Sport: Soccer

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1Sjbt0_0ubUtJje00 Photo: Andrea Vilchez/ISI/Getty Images

    Andrew Capobianco

    Capobianco, who is from Holly Springs, will compete in his second Olympic Games. He earned a silver medal at the Tokyo Games in the men's synchronized 3m springboard dive.

    Sport: Diving

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1AxvWl_0ubUtJje00 Photo: Alex Slitz/Getty Images

    Carson Clough

    The Charlotte Latin alum played lacrosse at North Carolina. Then a 2019 boating accident on Lake Norman led to partial amputation of his right leg. Clough , a triathlete, is also the co-founder of Giddy Goat Coffee Roasters in Plaza Midwood.

    Sport: Paralympics triathlon

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2F5cF2_0ubUtJje00 Photo: Khadejeh Nikouyeh/The Charlotte Observer/Tribune News Service via Getty Images

    Anna Cockrell

    Cockrell, a Charlotte native, will compete in the 400-meter hurdles. The Providence Day alumna graduated with honors from the University of Southern California in 2019. She also competed in the Tokyo Olympics.

    Sport: Track and field

    Related story: Charlotte's new top banker is also Charlotte's proudest Olympic dad

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=35w3Mh_0ubUtJje00 Photo: Patrick Smith/Getty Images

    Stephen Curry

    The NBA superstar is a Charlotte legend . The Charlotte Christian and Davidson alum has a key to the city , and now he'll make his Olympics debut. Men's USA Basketball open their Olympics campaign vs. Serbia on Sunday, July 28, at 11:15am.

    Sport: Basketball

    Related story: Steph Curry is finally a Davidson graduate

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3TO1sB_0ubUtJje00 Photo: Ryan Stetz/NBAE via Getty Images

    Pascual Di Tella

    The Argentine athlete athlete attended Duke.

    Sport: Fencing

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=11OUGa_0ubUtJje00 Photo: Andy Mead/YCJ/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

    Crystal Dunn

    The former North Carolina Tar Heel will compete in her third Olympics.

    Sport: Soccer

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0uZjnl_0ubUtJje00 Photo: Brad Smith/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images for USSF

    Casey Eichfeld

    Eichfeld, who calls Huntersville home, is heading to his fourth Olympic Games. You may have run into him at the U.S. National Whitewater Center where he trains and is also a raft guide.

    Sport: Canoe/Kayak

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1K9GuE_0ubUtJje00 Photo: Matthias Hangst/Getty Images

    Field Hockey

    Charlotte is home to the USA Field Hockey women's national team. Leah Crouse played at Duke. Several athletes on the roster played at North Carolina, including: Ashley Hoffman , Ashley Sessa , Meredith Sholder and Cassie Sumfest . Find the full roster here .

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=12mN7l_0ubUtJje00 Photo: Joe Scarnici/Getty Images for USOPC

    Emily Fox

    Fox, a former North Carolina Tar Heel, will make her Olympics debut.

    Sport: Soccer

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1pkpaG_0ubUtJje00 Photo: Omar Vega/Getty Images

    Veronica Fraley

    The Raleigh native competed for Clemson and Vanderbilt , pursing her second masters degree at the latter. She will compete in the discus throw.

    Sport: Track and field

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3J0t2A_0ubUtJje00 Photo: Christian Petersen/Getty Images

    Daniel Golubovic

    The former Duke athlete will represent Australia in the decathlon.

    Sport: Track and field

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0ljcVj_0ubUtJje00 Photo: by David Ramos/Getty Images

    Chelsea Gray

    The Duke alumna won a gold medal with Team USA in Tokyo.

    Sport: Basketball

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0HelI6_0ubUtJje00 Photo: Alex Slitz/Getty Images

    Josh Green

    The Australian guard, who was recently traded to the Charlotte Hornets , is heading to his second Olympics. He won a bronze medal in Tokyo.

    Sport: Basketball

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=29oYhv_0ubUtJje00 Photo: Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images

    Simen Guttormsen

    The pole vaulter, who competed for Duke and Princeton, will represent Norway.

    Sport: Track and field

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=09gX3v_0ubUtJje00 Photo: Maja Hitij/Getty Images

    Dearica Hamby

    The Wake Forest alumna and WNBA player will represent Team USA.

    Sport: 3x3 basketball

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1uQU0v_0ubUtJje00 Photo: Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images

    Quanera Hayes

    Hayes, a world-champion 400-meter runner, is heading to her second Olympics. In college, she ran for Livingstone in Salisbury.

    Sport: Track and field

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2zTS56_0ubUtJje00 Photo: Patrick Smith/Getty Images

    Ryan Held

    In 2016, the N.C. State alum won gold in Rio.

    Sport: Swimming

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1sNJON_0ubUtJje00 Photo: Maddie Meyer/Getty Images

    Rinky Hijikata

    The former North Carolina Tar Heel will represent Australia in his first Olympics.

    Sport: Tennis

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1oS3nA_0ubUtJje00 Photo: Patrick Khachfe/Getty Images for Tennis Australia

    Lauren Hoffman

    The former Duke Blue Devil will make her Olympic Games debut. She will represent the Philippines in the 400-meter hurdles.

    Sport: Track and field

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=132pBz_0ubUtJje00 Photo: Joe Buvid/Getty Images

    Patrick Hussey

    The North Carolina Tar Heel will represent Canada in his first Olympics.

    Sport: Swimming

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3c18tX_0ubUtJje00 Photo: OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images

    Brynn King

    King's specialty is pole vault. The Texas native earned a degree in evolutionary anthropology at Duke. She competed for the Blue Devils before transferring to Roberts Wesleyan.

    Sport: Track and field

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2RnBhv_0ubUtJje00 Photo: Christian Petersen/Getty Images

    Evy Leibfarth

    The Bryson City native frequently trains at the U.S. National Whitewater Center . She made history at the Tokyo Olympic Games as the youngest athlete to represent the U.S. in canoe slalom in the Olympics. Now she will compete in her second Olympics.

    Sport: Canoe/kayak

    Related story: Olympian Evy Leibfarth's perfect day in Charlotte

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2Tec1I_0ubUtJje00 Photo: Mike Coppola/Getty Images

    McKenzie Long

    Long, who ran track at N.C. State before transferring to Ole Miss as a graduate student, runs in memory of her late mother, Tara Jones.

    Sport: Track and field

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=4fTMWb_0ubUtJje00 From left: Brittany Brown, Gabby Thomas and McKenzie Long compete in the women's 200-meter final U.S. Track & Field Olympic Trials at Hayward Field on Saturday, June 29, in Eugene, Oregon. Photo: Christian Petersen/Getty Images

    Khaman Maluach

    The Blue Devil's 7-foot-2 center will represent South Sudan.

    Sport: Basketball

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3AxtWN_0ubUtJje00 Photo: Armand Lenoir/NBAE via Getty Images

    Leona Maguire

    The former Duke athlete will represent Ireland.

    Sport: Golf

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=4J4eOZ_0ubUtJje00 Photo: David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile via Getty Images

    Aranza Vazquez Montano

    The North Carolina Tar Heel will compete in her second Olympics. She will represent Mexico.

    Sport: Diving

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1gKI9a_0ubUtJje00 Photo: Clive Rose/Getty Images

    Casey Murphy

    The North Carolina Courage goalkeeper will compete in her first Olympics.

    Sport: Soccer

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0dfQhY_0ubUtJje00 Photo: Brad Smith/ISI/Getty Images

    Maria Liana Mutia

    Mutia, a Raleigh native, will compete in her second Paralympics. The visually-impaired athlete wrestled and began competing in judo , a martial art, in high school.

    Sport: Paralympics judo

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2kH2mX_0ubUtJje00 Photo: Mike Coppola/Getty Images

    Fiona O'Keeffe

    The marathoner calls Chapel Hill home.

    Sport: Track and field

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3HNwEK_0ubUtJje00 Photo: Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

    Toni Payne

    The Duke alumna will represent Nigeria.

    Sport: Soccer

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3gBbg1_0ubUtJje00 Photo: PATRICK HAMILTON/AFP via Getty Images

    Tommy Paul

    Paul grew up playing on clay courts in Greenville, N.C. Now he will compete in his second Olympics.

    Sport: Tennis

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0Lsv18_0ubUtJje00 Photo: Ben Stansall/AFP via Getty Images

    Maddy Price

    Price earned her undergrad and master's at Duke. She will represent Canada at her second Olympics.

    Sport: Track and Field

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2eGB0u_0ubUtJje00 Photo: Christian Petersen/Getty Images

    Quinn

    The Duke alum will represent Canada. Quinn, who has won gold with Canada in Tokyo, became the first openly transgender, non-binary person to win an Olympic medal, according to the Canadian federation . This will be their third Olympics.

    Sport: Soccer

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1IOYJe_0ubUtJje00 Photo: Brad Smith/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images for USSF

    Ethan Ramos

    Ramos competed for the North Carolina Tar Heels in college. Now he's an assistant coach for Duke. He'll represent Puerto Rico at the Games.

    Sport: Wrestling

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1igilb_0ubUtJje00 Photo: Andy Lyons/Getty Images

    Sofia Roma

    The former Duke basketball player will represent Puerto Rico.

    Sport: Basketball

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1Ol7jX_0ubUtJje00 Photo: Travis Bell/NBAE via Getty Images

    Apsara Sakbun

    Sakbun, a Wells Fargo analyst who calls Charlotte home, will swim for Cambodia. She trains at the Dowd YMCA and Queens University of Charlotte.

    Sport: Swimming

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2yQXV0_0ubUtJje00 Photo: Courtesy of Apsara Sakbun

    Morgan Stickney

    Stickney is a two-time Paralympic gold medalist. Her family moved to Cary so she could train after surgeries to amputate her legs below the knee . She will compete in her second Paralympics.

    Sport: Paralympics swimming

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0GfWuL_0ubUtJje00 Photo: Michael Reaves/Getty Images

    Sammy Sullivan

    Sullivan, who grew up in Fayetteville, began playing rugby at West Point. She currently holds the rank of captain in the Army.

    Sport: Rugby

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=002U0e_0ubUtJje00 Photo: Hannah Peters/Getty Images

    Naya Tapper

    The West Mecklenburg High alumna and former North Carolina Tar Heel was a member of Olympic team for the Tokyo Games. Prior to playing rugby in college, she was an All-America track and field athlete in high school.

    Sport: Rugby

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3wMj9E_0ubUtJje00 Photo: Will Russell/Getty Images

    Jayson Tatum

    The Boston Celtics star played at Duke.

    Sport: Basketball

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0WlNYK_0ubUtJje00 Photo: Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images

    Jack White

    White also played basketball at Duke. He will represent Austrailia at the Games.

    Sport: Basketball

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=4A7fAh_0ubUtJje00 Photo: Kelly Defina/Getty Images

    Danielle Williams

    The Johnson C. Smith University alumna and two-time world champion 100-meter hurdler will compete in her first Olympic Games, representing Jamaica.

    Sport: Track and field

    Related story: JCSU alum Danielle Williams is going to Paris

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=26v61U_0ubUtJje00 Photo: Sam Barnes/Sportsfile via Getty Images
    Expand All
    Comments / 0
    Add a Comment
    YOU MAY ALSO LIKE
    Most Popular newsMost Popular
    Total Apex Sports & Entertainment4 hours ago

    Comments / 0