I first published this post on January 21, 2020, with no idea of the ways the world and the Olympics would change in the coming months! Now update to reflect 2021 qualifiers and team members, with a special note about Shelby Houlihan.
In July and August 2021, the eyes of the world turn to Japan for amazing feats of athleticism at the Tokyo Olympics, a bit bittersweet for many due to the experiences we've had as a world in the past year, but hopefully an opportunity for global unity and hometown pride. While part of the fun is cheering for and celebrating athletes from around the globe and all across our nation, I also love knowing specifically about the athletes from our area. If you do too, read on to find out some of the athletes with Midwestern roots that you should watch in the
Dozens of athletes from the Midwest qualified and it's going to be so exciting to watch the great things they do, whether they medal or not. If you know of an athlete I missed, please, let me know so I can add them!
Iowa Athletes
Shelby Houlihan disqualified- Sioux City, Iowa
- Sport: Track & Field
- Events: 1500m, 3k, 5k
- Status: This world record holder has gone from one of America's most likely medalists, to being sidelined on substance abuse allegations due to detection of nandrolone . While Houlihan has filed all the appropriate appeals, it was mathematically impossible for them to be completed before the trials even had she been successful in them all.
- Shelby Houlihan is a long distance runner from Sioux City, and an alum of Sioux City East High School. Some have predicted she would win the women's 1500m race in Tokyo; it would have be surprising for her to not make the finals. She set the women's world record in the 5k in Portland in 2020.
- Houlihan placed 11th in the women's 1500m at the Rio 2016 Olympics
- Thomas Gilman
- Council Bluffs, IA
- Sport: Wrestling
- Event: 57kg
- Attended Skutt Catholic in Omaha
- As part of the University of Iowa wrestling team, Gilman was an NCAA All-American 3 times and a Big 10 Conference Champion!
- Karissa Schweizer
- Urbandale, Iowa
- Sport: Track & Field
- Events: 5k, 10k
- Status: Qualified in the women's 5k and 10k
- Karissa Schweizer is a graduate of Dowling Catholic High School and the University of Missouri, and in 2019 had the fastest women's 5k time recorded by the USATF. In 2020, she was right behind Shelby Houlihan in breaking the women's world record 5k time.
- Sioux City, Iowa
- Sport: Track & Field
- Events: 1500m, 3k, 5k
- Status: This world record holder has gone from one of America's most likely medalists, to being sidelined on substance abuse allegations due to detection of nandrolone . While Houlihan has filed all the appropriate appeals, it was mathematically impossible for them to be completed before the trials even had she been successful in them all.
- Shelby Houlihan is a long distance runner from Sioux City, and an alum of Sioux City East High School. Some have predicted she would win the women's 1500m race in Tokyo; it would have be surprising for her to not make the finals. She set the women's world record in the 5k in Portland in 2020.
- Houlihan placed 11th in the women's 1500m at the Rio 2016 Olympics
- Council Bluffs, IA
- Sport: Wrestling
- Event: 57kg
- Attended Skutt Catholic in Omaha
- As part of the University of Iowa wrestling team, Gilman was an NCAA All-American 3 times and a Big 10 Conference Champion!
- Urbandale, Iowa
- Sport: Track & Field
- Events: 5k, 10k
- Status: Qualified in the women's 5k and 10k
- Karissa Schweizer is a graduate of Dowling Catholic High School and the University of Missouri, and in 2019 had the fastest women's 5k time recorded by the USATF. In 2020, she was right behind Shelby Houlihan in breaking the women's world record 5k time.
South Dakota Athletes
- Paige McPherson
- Sturgis, South Dakota
- Sport: Taekwondo
- Event: Women's welterweight Taekwondo
- Paige McPherson grew up in Sturgis and is a fierce competitor in taekwondo, winning a bronze medal in the event at the London Olympics and representing Team USA again in Rio.
- Ali Weisz
- Rapid City, South Dakota
- Sport: Shooting
- Events: Women's Air Rifle, Mixed Air Rifle
- Ali Weisz was a stand-out at the 2018 World Championships and looks like a strong competitor for Toyko.
- Sturgis, South Dakota
- Sport: Taekwondo
- Event: Women's welterweight Taekwondo
- Paige McPherson grew up in Sturgis and is a fierce competitor in taekwondo, winning a bronze medal in the event at the London Olympics and representing Team USA again in Rio.
- Rapid City, South Dakota
- Sport: Shooting
- Events: Women's Air Rifle, Mixed Air Rifle
- Ali Weisz was a stand-out at the 2018 World Championships and looks like a strong competitor for Toyko.
Nebraska Athletes
- Maggie Malone
- Geneva, NE
- Sport: Track & Field
- Event: Javelin throw
- Came in 25th in Rio representing Team USA in the javelin throw
- Started her collegiate career at University of Nebraska before transferring to Texas A&M
- Emily Sisson
- Omaha, NE
- Sport: Track & Field
- Event: 10k
- Before moving to Omaha in high school, Sisson lived in Chesterfield, MO
- Geneva, NE
- Sport: Track & Field
- Event: Javelin throw
- Came in 25th in Rio representing Team USA in the javelin throw
- Started her collegiate career at University of Nebraska before transferring to Texas A&M
- Omaha, NE
- Sport: Track & Field
- Event: 10k
- Before moving to Omaha in high school, Sisson lived in Chesterfield, MO
Illinois Athletes
- Lauren Doyle
- Boody, IL
- Sport: Rugby
- Competed as part of Team USA in the Rio Olympics, finishing in 5th place
- Tori Franklin
- Evanston, IL
- Sport; Track & Field
- Event: Triple Jump
- Evita Griskenas
- Orland Park, IL
- Sport: Rhythmic Gymnastics
- David Kendziera
- Mount Prospect, IL
- Sport: Track & Field
- Event: 400m hurdles
- Jewell Lloyd
- Skokie, IL
- Sport: Basketball
- Kevin McDowell
- Geneva, IL
- Sport: Triathlon
- Maggie Shea
- Wilmette, IL
- Sport: Sailing
- Event: 49erFX
- Teammate Steph Robles is a fellow Midwesterner, hailing from Wisconsin!
- Olivia Smoliga
- Glenview, IL
- Sport: Swimming
- Events: 4x100m freestyle relay
- Won a gold medal in the Rio Olympics as part of Team USA's 4x100 freestyle relay
- Felicia Stancil
- Lake Villa, IL
- Sport: Cycling
- Eliza Stone
- Chicago, IL
- Sport: Women's Saber Fencing
- Laura Zeng
- Libertyville, IL
- Sport: Rhythmic Gymnastics
- Status: Qualified
- Came in 11th at the Rio Olympics & hoping to crack the top 10 this year in Tokyo!
- Boody, IL
- Sport: Rugby
- Competed as part of Team USA in the Rio Olympics, finishing in 5th place
- Evanston, IL
- Sport; Track & Field
- Event: Triple Jump
- Orland Park, IL
- Sport: Rhythmic Gymnastics
- Mount Prospect, IL
- Sport: Track & Field
- Event: 400m hurdles
- Skokie, IL
- Sport: Basketball
- Geneva, IL
- Sport: Triathlon
- Wilmette, IL
- Sport: Sailing
- Event: 49erFX
- Teammate Steph Robles is a fellow Midwesterner, hailing from Wisconsin!
- Glenview, IL
- Sport: Swimming
- Events: 4x100m freestyle relay
- Won a gold medal in the Rio Olympics as part of Team USA's 4x100 freestyle relay
- Lake Villa, IL
- Sport: Cycling
- Chicago, IL
- Sport: Women's Saber Fencing
- Libertyville, IL
- Sport: Rhythmic Gymnastics
- Status: Qualified
- Came in 11th at the Rio Olympics & hoping to crack the top 10 this year in Tokyo!
Indiana Athletes
- Michael Brinegar
- Bloomington, IN
- Sport: Swimming
- Event: 800m & 1500m freestyle
- Skylar Diggins-Smith
- South Bend, IN
- Sport: Basketball
- Rachel Dincoff
- Waterloo, IN
- Sport: Track & Field
- Event: Discus
- Chloe Dygert
- Brownsburg, IN
- Sport: Cycling
- Events: Team Pursuit, Individual Pursuit, Time Trial
- Chloe Dygert was part of the US Women's team pursuit at the 2016 Olympics in Rio, and brought home a silver medal.
- Lynna Irby
- Indianapolis, IN
- Sport: Track & Field
- Events: 200m, 400m, possible member of 4x400m relay team
- Drew Kibler
- Carmel, IN
- Sport: Swimming
- Event: 4x200m freestyle relay
- Lilly King
- Evansville, IN
- Sport: Swimming
- Event: 100m breaststroke, 200m breaststroke
- Won two gold medals as part of Team USA in Rio (100m and 4x100m relay)
- Jake Mitchell
- Carmel, IN
- Sport: Swimming
- Event: 400m freestyle
- Blake Pieroni
- Valpraiso, IN
- Sport: Swimming
- Event: 4x100m freestyle relay
- Rajeev Ram
- Carmel, IN
- Sport: Tennis
- Event: Men's Doubles
- Alec Yoder
- Indianapolis, IN
- Sport: Gymnastics
- Status: Qualified
- Bloomington, IN
- Sport: Swimming
- Event: 800m & 1500m freestyle
- South Bend, IN
- Sport: Basketball
- Waterloo, IN
- Sport: Track & Field
- Event: Discus
- Brownsburg, IN
- Sport: Cycling
- Events: Team Pursuit, Individual Pursuit, Time Trial
- Chloe Dygert was part of the US Women's team pursuit at the 2016 Olympics in Rio, and brought home a silver medal.
- Indianapolis, IN
- Sport: Track & Field
- Events: 200m, 400m, possible member of 4x400m relay team
- Carmel, IN
- Sport: Swimming
- Event: 4x200m freestyle relay
- Evansville, IN
- Sport: Swimming
- Event: 100m breaststroke, 200m breaststroke
- Won two gold medals as part of Team USA in Rio (100m and 4x100m relay)
- Carmel, IN
- Sport: Swimming
- Event: 400m freestyle
- Valpraiso, IN
- Sport: Swimming
- Event: 4x100m freestyle relay
- Carmel, IN
- Sport: Tennis
- Event: Men's Doubles
- Indianapolis, IN
- Sport: Gymnastics
- Status: Qualified
Kansas Athletes
- Adrianna Franch
- Salina, KS
- Sport: Soccer
- Franch will be one of Team USA's Goalkeepers for the Tokyo Olympics!
- Derek Mein
- Paola, Kansas
- Sport: Shooting
- Events: Men's Trap
- Kelsey Stewart
- Wichita, Kansas
- Sport: Softball
- Kelsey Stewart has an impressive background in world championship softball, including the game-winning hit in the 2018 Women's World Championship!
- Kelsey Stewart wears uniform #7, so watch for her when you see the US Women's Softball team playing this summer!
- Salina, KS
- Sport: Soccer
- Franch will be one of Team USA's Goalkeepers for the Tokyo Olympics!
- Sport: Shooting
- Events: Men's Trap
- Wichita, Kansas
- Sport: Softball
- Kelsey Stewart has an impressive background in world championship softball, including the game-winning hit in the 2018 Women's World Championship!
- Kelsey Stewart wears uniform #7, so watch for her when you see the US Women's Softball team playing this summer!
Michigan Athletes
- Steven Bastien
- Saline, MI
- Sport: Track & Field
- Event: Men's Decathlon
- Anavia Battle
- Inkster, MI
- Sport: Track & Field
- Event: Women's 200m dash
- Amanda Chidester
- Allen Park, Michigan
- Sport: Softball
- Amanda Chidester has played on several world championship teams, and had an astounding 7 home runs in the 2016 World Championship game!
- Amanda Chidester plays catcher and wears uniform #19. She should be easy to find behind the batter if you're watching them play this summer!
- Catie DeLoof
- Grosse Pointe, MI
- Sport: Swimming
- Events: 4x100m freestyle relay
- Sister Ali DeLoof is also a champion swimmer and swam at the 2021 Olympic Trials
- Draymond Green
- Saginaw, Michigan
- Sport: Basketball
- Annie Lazor
- Beverly Hills, MI
- Sport: Swimming
- Events: 200m breaststroke
- Grace Luczak
- Ann Arbor, MI
- Sport: Rowing
- Event: Pairs
- Finished in 4th at the Rio Olympics
- Taylor Manson
- East Lansing, MI
- Sport: Track & Field
- Event: Women's 4x400m relay
- Hannah Roberts
- Buchanan, MI
- Sport: Women's BMX
- Allison Schmitt
- Canton, MI
- Sport: Swimming
- Events: 200m freestyle, 4x100m freestyle relay
- Ellen Tomek
- Flushing, MI
- Sport: Rowing
- Event: Double Sculls
- Saline, MI
- Sport: Track & Field
- Event: Men's Decathlon
- Inkster, MI
- Sport: Track & Field
- Event: Women's 200m dash
- Allen Park, Michigan
- Sport: Softball
- Amanda Chidester has played on several world championship teams, and had an astounding 7 home runs in the 2016 World Championship game!
- Amanda Chidester plays catcher and wears uniform #19. She should be easy to find behind the batter if you're watching them play this summer!
- Grosse Pointe, MI
- Sport: Swimming
- Events: 4x100m freestyle relay
- Sister Ali DeLoof is also a champion swimmer and swam at the 2021 Olympic Trials
- Saginaw, Michigan
- Sport: Basketball
- Beverly Hills, MI
- Sport: Swimming
- Events: 200m breaststroke
- Ann Arbor, MI
- Sport: Rowing
- Event: Pairs
- Finished in 4th at the Rio Olympics
- East Lansing, MI
- Sport: Track & Field
- Event: Women's 4x400m relay
- Buchanan, MI
- Sport: Women's BMX
- Canton, MI
- Sport: Swimming
- Events: 200m freestyle, 4x100m freestyle relay
- Flushing, MI
- Sport: Rowing
- Event: Double Sculls
Minnesota Athletes
- Sgt. Patrick Sunderman
- Farmington, MN
- Sport: Shooting
- Event: Smallbore rifle
- Kyra Condie
- Shoreview, Minnesota
- Sport: Women's Rock Climbing
- Kyra Condie is one of two American women to qualify to participate in the new event of "sport climbing" for the 2020 Olympics. She's done well in international competition, and it's always fun to watch a new event!
- Lara Dallman Weiss
- Shoreview, MN
- Sport: Sailing
- Mason Ferlic
- St. Paul, MN
- Sport: Track & Field
- Event: Men's 3k Steeplechase
- Joe Klecker
- Minneapolis, MN
- Sport: Track & Field
- Event: Men's 10k
- Sunisa Lee
- St. Paul, MN
- Sport: Gymnastics
- Grace McCallum
- Isanti, MN
- Sport: Gymnastics
- Payton Otterdahl
- Rosemount, MN
- Sport: Track & Field
- Event: Shot Put
- Regan Smith
- Lakeville, MN
- Sport: Swimming
- Events: 100m backstroke, 200m freestyle
- Alisa Willoughby
- St. Cloud, Minnesota
- Sport: BMX cycling
- Shane Wiskus
- Spring Park, MN
- Sport: Men's Gymnastics
- Farmington, MN
- Sport: Shooting
- Event: Smallbore rifle
- Shoreview, Minnesota
- Sport: Women's Rock Climbing
- Kyra Condie is one of two American women to qualify to participate in the new event of "sport climbing" for the 2020 Olympics. She's done well in international competition, and it's always fun to watch a new event!
- Shoreview, MN
- Sport: Sailing
- St. Paul, MN
- Sport: Track & Field
- Event: Men's 3k Steeplechase
- Minneapolis, MN
- Sport: Track & Field
- Event: Men's 10k
- St. Paul, MN
- Sport: Gymnastics
- Isanti, MN
- Sport: Gymnastics
- Rosemount, MN
- Sport: Track & Field
- Event: Shot Put
- Lakeville, MN
- Sport: Swimming
- Events: 100m backstroke, 200m freestyle
- St. Cloud, Minnesota
- Sport: BMX cycling
- Spring Park, MN
- Sport: Men's Gymnastics
Missouri Athletes
- Bradley Beal
- St. Louis, MO
- Sport: Basketball
- Gwen Berry
- St. Louis, MO
- Sport: Track & Field
- Women's Hammer Throw
- Was an alternate for Team USA at the London Olympics and competed for Team USA in Rio
- Napheesia Collier
- St. Louis, MO
- Sport: Basketball
- Tyler Downs
- Ballwin, MO
- Sport: Diving
- Courtney Frerichs
- Nixa, MO
- Sport: Track & Field
- Event: 300m Steeplechase
- James Hall
- Columbia, Missouri
- Sport: Shooting
- Event: Men's Air pistol
- Chris Nilsen
- Kansas City, Missouri
- Sport: Track & Field
- Event: Pole Vault
- Chris Nilsen is dominating pole vault from the University of South Dakota and is a 6 time NCAA All-American with 3 NCAA championship wins.
- DeAnna Price
- Moscow Mills, MO
- Sport: Track & Field
- Event: Hammer Throw
- Came in 8th in Women's hammer throw at the Rio Olympics as part of Team USA
- Becky Sauerbrunn
- St. Louis, MO
- Sport: Soccer
- Sauerbrunn will be one of Team USA's defenders in Tokyo.
- She was also on the USA soccer team for the London and Rio Olympics, winning gold with the team in London
- Jayson Tatum
- St. Louis, Missouri
- Sport: Basketball
- Status: Officially named to Team USA for the Tokyo Olympics
- Jayson Tatum plays in the NBA for the Boston Celtics, but as a teen played for Chaminade Prep in Creve Coeur (near St. Louis).
- St. Louis, MO
- Sport: Basketball
- St. Louis, MO
- Sport: Track & Field
- Women's Hammer Throw
- Was an alternate for Team USA at the London Olympics and competed for Team USA in Rio
- St. Louis, MO
- Sport: Basketball
- Ballwin, MO
- Sport: Diving
- Nixa, MO
- Sport: Track & Field
- Event: 300m Steeplechase
- Columbia, Missouri
- Sport: Shooting
- Event: Men's Air pistol
- Kansas City, Missouri
- Sport: Track & Field
- Event: Pole Vault
- Chris Nilsen is dominating pole vault from the University of South Dakota and is a 6 time NCAA All-American with 3 NCAA championship wins.
- Moscow Mills, MO
- Sport: Track & Field
- Event: Hammer Throw
- Came in 8th in Women's hammer throw at the Rio Olympics as part of Team USA
- St. Louis, MO
- Sport: Soccer
- Sauerbrunn will be one of Team USA's defenders in Tokyo.
- She was also on the USA soccer team for the London and Rio Olympics, winning gold with the team in London
- St. Louis, Missouri
- Sport: Basketball
- Status: Officially named to Team USA for the Tokyo Olympics
- Jayson Tatum plays in the NBA for the Boston Celtics, but as a teen played for Chaminade Prep in Creve Coeur (near St. Louis).
Ohio Athletes
- Zach Apple
- Trenton, OH
- Sport: Swimming
- Event: 100m freestyle
- Adelaide Aquilla
- Rocky River, OH
- Sport: Track & Field
- Event: Women's Shot Put
- Hunter Armstrong
- Dover, OH
- Sport: Swimming
- Event: 100m backstroke
- Nick Bruce
- Youngstown, OH
- Sport: Men's BMX Freestyle
- Reggie Jagers
- Cleveland OH
- Sport: Track & Field
- Event: Discus
- Delante Johnson
- Cleveland, OH
- Sport: Men's Welterweight Boxing
- Oshae Jones
- Toledo, OH
- Sport: Women's Welterweight Boxing
- Rose Lavelle
- Cincinnati, OH
- Sport: Soccer
- Lavelle will play midfield at the Tokyo Olympics!
- Clayton Murphy
- New Paris, OH
- Sport: Track & Field
- Event: Men's 800m
- Murphy won bronze in the 800m at the Rio Olympics as part of Team USA
- Katie Nageotte
- Olmstead Falls, OH
- Sport: Track & Field
- Event: Pole Vault
- Duke Ragan
- Cincinnati, OH
- Sport: Men's featherweight boxing
- Jacob Wukie
- Massilon, OH
- Sport: Archery
- Trenton, OH
- Sport: Swimming
- Event: 100m freestyle
- Rocky River, OH
- Sport: Track & Field
- Event: Women's Shot Put
- Dover, OH
- Sport: Swimming
- Event: 100m backstroke
- Youngstown, OH
- Sport: Men's BMX Freestyle
- Cleveland OH
- Sport: Track & Field
- Event: Discus
- Cleveland, OH
- Sport: Men's Welterweight Boxing
- Toledo, OH
- Sport: Women's Welterweight Boxing
- Cincinnati, OH
- Sport: Soccer
- Lavelle will play midfield at the Tokyo Olympics!
- New Paris, OH
- Sport: Track & Field
- Event: Men's 800m
- Murphy won bronze in the 800m at the Rio Olympics as part of Team USA
- Olmstead Falls, OH
- Sport: Track & Field
- Event: Pole Vault
- Cincinnati, OH
- Sport: Men's featherweight boxing
- Massilon, OH
- Sport: Archery
Wisconsin Athletes
- Kenny Bednarek
- Rice Lake, WI
- Sport: Track & Field
- Event: Men's 200m, possible member of 4x400m relay team
- Maddy Bernau
- Waterford, Wisconsin
- Sport: Shooting
- Events: Women's trap shooting
- Megan Kalmoe
- St. Croix Falls, WI
- Sport: Rowing
- Event: Quadruple Sculls
- Competed in the Beijing, London, and Rio Olympics, winning bronze in London
- Alicia Monson
- Amery, WI
- Sport: Track & Field
- Event: 10k
- Alie Rusher
- West Bend, WI
- Sport: Rowing
- Event: Quadruple Sculls
- Steph Roble
- East Troy, WI
- Sport: Sailing
- Teammate Maggie Shea is also a Midwesterner, from Illinois!
- Molly Seidel
- Hartland, WI
- Sport: Track & Field
- Event: Marathon
- Madeleine Wanamaker
- Neenah, WI
- Sport: Rowing
- Event: Women's Four
- Rice Lake, WI
- Sport: Track & Field
- Event: Men's 200m, possible member of 4x400m relay team
- Waterford, Wisconsin
- Sport: Shooting
- Events: Women's trap shooting
- St. Croix Falls, WI
- Sport: Rowing
- Event: Quadruple Sculls
- Competed in the Beijing, London, and Rio Olympics, winning bronze in London
- Amery, WI
- Sport: Track & Field
- Event: 10k
- West Bend, WI
- Sport: Rowing
- Event: Quadruple Sculls
- East Troy, WI
- Sport: Sailing
- Teammate Maggie Shea is also a Midwesterner, from Illinois!
- Hartland, WI
- Sport: Track & Field
- Event: Marathon
- Neenah, WI
- Sport: Rowing
- Event: Women's Four
So as you watch the wonderful athletes from all around the nation and globe, keep an eye out for these Midwesterners striving for their place on Team USA and the podium at Tokyo!
It's great to see so many midwestern athletes in the Olympics!
ReplyDeleteI agree! I can't wait to see how huge the list is after the team is set for more events! it's definitely going to be an exciting summer.
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