Meet Olympic athletes with Michigan ties

Michigan is represented by over 50 athletes competing in the 2024 Paris Olympics. Photo credit: Hethers / Shutterstock.com.

by Janelle D. James (Bridge Michigan)

The 2024 Paris Olympics will begin Friday following the opening ceremony along the Seine.

There are 16 days of competition between the opening ceremony on Friday,  and the closing ceremony on Sunday, August 11. Athletes will compete for 329 gold medals across 32 sports.

Scores of athletes competing in the Olympic games have ties to Michigan whether they were born here or went to school and trained here.

Take a look at the Olympic athletes with Michigan ties:

Men’s Sports 

Basketball 

• Devin Booker (USA), a Grand Rapids native, who plays in the NBA for the Phoenix Suns as a point guard.
• Franz Wagner (Germany) was born in Berlin and played basketball at the University of Michigan before being drafted to the Orlando Magic in 2021
• Moritz Wagner (Germany) was born in Berlin and played basketball at the University of Michigan before being drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers in 2018.

Cycling

Mike Woods (Canada) was born in Ontario, Canada, and ran track at the University of Michigan where he graduated in 2008.

Gymnastics 

• Lais Najjar (Syria) was born in Oak Brook, Illinois, and is a junior at U-M
• Kevin Penev (Bulgaria) was born in Penfield, New York, and graduated from U-M in 2022.
• Fred Richard (USA) was born in Stoughton, Massachusetts, and is a sophomore at U-M.
• Paul Juda (USA) was born in Deerfield, Illinois, and is a graduate student at U-M.

Para Powerlifting 

• Bobby Body (USA) is from Eaton Rapids and attended Ferris State University.

Para Taekwondo

• Evan Medell (USA), a Grand Haven native was the first U.S. Paralympic taekwondo medalist

Paralympic Track and Field

• Sam Grewe (USA) was born in Goshen, Indiana, and is a third-year U-M medical school student
• Leo Merle (USA) is originally from Folsom, California, and is a graduate of the U-M School of Dentistry

Paralympic Wheelchair Rugby

• Chuck Aoki (USA)  was born in Minneapolis and is a faculty member at the University of Michigan

Rowing 

• Sorin Koszyk (USA)  is a Grosse Pointe native and attended Cornell University.

Rugby

• Aaron Cummings (USA) was born in Muskegon and began playing rugby in high school and continued at Davenport University.

Sport Climbing

• Zach Hammer (USA) was born in Ann Arbor and started climbing at just 3 years old.

Swimming 

• Nikola Acin (Serbia)  was born in Zrenjanin, Serbia, and is a fifth-year student at U-M.
• Yousuf Al-Matrooshi (United Arab Emirates) was born in Dubai and is a sophomore at U-M.
• Felix Auböck (Austria)  was born in Vienna, Austria, and is a senior at U-M.
• Eitan Ben-Shitrit (Israel) was born in Ra’Anana, Israel, and is a sophomore at U-M.
• Gal Groumi (Israel) was born in Hod Hasharon, Israel, and is a junior at U-M.
• Jon Joentvedt (Norway)  is an incoming freshman at U-M.
• Eduardo Moraes (Brazil) was born in Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil and is a sophomore at U-M.
• Charlie Swanson (USA) is originally from  Richmond, Va., and is a senior at U-M.
• Lorne Wigginton (Canada) is from Alberta, Canada, as is an incoming freshman at U-M.

Track and Field 

• Heath Baldwin (USA) a Kalamazoo native, is a graduate student at Michigan State University.
• Andrew Evans (USA)  a native of Portage in west Michigan, attended the University of Kentucky where he graduated in 2014.
• Grant Fisher (USA), is from Grand Blanc and attended Stanford University.
• Hobbs Kessler is from Ann Arbor and became a professional athlete after signing with Adidas in 2021.

Wrestling:

• Adam Coon (USA) is a Fowlerville native and is a graduate student at U-M.
• Myles Amine (San Marino) was born in Ann Arbor and attended U-M.
• Adam Coon (USA) is from Folwerville and attended U-M.
• Austin Gomez (Mexico) is from Carol Stream, Ill., and is a graduate student at U-M.
• Stevan Micic (Serbia) was born in Mesa, Ariz., and attended U-M.
• Mason Parris (USA) was born in Lawrenceburg, Ind., and attended U-M.

Women’s Sports 

Basketball 

• Syla Swords (Canada) was born in Ontario and is a freshman at U-M.
• Shay Colley (Canada) was born in Ontario and attended Michigan State University.

Field Hockey

• Abby Tamer (USA)  is a Whitmore Lake native and a redshirt junior at U-M

Golf 

• Ashley Lau (Malaysia) was born in Malaysia and is a graduate student at U-M.

Para-Badminton

• Jayci Simon (USA)  is from St. Johns and competed in her first Para Badminton tournament in Peru.

Para-cycling 

• Kate Brim (USA)  is a para-cyclist from Lowell.

Rowing

• Abigail Dent (Canada), is from  Kenora, Canada and is a senior at U-M.
• Paige Badenhorst (South Africa) is from Benoni, South Africa, and is a senior at U-M.

Rugby

• Alena Olsen (USA) is from Caledonia, attended U-M

Soccer 

• Jayde Riviere (Canada) was born in Ontario and attends U-M.
• Shelina Zadorsky (Canada) was born in Ontario and graduated from U-M in 2013.

Swimming

• Stephanie Balduccini (Brazil) was born in São Paulo, Brazil, and is a freshman at U-M.
• Rebecca Diaconescu (Romania) is born in Las Vegas, Nevada, and is an incoming U-M freshman
• Siobhán Haughey (Hong Kong) was born in Hong Kong and graduated from  U-M in 2019.
• Natalie Kan (Hong Kong) was born in Hong Kong and is a junior at  U-M.
• Maggie MacNeil (Canada) is from Ontario and is a senior at U-M.
• Letitia Sim (Singapore) was born in Spanish Fort, Alaska, and is a junior at U-M.

Track and Field 

• Grace Stark (USA) a White Lake native, is the fastest 100-meter hurdles in Michigan high school history.
• Tori Franklin (USA) was born in Evanston, Illinois, and attended Michigan State University.

Water Polo

• Abby Andrews (Australia) was born in Indooroopilly, Australia, and is a freshman at U-M.

Editor’s note: The above list may not include everyone. Who’d we miss? Contact the writer at jjames@bridgemi.com

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by Sara Swanson

Sara Swanson is an editor, writer and founder of the Manchester Mirror.