Light the torch and cue that iconic Olympics theme song — we’re ready for the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics happening Friday, July 26 to Sunday, Aug. 11.
At this summer’s Olympic Games, approximately 10,500 athletes from 206 National Olympic Committees will compete across 32 sports — including some new ones. Since we’re all about keeping it local, we’ve rounded up eight Paris 2024 Olympians with ties to Portland who you should keep your eye on. Let the Games begin.
Ryan Crouser, Track & Field
Born in Portland and raised in Boring, OR, Ryan Crouser absolutely dominates the sport of shot put. The world-record holder will attempt to defend his gold medal titles at his third straight Olympic Games — if successful, he’ll be the first man to win three Olympic gold medals in shot put. Fun fact: Crouser hails from a long line of throwers. His dad, Mitch Crouser, was an alternate on the 1984 Olympic discus team and his uncles and cousins are also shot put, discus, and javelin athletes.
Magda Skarbonkiewicz, Fencing
At 18 years old, Portland native Magda Skarbonkiewicz is the youngest member of Team USA’s Women’s Saber squad. She’s been fencing since the age of 6, training at Oregon Fencing Alliance under the instruction of her coach and dad (a former US National Saber Champion), and won gold at the Pan American Games last fall.
Sophia Smith + Sam Coffey, Soccer
The 2024 Summer Games will mark Portland Thorns forward Sophia Smith’s Olympic debut, but she’s no stranger to the world stage: she played in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup and was the 2022 NWSL Most Valuable Player. Fellow Thorns player Sam Coffey will also make her first Olympic appearance for Team USA.
Jordan Chiles + Jade Carey, Gymnastics
Jordan Chiles of Vancouver and Oregon State University’s Jade Carey are veteran Olympic medalists. Chiles won a silver medal in the team event at the 2020 Tokyo Games and was a 2023 Pan American Games team champion. Carey is the sixth most-decorated US female gymnast of all time with eight Olympic and World Championship medals, including the gold medal in the floor exercise final at the 2020 Tokyo Games.
Woody Kincaid, Track & Field
Former University of Portland distance runner Woody Kincaid placed 14th in the 5,000-meter race and 15th in the 10,000-meter race at the Tokyo Games. He qualified for the 10,000 meters in Paris with a time of 27:50.74.
Pieter Quinton, Rowing
Portland native and Grant High School graduate Pieter Quinton will make his Olympic debut at the Summer Games, rowing for Team USA’s men’s eight crew in the No. 8 seat. The team punched their ticket to Paris after winning the 2024 World Rowing Final Olympic & Paralympic Qualification Regatta.
