San Diegoarea athletes to watch for at 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris
Jul 26, 2024
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) -- From basketball and archery to skateboarding and surfing, several San Diego-area athletes will be competing for gold at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France.
With the assistance of FOX 5/KUSI's reporting partners at The San Diego Union-Tribune, here's a breakdown of who to be on the lookout for during this year's Olympics Games when rooting for Team USA or other countries linked to hometown competitors:
Archery
Catalina Gnoriega and Jennifer Mucino-Fernandez, both 21 years old, will be aiming their bows and arrows in hopes of coming out on top in the archery competition for Team USA. Both archers train at the Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center in the South Bay.
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Gnoriega is originally from Mexicali, Mexico, while Mucino-Fernandez was born in Massachusetts but raised in Mexico City. Mucino-Fernandez competed at the Olympic level prior to this year, while Gnoriega previously competed at the youth Olympic level.
Archers Jennifer Mucino, Casey Kaufhold and Catalina Gnoriega, of the United States, compete against Cuba in a the women's team archery match at the Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile, Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2023. (AP Photo/Esteban Felix)
Basketball
Isaiah Pineiro, 29, once played as a Torero for University of San Diego. He is originally from the California city of Auburn. With parents of Puerto Rican descent, Pineiro will be lacing up for Team Puerto Rico while in France.
Poway native Kelsey Plum, 29, will be representing Team USA on the court this year. She's familiar with the world stage as she has previously earned some Olympic gold medals, not to mention her status as an All-American honor and WNBA Championship winner.
Kelsey Plum, of the Unites States, shoots during women's basketball practice at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, July 25, 2024, in Villeneuve-d'Ascq, France. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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Isalys Quinones, a 26-year-old baller of Puerto Rican descent, attended Otay Ranch High School in Chula Vista and remains a resident of the area. Originally from California's Monterey, Quinones went on to play basketball at Dartmouth College.
Breaking
This sport is making its debut at the Paris Olympics, which means it's Logan Edra's first time breaking dancing on the world stage. Mostly known by her nickname -- B-Girl Logistx -- this competitor is from Chula Vista.
FILE - Logan Edra, also known as B-Girl Logistx, of the United States competes in the B-girl Red Bull BC One World Final at Hammerstein Ballroom on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki, File)
Canoe/Kayak
Be sure to root on Nevin Harrison, a 22-year-old canoer from San Diego. She's coming off a win from the Tokyo Olympics, where she secured her very first gold medal at just 22. As reported by the Associated Press, Harrison is seeking a repeat moment this summer.
Nevin Harrison, of the United States, reacts after winning the gold medal in the women's canoe single 200m final at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 5, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
Cycling/BMX
Another Chula Vista resident, 33-year-old Alise Willoughby will be cycling her way to a hopeful victory in Paris. The University of San Diego alumni, who's originally from Minnesota, already has a silver medal under her belt from the 2012 Olympic Games in London.
Alise Willoughby of the United States competes in the women's BMX Racing quarterfinals at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Thursday, July 29, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)
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Equestrian
Though German-born, 59-year-old Steffen Peters will be competing for Team USA. The San Diego resident will be competing in Dressage with a horse named Suppenkasper. Peters has participated in five Olympic Games, with two team bronze medals and a team silver.
The United States' Steffen Peters, riding Suppenkasper, competes in the equestrian dressage individual final at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 28, 2021, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
Field Hockey
Megan Valzonis, 26, will be representing her country and her hometown of San Diego while competing in Paris. The athlete, a Canyon Hills High School alumni, was first named to the U.S. Women's National Team in 2021.
Argentina's Valentina Raposa, right, fights for the ball with USA's Megan Valzonis during the FIH Hockey Pro League mini tournament game between USA and Argentina at the Wilrijkse Plein in Antwerp, Belgium, Thursday, May 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)
Golf
It's no surprise that Xander Schauffele, who just recently won the British Open for his second major this year, will be competing for gold in in France. The San Diego native already as one medal under his belt after golfing to victory in the 2020 Tokyo games.
Xander Schauffele hits from the 13th tee during the third round of the Travelers Championship golf tournament at TPC River Highlands, Saturday, June 22, 2024, in Cromwell, Conn. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
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Rowing
Azja Czajkowski, a 23-year-old from Chula Vista, is set to make her Olympic debut in a two-person boat this summer. The two-time Pac-12 Conference Athlete of the Year is sure to give it everything she has while out on the water.
Rugby Sevens
San Diego resident Sarah Levy, 28, and Fallbrook native Kayla Canett, 26, will both be competing for Team USA in Rugby Sevens. In another local connection, the women's and men's teams have trained at the Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center.
Kayla Canett of the United States scores a try in the U.S. women's rugby sevens match against China at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Thursday, July 29, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama)
Sailing
Hans Henken is slated to represent the USA at the 2024 Olympic Games in the sailing competition. Though born in San Francisco, he attended Coronado High School. He has spent extensive time with the USA Sailing Team, while also earning a degree in aeronautical and astronautical engineering at Stanford University.
Olympic hopeful American sailor, Hans Henken, poses for a photo, on Tuesday, April 16, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki)
Skateboarding
There are several skateboarders competing in the 2024 Summer Olympics that have ties to San Diego. Here's a list: San Marcos resident Thomas Augusto is competing for Portugal; Vista resident Gavin Bottger, Point Loma High School graduate Tate Carew, and Oceanside resident Ruby Lilley, Tom Schaar and Bryce Wettstein of San Dieguito Academy, Encinitas resident Jagger Eaton will be representing the USA; Encinitas resident Andrew Macdonald is competing for England; Encinitas resident Keegan Palmer will represent Australia; Carlsbad resident Alex Sorgente is on Team Italy; Cordano Russell of Horizon Prep will skate for Canada.
Ruby Lilley of the U.S. competes in the women's skateboarding park finals at the 2024 Olympic Qualifier Series held in Budapest, Hungary, Sunday, June 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Denes Erdos)
Soccer
A "wave" of San Diego Wave FC players will be competing for gold this summer. Naomi Girma and Jaedyn Shaw will be competing with Team USA. Meanwhile, Kailen Sheridan will play for Canada, while Kaitlyn Torpey and Emily van Egmond are set to compete for Australia.
United States' Naomi Girma controls the ball during a women's group B match between the United States and Zambia at Nice Stadium at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, July 25, 2024, in Nice, France. The U.S. won 3-0. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
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Sport Climbing
University of San Diego alumni Brooke Raboutou, 23, will represent the USA in boulder and lead. Fun fact: She's the daughter of former climbing world cup champions Robyn Erbesfield-Raboutou and Didier Raboutou.
Brooke Raboutou of the United States competes in the women's boulder lead climbing final at the Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile, Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2023. (AP Photo/Esteban Felix)
Surfing
At just 19 years old, Oceanside native Caitlin Simmers will be representing the USA in the surfing competition. She attended Coastal Academy High School in North County.
Caitlin Simmers, of the United States, surfs during a training day ahead the 2024 Summer Olympics surfing competition Wednesday, July 24, 2024, in Teahupo'o, Tahiti. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
Tennis
Taylor Fritz, a San Diego native, will be competing on the tennis court in Paris for Team USA. The local athlete attended Torrey Pines High School. Fritz turned pro after he was crowned 2015 ITF Junior World Champion.
Taylor Fritz of the United States returns a shot during a practice session ahead of the tennis competition at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, July 25, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)
Track and Field
There are a handful of locally connected athletes in this category. Here's a list: Shanieka Ricketts, a San Diego State University alumni, will compete for Jamaica in the women's triple jump; Nia Akins from Rancho Bernardo High School will compete in the women’s 800 meters for the USA; San Diego resident Chari Hawkins will compete in the heptathlon fr the USA; Gabby Scott of Westview High School will compete for Puerto Rico in the women’s 400 meters; and Harrison Williams, who trains at the Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center, will compete in the decathlon for the USA.
Chari Hawkins competes in the women's heptathlon javelin throw during the U.S. Track and Field Olympic Team Trials Monday, June 24, 2024, in Eugene, Ore. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
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Volleyball (Beach and Indoor)
Oceanside native Garrett Muagututia, who attended Francis Parker High School, will compete for Team USA in the indoor volleyball competition. The 36-year-old previously played the sport at the University of California Los Angeles.
Garrett Muagututia of the U.S. spikes the ball against Japan during a men's FIVB volleyball World Cup match at the Yoyogi National Stadium in Tokyo, Japan, Sunday, Oct. 8, 2023. (AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama)
Former NBA player Chase Budinger, who was born in Encinitas, will be competing for Team USA in the outdoor volleyball competition. Budinger attended La Costa Canyon High School. He will be playing alongside his teammate Miles Evans, who is from Hermosa Beach, California.
FILE - Indiana Pacers forward Chase Budinger (10) smiles during the second half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Jan. 17, 2016, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)
Water Polo
Alex Bowen, 30, will be competing for Team USA in the water polo competition. As far as his San Diego connection, he calls Santee is hometown.
United States' Alex Bowen (9) takes a shot against Greece during a preliminary round men's water polo match at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 2, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
The 2024 Summer Olympic Games officially kicks off Friday in Paris, France.