Meet Nevada’s Olympians competing at the 2024 Paris Games
Here’s a look at Nevadan athletes to watch in the 2024 Paris Games, as well as some who made us proud in previous Olympics.
Several notable athletes from Nevada will go for the Gold in the 2024 Paris Olympics this summer.
From swimmers to BMX riders, here’s a look at some of the Silver State’s athletes to watch in the games (which take place from July 26 through August 11), as well as some who made us proud in previous Olympic Games.
2024 Paris Olympic Athletes
Faith Dillon – Taekwondo
Born in Connecticut and raised in Las Vegas, Faith Dillon became interested in taekwondo as a kid after watching a Jackie Chan movie. The 22-year-old started the sport in 2007 and quickly got hooked. As of July 5, she is ranked No. 9 in the women’s 57 kg weight class.
Dillon has competed in the World Championships twice and has earned several medals from tournaments throughout her career. The Paris 2024 Games will be her first Olympics. She will represent Team USA in the women’s 57kg event.
Katie Grimes – Women’s Swimming
The first US individual athlete to qualify by name for the 2024 Paris Games, 18-year-old Katie Grimes swims for Sandpipers Nevada. A Las Vegas resident, she was inspired to swim by watching her older brothers.
Paris will be Grimes’ second Olympics. In the 2020 Games, Grimes was 15 and the youngest member of the Olympic team. She placed fourth in a photo finish in the Women’s 800m Freestyle.
Grimes is a recent high school graduate, and her family continues to be an important part of her life.
Alexis Lagan – Pistol Shooting
Alexis Lagan, 31, is the first Olympian to come from Boulder City, where she grew up and attended high school.
When she shoots in the 2024 Paris Games this summer, it will be her second time competing as an Olympian and her third time at the Olympics. In 2016, she attended the Olympic Games in Rio as a member of the USA Shooting social media team.
Lagan grew up going to the range with her dad and started shooting at age 15. Her career took off while she was in college at the University of Utah. She has competed internationally, finishing as high as 12th in air pistol at last year’s world championships and 16th at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
A’ja Wilson, Chelsea Gray, Kelsey Plum, Jackie Young – Women’s Basketball
Las Vegas Aces A’ja Wilson, Chelsea Gray, Kelsey Plum, and Jackie Young will play on Team USA’s women’s basketball team at the Summer Olympics. All four women won back-to-back WNBA titles with the Aces in 2022 and 2023.
A 6’4 forward, Wilson played college ball at South Carolina, where she was named National Player of the Year in her senior season. She previously won the gold at the 2020 Olympics
The 2022 WNBA Finals MVP, Gray is a 5’ 11” guard who played college ball at Duke. She also won a gold medal at the 2020 Olympics.
A 5’8 guard, Plum played college ball at Washington University. She won Olympic gold in the 3-on-3 basketball competition in 2020.
Young is a 6′ guard who was drafted to the Aces in 2019. She also won Olympic gold in the 2020 3-on-3 basketball competition.
Luke Hobson – Men’s Swimming
A former swimmer for Reno High School and Lakebridge Swim Team, 21-year-old Luke Hobson is a five-time National Champion and 12-time All-American swimmer.
Hobson will be swimming in the men’s 200-meter freestyle at the 2024 Paris Olympics, and will also compete as part of the men’s 4-x-200 relay team. He currently holds the US Open and American records in the 200-yard freestyle.
Perris Benegas – Cycling
Originally from Reno, Perris Benegas, 28, got her start as a BMX rider by tagging along with her brother and his friends. These days, she’s considered one of the world’s top BMX riders.
Benegas will compete in the Women’s BMX Freestyle event at her second Olympic Games this summer. The Reed High School alumnus placed 4th in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Benegas has a signature Vans shoe and her own apparel line.
Notable Past Olympic Athletes
Bella Sims – Women’s Swimming
An Olympic Silver Medalist from Henderson, 19-year-old Bella Sims swims for Sandpipers of Nevada. Though she didn’t qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics, her 2020 Olympic performance earned her an endorsement deal with Speedo.
Julia Mancuso – Skiing
A retired Olympic champion from Reno and Lake Tahoe, Julia Manusco, or “Super Jules,” has four Olympic medals (one gold, two silver, and one bronze), the most of any female American alpine skier. These days she’s a mother, motivational speaker, podcast host, and ski guide.
David Wise – Skiing
With three Olympic medals (two golds and one silver) and six X-Games gold medals, freestyle skier David Wise was the first-ever Olympic gold medalist in the Men’s Freeski Halfpipe, an event which debuted in the 2014 Sochi Games. The Reno native and Wooster High School alumnus started skiing at age 3, learning at Sky Tavern in Northern Nevada.
Ben Stevenson – Men’s Water Polo
Originally from Reno, three-time All-American Ben Stevenson is a graduate of Coronado High School in Las Vegas. He played water polo at both Reno High School and Coronado.
At the 2018 FINA World Cup, Stevenson finished in 6th place as part of Team USA. He also competed in the 2020 Summer Olympics, winning against South Africa. He is a member of the Greek water polo club Panathinaikos.
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