-
Paul Juda reveals his priority for the Olympic Games, and it's not about individual success
Gymnastics is, in the eyes of many, an individual sport. There’s the individual all-around competition, and the individual event finals where gymnasts end up decorated in medals they earned based on their performance alone.
-
Olympian Sandi Morris reveals the worst day of her life, and how it fueled her
Sandi Morris won silver in Rio, narrowly missing the gold. She kept her motivation alive and continued her training in preparation for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. When she got there, the competition turned into the worst day of her life.
-
Midwest tough: Wilmette sailor Maggie Shea explains Lake Michigan edge ahead of Olympics
Maggie Shea has witnessed a surge in Midwestern sailors, many of whom grew up learning on lakes with unpredictable winds that give them a unique perspective on the sport.
-
‘I'm an Olympic champion': Chicago's Kennedy Blades won't stop until she gets Paris gold
Kennedy Blades defeated an Olympic silver medalist to win the wrestling Olympic Trials and punch her ticket to Paris. But there’s still something missing for her, and she can feel it.
-
Hometown Hopefuls: Paul Juda only has one goal for the Paris Olympics
Paul Juda went viral for his emotional reaction to making the U.S. Olympic team. But now, he’s setting his sights much higher and looking to put USA Men’s Gymnastics back on the podium. The suburban Chicago native opens up in multiple raw interviews where he talks about Olympic Trials, his road to Paris, his family and more
-
Hometown Hopefuls: For Kennedy Blades making the Olympics isn't enough, she wants gold
Kennedy Blades couldn’t figure out what was missing after she made Team USA and secured her status as an Olympian, but she quickly realized what it was
-
Hometown Hopefuls: Why Sandi Morris keeps coming back for more
Pole vaulter Sandi Morris is heading to her third Olympics, this time as an alternate. The suburban Chicago opens up about what she calls the ‘worst day of her life’ while also explaining why she keeps coming back for more and why she says the sport chose her
-
Hometown Hopefuls: Maggie Shea not focused on results at Paris Olympics
Olympic sailor Maggie Shea is ready to return to her second Olympics with her partner. What would be better than a gold medal? The suburban Chicago native reveals her inspiring answer, how she started sailing and more in a raw interview in this week’s episode of Hometown Hopefuls
-
How a sibling rivalry led suburban swimmer Ryan Murphy toward Olympic glory
After a young Ryan Murphy moved from Palos Heights, Illinois, to Florida, his parents suggested that the family go to their local community pool to make friends- an idea they never knew would lead their youngest child to six Olympic medals and counting.
-
Hometown Hopefuls: Ryan Murphy reveals how sibling rivalry lead to Olympic glory
On this episode of Hometown Hopefuls, NBC Chicago’s Alex Maragos talks with Olympic swimmer Ryan Murphy. The suburban Chicago native shares his hopes for his third Olympic games and how he got to where he is today
-
BMX racer Felicia Stancil shares how family tragedy sparked her Olympic dream
Felicia Stancil, a Lake Villa native and elite women’s world champion in BMX racing, is on her second quest for Olympic glory after falling short of medaling at the Tokyo Games by less than half a second.
-
Hometown Hopefuls: Felicia Stancil shares emotional introduction to BMX
On this episode of Hometown Hopefuls, NBC Chicago’s Alex Maragos talks with BMX racer Felicia Stancil. The suburban Chicago native shares the story about her mom’s death and how it led to her lifelong BMX career and so much more
-
Olympian Evita Griskenas asked to do gymnastics at age 4- just not the kind her mother signed her up for
When she was 4 years old, Evita Griskenas saw rhythmic gymnastics on TV for the first time. After persistently asking to try it herself, her mother finally agreed and took her to a gymnastics gym – there was just one problem.
-
‘Hometown Hopefuls: Road to Paris' gives up-close look at what it means to be an Olympian
“Hometown Hopefuls: Road to Paris” gives an up-close look at the most dedicated and decorated athletes in the world. The series dives into who these elite athletes really are, and what makes them sacrifice so much to accomplish their goals.
-
Hometown Hopefuls: Evita Griskenas shares 'embarrassing' moment she knew she'd be a rhythmic gymnast
On this episode of Hometown Hopefuls, NBC Chicago’s Alex Maragos talks with rhythmic gymnast Evita Griskenas. The suburban Chicago native shares the remarkable story of what sparked her journey to becoming an Olympian and so much more