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Countdown to Paris: Meet the Florida athletes heading to the Olympics
By Billie Brightman
Countdown to Paris: Meet the Florida athletes heading to the Olympics
BACTERIA WERE BELOW LEGAL THRESHOLDS AND AS WE GET CLOSER TO THE OLYMPICS, A FEW OF THE FASTEST PEOPLE IN THE WORLD ARE TRAINING RIGHT HERE IN CENTRAL FLORIDA. WESH 2 STEWART MOORE JOINED KENNEDY BEDNARIK OUT ON THE TRACK AHEAD OF HIS RACE FOR GOLD. IMAGINE WHAT YOU COULD DO IN SIMPLY SECONDS IF YOU’RE KENNY BEDNAREK, YOU COULD RUN 100M AND SUBMIT YOURSELF IN THE HISTORY BOOKS. HE RAN A 9.87 AT THE OLYMPIC TRIALS. IT’S JUST A LOT OF WEIGHT OFF MY SHOULDERS GOING INTO TRIALS, YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY’S ON HIGH ALERT AND FINALLY GETTING THE JOB DONE AND GOING TO PARIS. LIKE, I GOT THE HARD PART DONE. AND NOW I CAN HAVE SOME FUN OUT THERE IN PARIS. I’M A GAMER. EVERY SINGLE TIME I STEP UP TO THE OCCASION, AND I’M ALWAYS READY TO GO WHEN THE TIME, UH, CALLS FOR IT. BUT KENNY HAS MORE THAN ONE PODIUM. HE’S RUNNING TOWARDS. HE HAS THE SECOND FASTEST TIME IN THE 200 METER THIS YEAR, AND HE SAYS WATCH FOR HIM TO CROSS THE LINE FIRST. I’M GOING TO GO OUT AND DOMINATE. I MEAN, YEAH, I LIT UP A LITTLE BIT, HAD A LITTLE TIGHTNESS AND GOING TO MAKE SURE JUST TO CLEAN THAT UP FOR THE FINALS AND I’LL BE READY TO GO. KENNY, LIKE MANY OTHERS ON TEAM NIKE, TRAINED RIGHT HERE IN CENTRAL FLORIDA AT THE MONTVERDE ACADEMY THIS GROUP ALONE HAS EIGHT ATHLETES HEADING TO PARIS. I MEAN, OUT HERE IN FLORIDA. PERFECT WEATHER FOR TRAINING OUT HERE EVERY SINGLE DAY. AND YEAH, I JUST JUST LOVE FLORIDA. AND WHILE THIS IS A MOSTLY INDIVIDUAL SPORT, IT’S THIS TEAM THAT FUELS HIM TO WORK HARDER, FOCUS MORE, AND RUN AT THE FASTEST SPEEDS IN THE WORLD. WE’RE LIKE FAMILY. SO YEAH, IT JUST KIND OF MAKES EVERYTHING A LITTLE BIT EASIER. UM, YOU KNOW, COME OUT HERE EVERY SINGLE DAY JUST HAVING FUN. AND THAT MAKES TRAINING A LITTLE BIT EASIER WITH JUST, YOU KNOW, PUSHING OUR BODY TO THE LIMITS AND WE ALWAYS PUSH EACH OTHER, ALWAYS HELD HOLD EACH OTHER ACCOUNTABLE. AND I MEAN, YEAH, THE ATMOSPHERE HERE IS WONDERFUL. MICHAEL JOHNSON, UH, JUSTIN GATLIN, UM, THERE’S SO MANY JESSE OWENS BIG NAMES IN USA RUNNING IN THE PAST. UM, CARL LEWIS, OBVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW, WHERE DO YOU FIT IN THE HISTORY BOOKS OF TEAM USA RUNNING? UH, I MEAN, RIGHT NOW, I THINK I’M, I’M PUTTING MY BEST FOOT FORWARD. BUT WHEN I’M, WHEN I’M, WHEN IT’S ALL SAID AND DONE, I’M TRYING TO BE ON THE TOP. I MEAN, THOSE ARE ALL INSPIRATIONS THAT I USED TO LOOK UP WHEN I WAS A KID. IDOLS. AND I’M TRYING TO YOU KNOW, ECLIPSE WHAT THEY DID IN THE IN THE HISTORY BOOKS. AND YEAH, I’M JUST TRYING TO BE THE BEST TO EVER DO IT ONCE I’M DONE. ALL RIGHT, GUYS, KENNY IS THRILLED, OF COURSE, ABOUT THE GAMES, BUT HE’S ALSO EXCITED FOR HIS TEAMMATES. COURTNEY LINDSEY HAS THE THIRD FASTEST 200 METER THIS YEAR. HE’LL ALSO BE ON THE FOUR BY 100 METER TEAM WITH HIM. SHA’CARRI RICHARDSON ALSO TRAINS THERE. SO THIS PLACE IS LITERALLY THE EPITOME OF IRON SHARPENS IRON. THAT’S SO COOL. THE ONLY THING I COULD THINK ABOUT THOUGH, WATCHING THAT WAS THE HEAT. LIKE YOU DIDN’T WEAR THAT SUIT, DID YOU? OH, GOD. NO. OKAY. BUT I WILL TELL YOU THIS. WHEN WE WERE OUT THERE EARLIER TODAY, IT WAS 88, BUT IT FELT LIKE 94. THEY SAY WE DO THIS EVERY SINGLE DAY. YOU IMAGINE. WOW. YEAH. THAT’S CONDITIONING THOUGH. THAT’S RUNNING. HE
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Countdown to Paris: Meet the Florida athletes heading to the Olympics
By Billie Brightman
The Paris Olympics are less than a week away and many athletes with a connection to Florida will be representing Team USA. Here is a look at those athletes and how you can follow them on their journey:Perry Baker RugbyFrom Daytona BeachRead his bio Related: Central Florida rugby sevens player heading to Paris 2024 Olympics Kenny BednarekTrack and FieldLives in MinneolaAaliyah ButlerTrack and FieldFrom Fort Lauderdale Related: Some of the fastest people in the world are training for the Paris Olympics in FloridaDanielle CollinsTennisFrom St. PetersburgTamari DavisTrack and Field - Relay pool additional athleteLives in Orlando Jeremiah DavisTrack and Field - Long JumpLives in TallahasseeBen DavisonRowingFrom InvernessUniversity of Washington alum Clark Dean RowingFrom SarasotaHarvard University alumAngelica DelgadoJudoFrom MiamiCaeleb DresselSwimmingSeven-time Gold MedalistFrom Orange ParkUniversity of Florida alumMarkus EdegranSailingFirst-time OlympianFrom West Palm BeachSt. Mary's College of Maryland alum Related: Ralph Lauren goes with basic blue jeans for Team USA's opening Olympic ceremony uniformsBobby FinkeSwimmingTwo-time Gold MedalistFrom ClearwaterUniversity of Florida alumCoco GauffTennisFrom Delray Beach Anna HallTrack and FieldUniversity of Florida Quincy HallTrack and FieldLives in GainesvilleGrant HollowayTrack and FieldUniversity of Florida Melissa JeffersonTrack and FieldLives in ClermontAshleigh JohnsonWater PoloTwo-time Gold MedalistFrom MiamiPrinceton University alumThe first Black athlete to make the U.S. Olympic team in water poloRead her bioOmari JonesBoxingFirst-time OlympianFrom OrlandoValencia CollegeRelated: Central Florida community celebrates young boxer heading to 2024 Olympics Fred KerleyTrack and FieldLives in MiamiKyree KingTrack and Field - Relay pool additional athlete Lives in Clermont Erriyon KnightonTrack and FieldFrom TampaLives in GainesvilleAustin KrajicekTennisFrom BrandonNoah LylesTrack and FieldLives in Clermont Noah LyonsSailingFirst-time Olympian From ClearwaterUniversity of South Florida alumCaroline MarksSurfingFrom Melbourne BeachFollow her journeyRead her bioDuncan McGuireSoccerPlays for Orlando City SCVictor MontalvoBreakingFirst-time OlympianHis father and uncle have been described as "breaking pioneers," as they helped grow the sport in Mexico since the late 1980s From KissimmeeRelated: Central Florida native ready to make debut as break dancing heads to Olympics for the first timeJasmine MooreTriple Jump, Long JumpLives in Gainesville Ryan MurphySwimmingFour-time Gold MedalistFrom Ponte Vedra BeachUniversity of California alum Monae' Nicholes Track and FieldFrom LakelandTracy OttoPara ArcheryFirst-time Paralympian From Plant CityUniversity of Tampa alumTook up the sport after surviving a life-threatening domestic violence attack where she lost her left eye and was paralyzed from the chest down. Follow her journeyTommy PaulTennisFrom Delray Beach Poe PinsonSkateboardingFrom Fernandina Beach Christie Raleigh CrossleyPara SwimmingFlorida State alum Morgan RayPara SwimmingFrom St. AugustineDaniella Ramirez Artistic SwimmingFirst-time OlympianFrom MiamiThird-generation synchronized swimmer behind her grandmother and mother. Related: Paris 2024: Two Naples natives compete in US Olympic Swim Trials Erika ReinekeSailingFirst-time Olympian From Fort LauderdaleBoston College alumShe has been working to make it onto Team USA for 15 years and has achieved that goal at last Sha'Carri RichardsonTrack and FieldLives in ClermontRussell RobinsonTriple JumpWent to West Orange HighAttends University of Miami Donald Scott Track and Field/Triple JumpFrom ApopkaRead his bioRelated: Olympic triple jumper who got start at Central Florida high school eyes gold this summerKieran SmithSwimmingBronze Medalist University of Florida alumDominique Stater SailingFirst-time Olympian From Miami, FLAsociacion Escuelas Lincoln alumHas lived in Maryland, Nicaragua, Peru, Chile, Colombia, and Argentina Kristina TeachoutTaekwondoFirst-time Olympian From Palm BayOnly 18 years old Twanisha TerryTrack and FieldFrom MiamiLives in Clermont Dylan TravisBasketballFirst-time OlympianFlorida Southern College alumSpecial Education teacher Mary TuckerShootingSilver MedalistFrom SarasotaUniversity of Kentucky alumQuit her high school team and learned to teach herself shooting via YouTube videos and online resourcesFollow her journeyParker ValbyTrack and FieldLives in BrooksvilleAttends UF Jenson Van EmburghPara Table TennisBronze MedalistFrom Belleair BeachTried sled hockey, wheelchair tennis and wheelchair basketball before finding table tennis Dania VizziShootingFirst-time Olympian From TampaUniversity of Florida alumNicknamed "Shooterina" because of her ballet backgroundRelated: Decorated skeet shooter training in Florida backyard hopes to win big in Paris this summerEmma WeyantSwimmingSilver MedalistFrom SarasotaUniversity of Virginia alumGemma WollenschlaegerPara RowingFrom St. Augustine BeachTemple University Leanne WongGymnastics alternateGoes to University of Florida Related: Florida Gator heading to Paris as replacement athlete for 2024 US Gymnastics Olympic TeamRelated: How to watch the 2024 Paris Olympics on WESH 2 in Orlando

The Paris Olympics are less than a week away and many athletes with a connection to Florida will be representing Team USA.

Here is a look at those athletes and how you can follow them on their journey:

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Perry Baker

Related: Central Florida rugby sevens player heading to Paris 2024 Olympics

Kenny Bednarek

  • Track and Field
  • Lives in Minneola

Aaliyah Butler

  • Track and Field
  • From Fort Lauderdale

Related: Some of the fastest people in the world are training for the Paris Olympics in Florida

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Danielle Collins

  • Tennis
  • From St. Petersburg

Tamari Davis

  • Track and Field - Relay pool additional athlete
  • Lives in Orlando

Jeremiah Davis

  • Track and Field - Long Jump
  • Lives in Tallahassee

Ben Davison

  • Rowing
  • From Inverness
  • University of Washington alum

Clark Dean

  • Rowing
  • From Sarasota
  • Harvard University alum

Angelica Delgado

  • Judo
  • From Miami

Caeleb Dressel

  • Swimming
  • Seven-time Gold Medalist
  • From Orange Park
  • University of Florida alum

Markus Edegran

  • Sailing
  • First-time Olympian
  • From West Palm Beach
  • St. Mary's College of Maryland alum

Related: Ralph Lauren goes with basic blue jeans for Team USA's opening Olympic ceremony uniforms

Bobby Finke

  • Swimming
  • Two-time Gold Medalist
  • From Clearwater
  • University of Florida alum
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Coco Gauff

  • Tennis
  • From Delray Beach
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Anna Hall

  • Track and Field
  • University of Florida
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Quincy Hall

  • Track and Field
  • Lives in Gainesville
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Grant Holloway

  • Track and Field
  • University of Florida
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Melissa Jefferson

  • Track and Field
  • Lives in Clermont

Ashleigh Johnson

  • Water Polo
  • Two-time Gold Medalist
  • From Miami
  • Princeton University alum
  • The first Black athlete to make the U.S. Olympic team in water polo
  • Read her bio
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Omari Jones

  • Boxing
  • First-time Olympian
  • From Orlando
  • Valencia College
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Related: Central Florida community celebrates young boxer heading to 2024 Olympics

Fred Kerley

  • Track and Field
  • Lives in Miami

Kyree King

  • Track and Field - Relay pool additional athlete
  • Lives in Clermont
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Erriyon Knighton

  • Track and Field
  • From Tampa
  • Lives in Gainesville
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Austin Krajicek

  • Tennis
  • From Brandon

Noah Lyles

  • Track and Field
  • Lives in Clermont

Noah Lyons

  • Sailing
  • First-time Olympian
  • From Clearwater
  • University of South Florida alum

Caroline Marks

Caroline Marks, of the United States, poses for a photo before a training session at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 24, 2021, at Tsurigasaki beach in Ichinomiya, Japan. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
(AP Photo/Francisco Seco)

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Duncan McGuire

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Victor Montalvo

  • Breaking
  • First-time Olympian
  • His father and uncle have been described as "breaking pioneers," as they helped grow the sport in Mexico since the late 1980s
  • From Kissimmee

Related: Central Florida native ready to make debut as break dancing heads to Olympics for the first time

Jasmine Moore

  • Triple Jump, Long Jump
  • Lives in Gainesville

Ryan Murphy

  • Swimming
  • Four-time Gold Medalist
  • From Ponte Vedra Beach
  • University of California alum

This content is imported from YouTube. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

Monae' Nicholes

  • Track and Field
  • From Lakeland

Tracy Otto

  • Para Archery
  • First-time Paralympian
  • From Plant City
  • University of Tampa alum
  • Took up the sport after surviving a life-threatening domestic violence attack where she lost her left eye and was paralyzed from the chest down.
  • Follow her journey
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Tommy Paul

  • Tennis
  • From Delray Beach

Poe Pinson

  • Skateboarding
  • From Fernandina Beach
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Christie Raleigh Crossley

  • Para Swimming
  • Florida State alum
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Morgan Ray

  • Para Swimming
  • From St. Augustine

Daniella Ramirez

  • Artistic Swimming
  • First-time Olympian
  • From Miami
  • Third-generation synchronized swimmer behind her grandmother and mother.

    Related: Paris 2024: Two Naples natives compete in US Olympic Swim Trials

    Erika Reineke

    • Sailing
    • First-time Olympian
    • From Fort Lauderdale
    • Boston College alum
    • She has been working to make it onto Team USA for 15 years and has achieved that goal at last
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    Sha'Carri Richardson

    • Track and Field
    • Lives in Clermont

    Russell Robinson

    Donald Scott

    Related: Olympic triple jumper who got start at Central Florida high school eyes gold this summer

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    Kieran Smith

    • Swimming
    • Bronze Medalist
    • University of Florida alum

    Dominique Stater

    • Sailing
    • First-time Olympian
    • From Miami, FL
    • Asociacion Escuelas Lincoln alum
    • Has lived in Maryland, Nicaragua, Peru, Chile, Colombia, and Argentina
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    Kristina Teachout

            • Taekwondo
            • First-time Olympian
            • From Palm Bay
            • Only 18 years old
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            Twanisha Terry

            • Track and Field
            • From Miami
            • Lives in Clermont
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            Dylan Travis

            • Basketball
            • First-time Olympian
            • Florida Southern College alum
            • Special Education teacher

            Mary Tucker

            Olympic hopeful American para shooter, Mary Tucker, poses for a photo, on Tuesday, April 16, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki)
            (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki)

            • Shooting
            • Silver Medalist
            • From Sarasota
            • University of Kentucky alum
            • Quit her high school team and learned to teach herself shooting via YouTube videos and online resources
            • Follow her journey
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            Parker Valby

            • Track and Field
            • Lives in Brooksville
            • Attends UF
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            Jenson Van Emburgh

            • Para Table Tennis
            • Bronze Medalist
            • From Belleair Beach
            • Tried sled hockey, wheelchair tennis and wheelchair basketball before finding table tennis
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            Dania Vizzi

            • Shooting
            • First-time Olympian
            • From Tampa
            • University of Florida alum
            • Nicknamed "Shooterina" because of her ballet background

            Related: Decorated skeet shooter training in Florida backyard hopes to win big in Paris this summer

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            Emma Weyant

            • Swimming
            • Silver Medalist
            • From Sarasota
            • University of Virginia alum
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            Gemma Wollenschlaeger

            • Para Rowing
            • From St. Augustine Beach
            • Temple University
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            Leanne Wong

            • Gymnastics alternate
            • Goes to University of Florida

            Related: Florida Gator heading to Paris as replacement athlete for 2024 US Gymnastics Olympic Team

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            Related: How to watch the 2024 Paris Olympics on WESH 2 in Orlando

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