Let the games begin! Tomorrow marks the opening ceremonies for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. For the next two weeks, athletes from all over the globe will come together to compete for gold and represent their countries in a series of events. Talent will be on display, heroes will be crowned and the world will come together to celebrate athletic competition. As we all prepare to cheer on our respected nations, here are five Olympic athletes from Texas that you should look out for!
Simone Biles, Spring, TX – At just 19 years old, Simone Biles is a young rising star in the national gymnastics circuit. She has already accomplished so much in her short career, winning 14 World Championship medals – the most in U.S. history. She has also racked up four national all-around championships and three world all-around championships, making her one of the most successful young athletes in the world. Let’s just say the sky is the limit for Biles as she enters her first Summer Olympic Games.
Jack Conger, Austin, TX – When people hear Olympic swimming, the first name that comes to mind is Michael Phelps. However, don’t be surprised if this young swimmer becomes a household name during the games. As a swimmer for the University of Texas, Jack placed top 3 in almost every national collegiate competition and won gold at the World University games. Hopefully Jack can add some more gold to his resume next week!
Trayvon Bromell, Waco, TX – This gifted sprinter ran for Baylor University and endured enormous success. He finished his tenure with three world championships, two NCAA titles and he also holds a world record in the 100m dash. He will be representing the US in the 100m and 4x100m races at Rio. We will see if he can match up with Usain Bolt!
Kassidy Cook, The Woodlands, TX – This young diving pro will make her Olympics debut next week, where she will put her skills to the test. She took her senior year off to train for the games and is heading to Stanford on a Diving Scholarship next year. At age 16, she finished 7th in the 3-meter world championships. We’ll see what happens with 5 more years of training and experience under her belt.
Steven Lopez, Sugar Land, TX – Lopez has been practicing taekwondo and competing in the sport since 1994. For the past 20 years, he has racked up a long series of accolades, which includes making the national team every single year and winning gold in the Olympic Qualification Tournament. He even finished first in the Olympic trials for the heavyweight class, so expect big things from this tenured fighter.
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