The University of Florida is usually well-represented at the Olympics, and this year is no different, with particularly strong representation in swimming, track and field and women's soccer. The Gators are expected to bring home a number of medals, probably more than most countries. With so many potential medal-winners, the big question is, "How many?"
The medal count will be particularly high in swimming, due to the sheer number of UF athletes entered - 23 current, former or future swimmers representing 12 countries will compete in the Games. A number of Gator swimmers are expected to make the podium, led by the ever-popular Ryan Lochte. Lochte is favored to earn a medal in each of his five events. On the women's side, Elizabeth "Diesel" Beisel could take home two individual medals; she will be favored to win the 400 individual medley.
The very first event to feature UF athletes will be the first round of women's soccer on Wednesday, July 25. Abby Wambach, Heather Mitts and the rest of the US soccer team will face off against France. The game will be televised live at noon on NBC Sports Network, or you can watch it live over the internet here.
I will try to post summaries of the events in which UF athletes are competing each day of the Games. Keep watching this space!
The following is a list of UF athletes in the Olympics, by sport:
Track & Field
Tony McQuay (USA)
Will Claye (USA)
Christian Taylor (USA)
Kerron Clement (USA)
Genevieve LaCaze (Australia)
Kemal Mesic (Bosnia)
Shara Proctor (UK)
Will Claye (USA)
Christian Taylor (USA)
Kerron Clement (USA)
Genevieve LaCaze (Australia)
Kemal Mesic (Bosnia)
Shara Proctor (UK)
Moise Joseph (Haiti)
Novlene Williams-Mills (Jamaica)
Mike Holloway (Coach - USA)
Mike Holloway (Coach - USA)
Swimming
Ryan Lochte (USA)
Conor Dwyer (USA)
Elizabeth Beisel (USA)
Bradley Ally (Barbados)
Brett Fraser (Cayman Islands)
Shaune Fraser (Cayman Islands)
Omar Andres Pinzon (Colombia)
Gemma Spofforth (UK)
Jemma Lowe (UK)
Marco Loughran (UK)
Stephanie Proud (UK)
Marcin Cieslak (Poland)
Conor Dwyer (USA)
Elizabeth Beisel (USA)
Bradley Ally (Barbados)
Brett Fraser (Cayman Islands)
Shaune Fraser (Cayman Islands)
Omar Andres Pinzon (Colombia)
Gemma Spofforth (UK)
Jemma Lowe (UK)
Marco Loughran (UK)
Stephanie Proud (UK)
Marcin Cieslak (Poland)
Csaba Gercsak (Hungary)Sarah Bateman (Iceland)
Hrafnhildur Luthersdottir (Iceland)
Raul Martinez (Puerto Rico)
Sebastian Rousseau (South Africa)
Melani Costa-Schmid (Spain)
Sarra Lajnef (Tunisia)
Gregg Troy (USA - Coach)
Basketball
Joakim Noah (France - qualified but withdrew due to injury)
Azania Stewart (UK)
Azania Stewart (UK)
Soccer
Abby Wambach (USA)
Heather Mitts (USA)
Heather Mitts (USA)
Mel Booth (Canada - alternate)
Women's Tennis
Lisa Raymond (USA)
Others Associated with UF
Peter Vanderkaay (Swimming - USA) - a Michigan alum, but trains with Coach Gregg Troy in Gainesville.
Sinead Russell (Swimming - Canada) - incoming freshmanClark Burckle (Swimming - USA) - former UF swimmer, transferred to University of Arizona
Dana Vollmer (Swimming - USA) - former UF swimmer, transferred to University of California - Berkeley
