The 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris are captivating audiences around the world as athletes from various nations gather to showcase their extraordinary talents. Team USA boasts an impressive roster of Olympians, each with unique backgrounds and inspiring educational journeys. In fact, 75% of this year's US Olympians have competed at the collegiate level, with 65% being current, former, or incoming NCAA athletes spanning all three divisions. Let's meet five incredible Olympians competing in Paris and see where they pursued their education!
Stephen Nedoroscik, men's gymnastics
A standout in men's gymnastics, Stephen Nedoroscik is competing in his first Olympics in Paris, bringing a fresh wave of excitement to the pommel horse event. Born in Worcester, Massachusetts, Nedoroscik’s gymnastics journey began when he was about four years old. He excelled at the pommel horse, which later became his specialty. His dedication and skill led him to Pennsylvania State University, where he studied Electrical Engineering and became a two-time NCAA champion on the pommel horse, solidifying his reputation as one of the best in the discipline. His collegiate career was marked by consistent performances and numerous accolades, including four All-American titles. Balancing the rigors of a demanding academic program with elite gymnastics, Nedoroscik graduated in 2020. He became a hero in Paris, with his sole performance helping win the bronze in the men's team all-around final—the first medal the US team has won for the all-around in 16 years. Now known as the "Clark Kent of the pommel horse" and a viral fan favorite, Nedoroscik is not only a gymnastics marvel but can also impressively solve a Rubik's Cube in under 10 seconds!
Related: Colleges With Strength in Men's Gymnastics
Sunisa Lee, women's gymnastics
Suni Lee, the 2020 all-around champion, made a triumphant return to the Olympics after taking time off from elite gymnastics to compete in college and dealing with various health issues. Hailing from Saint Paul, Minnesota, Lee started tumbling at age six and has been a force to reckon with ever since. Despite her demanding gymnastics career, she committed to Auburn University in 2021, where she balanced collegiate gymnastics with her studies. She majored in Business Marketing and was a member of the Auburn Tigers gymnastics team, receiving many perfect 10s and winning first place on the balance beam during the 2022 NCAA championships. After having the “most decorated year in Auburn program history,” Lee ended her collegiate career early due to health reasons, leaving the University in 2023. After battling two different kidney diseases, she decided to focus on training for the 2024 Olympic Games, where she keeps collecting medals in individual and team events. But her time in college "will always be a part of me and my journey," she said in an Instagram post. "And I will always be an Auburn Tiger.”
Kate Douglass, women’s swimming
Kate Douglass has made waves in the swimming world with her impressive Olympics and world championship performances. Hailing from Pelham, New York, she began swimming competitively at age seven and quickly rose through the ranks. She attended the University of Virginia, where she majored in Statistics and was a key member of the Cavaliers' swimming and diving team. Douglass's undergraduate career was nothing short of spectacular; she won 15 NCAA titles and two Honda Sport Awards for best female college swimmer while setting numerous American and collegiate records. She is now pursuing her master's in Statistics at UVA and still training with coach Todd Desorbo. She even contributed to an article called "Swimming in Data" for The Mathematical Intelligencer as a graduate student. Known for her versatility, she excels in various events, including the 200-meter breaststroke and individual medley. Douglass has continued to build on her remarkable college career in Paris, winning a gold medal in the 200-meter breaststroke and helping the US women's team secure silver in the 4x100 freestyle relay.
Related: Colleges With Strength in Women's Swimming and/or Diving
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, women's track & field
As the 400-meter hurdle world record holder and winner of two gold medals in Tokyo, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone is another member of Team USA to keep an eye on. Born in Dunellen, New Jersey, McLaughlin-Levrone was Union Catholic Regional High School’s first two-time Gatorade Player of the Year for track & field. After breaking records in high school—including finishing third in the 2016 Olympic Trials and making the semifinals in Rio—she attended the University of Kentucky, where she won three SEC titles as well as a 400-meter hurdle national title during the 2017–2018 season. She set multiple NCAA records as a student-athlete and was a five-time All-American before leaving college to turn professional. Sprinting seems to run in Sydney’s family; her brother, Taylor McLaughlin, also ran track at the University of Michigan and won silver at the World Athletics U20 Championships in 2016.
Erriyon Knighton, men's track & field
A sprinting sensation from Tampa, Florida, Erriyon Knighton turned heads when he broke Usain Bolt’s junior world record in the 200 meter multiple times to qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. He began his track & field career as a freshman at Hillsborough High School, where he was also a wide receiver on the football team. Knighton bypassed the traditional college route to focus on his professional career, signing a sponsorship deal with Adidas at age 16. In 2021, he became the youngest man to represent US track & field at the Olympic Games since 1964. He trains with track & field coach Mike Holloway at the University of Florida and has expressed interest in pursuing higher education in the future, including going to community college and studying Science.
Related: Gold-Medal Colleges for Summer Olympic Sports
These Olympians exemplify the dedication and perseverance required to excel at the highest level of sport. Their educational paths are as varied as their athletic achievements, proving there are multiple ways to balance academic and athletic aspirations. As we cheer them on in Paris, we can appreciate their incredible journeys in both sports and education.
Can’t get enough of the Summer Olympics? Learn how to turn your love of the Games into a passion project that will impress college admission officers!
