Editor’s note: These capsules highlight 37 Olympians with Colorado ties. In determining who counted as a Coloradan, we included athletes who attended a Colorado high school or college, as well as those who currently live or train primarily in the state. Think we missed someone? Email [email protected] with your addition.
BASKETBALL
Canyon Barry
Specialty: 3×3 (guard)
Colorado connection: Graduate of Cheyenne Mountain High in Colorado Springs
What to know: Barry is the son of Basketball Hall of Famer Rick Barry and known for his “granny style” free-throw shooting.
Competing: vs. Serbia July 30; vs. Poland July 31; vs. Lithuania, vs. Latvia Aug. 1; vs. France and vs. China Aug. 2; vs. Netherlands Aug. 4
Specialty: 3×3 (guard)
Colorado connection: Littleton resident
What to know: A unanimous national college player of the year at BYU, Fredette played six seasons in the NBA.
Competing: vs. Serbia July 30; vs. Poland July 31; vs. Lithuania, vs. Latvia Aug. 1; vs. France and vs. China Aug. 2; vs. Netherlands Aug. 4
Specialty: 5×5 (center)
Colorado connection: Reigning NBA MVP and starting center for the Nuggets
What to know: Have you heard this guy likes horses?
Competing: vs. USA July 28; vs. Puerto Rico July 31; vs. Spain Aug. 3; quarterfinal Aug. 6; semifinal Aug. 8; bronze/gold medal game Aug. 10
Specialty: 5×5 (guard)
Colorado connection: Graduate of Legend High in Parker, played at UCCS and CU
What to know: It’s been a big year already for White, who won an NBA championship with the Boston Celtics in June and signed a $118 million contract extension a few weeks later.
Competing: vs. Serbia July 28; vs. South Sudan July 31; vs. Puerto Rico Aug. 3; quarterfinal Aug. 6; semifinal Aug. 8; bronze/gold medal game Aug. 10
Specialty: Mountain bike
Colorado connection: Lists Denver as hometown, trains in Durango
What to know: Amos and Christopher Blevins are hoping to end the Americans’ 12-year Olympic medal drought in mountain biking. The U.S. has never won gold.
Competing: Men’s cross-country, July 28-29
Specialty: Mountain bike
Colorado connection: Born and raised in Durango
What to know: Blevins is looking to improve on his performance at the Tokyo Olympics, where he finished 14th.
Competing: Men’s cross-country, July 28-29
Specialty: Mountain bike
Colorado connection: Attended Fort Lewis College, now trains in Durango
What to know: This four-time elite national champion is a first-time Olympian.
Competing: Women’s cross-country, July 28
Specialty: Road and track
Colorado connection: From Fort Collins, currently competes for Colorado Mesa University
What to know: Cummins is believed to be the first active CMU athlete to compete in the Olympics.
Competing: Women’s team pursuit Aug. 6-7
Specialty: Road and track
Colorado connection: Lives and trains in Colorado Springs
What to know: Dygert’s comeback from a 2020 crash that nearly severed her leg has been full of setbacks. In addition to multiple surgeries, in 2022 was diagnosed with Epstein-Barr virus, which causes severe fatigue. She underwent heart surgery to correct an arrhythmia.
Competing: Women’s time trial July 27; women’s road race Aug. 4; women’s team pursuit Aug. 6-7
Specialty: Road and track
Colorado connection: Lives in Nederland, rides professional for Denver Disruptors
What to know: You’ll recognize this Texas A&M graduate by his distinctive mullet hairstyle.
Competing: Men’s omnium, Aug. 8
Specialty: Track
Colorado connection: Attended UCCS, trains in Colorado Springs
What to know: America’s most decorated track cyclist, the San Diego native won gold (omnium) and bronze (team pursuit) in Tokyo and silver (team pursuit) in Rio. She is targeting Sarah Hammer’s record of four Olympic medals by a female American cyclist.
Competing: Women’s team pursuit Aug. 6-7; women’s madison Aug. 9; women’s omnium Aug. 11
Colorado connection: Born in Denver, Valor Christian graduate
What to know: Life’s been a whirlwind for Clark, 30, since winning both his first PGA Tour event (Wells Fargo Championship) and first major (U.S. Open) last year. The former Oklahoma State and Oregon golfer is expected to return to Colorado shortly after the Olympics for the BMW Championship, Aug. 22-25 at Castle Pines Golf Club.
Competing: Men’s stroke play, Aug. 1-4
Specialty: All-around
Colorado connection: Former All-American, co-national champion at DU
What to know: Brown, now an assistant coach at Penn State, will be representing Haiti in Paris.