Tag: Grant Holloway

Florida Gators take home 11 medals at Paris Olympics

The Olympics have come to a close after 16 days of world class competition. Here’s how every Florida Gator performed at the 2024 Paris Games.

The University of Florida sent more than 40 current and former Gators to the Paris Olympics this summer, and the Orange and Blue claimed 11 medals in total — four gold, four silver and three bronze.

American swimming legend [autotag]Caeleb Dressel[/autotag] took home gold in two team events, the 4×100 free relay and 4×100 mixed medley relay. Dressel also claimed silver in the 4×100 medley relay; although, the Americans were favorites to take gold in the event.

Florida’s two other golds came from swimmer [autotag]Bobby Finke[/autotag] in the 1,500-meter freestyle and track star [autotag]Grant Holloway[/autotag] in the 110-meter hurdles. Finke set a world record with a time 14:30.67 while defending his 2020 gold from Tokyo and added a silver in the 800-meter free.

The other silver medals come from the pool as well. [autotag]Josh Liendo[/autotag] finished second in the 100-meter butterfly, swimming for Team Canada, and [autotag]Kieran Smith[/autotag] was a member of the 4×200 relay team that placed second.

[autotag]Emma Weyant[/autotag] earned bronze in the 400-meter individual medley, and [autotag]Jasmine Moore[/autotag] placed third in both the long jump and triple jump.

If the University of Florida were its own country, the Gators would have finished tied for 16th with Sweden, which also ended the Games with four gold, four silver and three bronze medals.

Other Gators Results at the Olympics

Swimming and Diving

  • Caeleb Dressel (USA) — 6th in 50-meter freestyle, 13th in 100-meter butterfly
  • [autotag]Luke Whitlock[/autotag] (USA) — 15th in 900-meter freestyle
  • Julie Brousseau (Canada) — 4th in 4×200-meter freestyle relay
  • Josh Liendo (Canada) — 4th in 50-meter freestyle, 6th in 4×100-meter freestyle relay, 11th in 100-meter freestyle
  • Maha Amer (Egypt) — 24th in women’s 3-meter springboard prelimnaries
  • Nicole Maier (Germany) — 5th in 4×200-meter freestyle relay
  • Amro Al-Wir (Jordan) — 23rd in 200-meter breaststroke
  • Aleksas Savickas (Lithuania) — 19th in 200-meter breaststroke
  • Jonny Marshall (UK) — 14th in 100-meter backstroke
  • Alberto Mestre(Venezuela) — 21st in 50-meter freestyle, 37th in 100-meter freestyle
  • Alfonso Mestre (Venezuela) — 19th in 400-meter freestyle, 29th in 800-meter freestyle

Track and Field

  • [autotag]Anna Hall[/autotag] (USA) — 5th in women’s heptathlon
  • [autotag]Grace Stark[/autotag] (USA) — 5th in women’s 100-meter hurdles
  • [autotag]Parker Valby[/autotag] — 5th in women’s 10,000 meters
  • Genevieve Gregson (Australia) — 24th in women’s marathon
  • Wanya McCoy (Bahamas) — 18th in 200-meter semifinals, 41st in 100-meter heats
  • Lloydricia Cameron (Jamaica) — 8th in Group A in women’s shot put
  • Reheem Hayles (Jamaica) — fifth in men’s 4×400-meter relay
  • Jevaughn Powell (Jamaica) — 13th in men’s 400-meter semifinals
  • Hakim Sani Brown (Japan) — 5th in men’s 4×100-meter relay, 10th in men’s 100 meter
  • [autotag]Joseph Fahbulleh[/autotag](Liberia) — 7th in men’s 200-meter, 7th in men’s 4×100-meter relay
  • Alida van Daalen (Netherlands) — 13th in Group B in women’s shot put
  • Thomas Mardal (Norway) — 11th in men’s hammer throw
  • Eddie Garcia (Virgin Islands) — did not finish marathon

Basketball

  • Canyon Barry (USA) — 7th in men’s 3v3
  • Andrew Nembhard (Canada) — lost in quarterfinals; top 8
  • Nick Calathes (Greece) — lost in quarterfinals; top 8
  • Andrea Vilano (Spain) — lost in quarterfinals; top 8

Golf

  • Alejandro Tosti (Argentina) — tied for 18th in men’s tournament
  • Camilo Villegas (Venezuela) — 57th in men’s tournament
  • Sarah Schober (Austria) — tied for 47th in women’s tournament

Gymnastics

  • [autotag]Leanne Wong[/autotag] (USA) — traveled as a reserve

Soccer

  • Adriana Leon (Canada) — lost in quarterfinals; top 8 in women’s bracket
  • DeAnne Rose (Canada) — lost in quarterfinals; top 8 in women’s bracket

Tennis

  • Danielle Collins (USA) — lost in quarterfinals; top 8 in women’s bracket

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Florida’s Grant Holloway seeks redemption at Paris Olympics 2024

Grant Holloway is looking for his first Olympic gold metal this summer in Paris.

Former Florida track and field star [autotag]Grant Holloway[/autotag] has taken the sport by storm over the past five years along with fellow American Noah Lyles. Since rooming together at Doha in 2019, the pair have been a nearly unstoppable force.

Nearly.

“We were roommates in Doha in 2019. We were talking and we were like we can really take this sport by a chokehold,” Holloway recalled at the USA track and field Paris Olympics press conference. “I think ever since then for both of us, we’ve had our ups and downs, that’s track and field. Any given Sunday anything can happen. We both just want to be consistent and dominant in the sport.”

Since then, the two have dominated the world track and field championships, with Holloway’s taking in three consecutive world championship golds in the 110 hurdles. However, neither topped the podium at the previous Tokyo Olympics — Holloway finished second in the 110 hurdles after he was upset by Jamaica’s Hansle Parchment.

Holloway talks about Tokyo vs Paris

“Obviously, Tokyo is Tokyo and we’re in Paris now.” Holloway notes. “I honestly don’t even like talking about it because at that time I was just literally running.”

The decorated track and field standout came out of college blazing but still was very unrefined in comparison to his professional peers.

“I didn’t know what I was doing for hurdling. I knew how to hurdle but I was literally just running. I didn’t know what I was doing for hurdling. Like I know how to hurdle but I was really just running. I don’t know what I was doing in a sense.

Now I know my segments. It’s just like reading a book. You read left to right. You get a little more intricate with your abilities – what you’re strengths and weaknesses are. I’ve just been homing in on that.”

Holloway in the groove now

“I love the sport,” Holloway said. “I love the consistency that I’m having and how everybody recognizes how consistent I am.”

Holloway’s personal-best time of 12.81 is just shy of the 12.80 world record set by Aries Merritt in 2012. The U.S. hurdler could threaten the world record in Paris, but the primary objective for the three-time world champion is to win his first-ever Olympic gold medal.

“The gold medal of course is the main goal for all of us here on this stage,” Holloway said. “To be able to represent our country, our last name, who we are and our communities. I think just kind of going forward for all that. We are all fit, we are all ready and we are all ready to have some fun.”

Holloway’s Olympic schedule outlook

  • Aug 4 at 5:50 a.m. ET (110m hurdles heat)
  • Aug 6 at 4:50 a.m. ET (110m hurdles repechage round)
  • Aug 7 at 1:05 p.m. ET (110m hurdles semifinals)
  • Aug 8 at 3:45 p.m. ET (110m hurdles finals)

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Gators sending all-time high 40 Florida athletes to Paris Olympics

There will be a whole gaggle of Gators competing in Paris these next few weeks.

The University of Florida will have a school-best 40 current Gators and alumni at the 2024 Paris Olympics, which kicks off this week in the City of Lights. The Orange and Blue have the fourth-best showing among college institutions.

Compare the 2024 numbers with the 39 UF representatives at the 2008 Beijing Games and 35 at the Tokyo Games in 2020.

In addition to those 40 competitors, Florida has five coaches also in Paris for the games — one of whom will also be competing. [autotag]Anthony Nesty[/autotag] is the head coach for the US men’s swimming team while Whitney Hite is also on the Team USA swimming staff as an assistant and personal coach.

Nic Petersen is Team USA’s jumps/multis coach for men’s track and field while [autotag]Leanne Wong[/autotag]’s coach Owen Field will assist the USA Gymnastics squad. Rhyne Howard will play for USA Basketball in the 3×3 event.

17 Gators are repeat Olympians

Amro Al-Wir (Jordan 2x), Maha Amer (Egypt 2x), Lloydricia Cameron (Jamaica 2x), [autotag]Caeleb Dressel[/autotag] (U.S. 3x), Joseph Fahnbulleh (Liberia 2x), [autotag]Bobby Finke[/autotag] (U.S. 2x), [autotag]Grant Holloway[/autotag] (U.S. 2x), Genevieve LaCaze Gregson (AUS 4x), Adriana Leon (Canada 2x), Josh Liendo (Canada 2x), Alberto Mestre (Venezuela 2x), Alfonso Mestre (Venezuela 2x), Jasmine Moore (U.S. 2x), Deanne Rose (CAN 3x), Hakim Sani Brown (JAPAN 2x), [autotag]Kieran Smith[/autotag] (U.S. 2x) and Emma Weyant (U.S. 2x).

Gators are representing 21 different countries in Paris

Argentina (1), Austria (1), Australia (1), Bahamas (1), Canada (5), Colombia (1), Egypt (1), Germany (1), Great Britain (1), Greece (1), Jamaica (3), Japan (1), Jordan (1), Liberia (1), Lithuania (1), Netherlands (1), Nigeria (1), Norway (1), United States (14), U.S. Virgin Islands (1) and Venezuela (2).

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Sixteen Gators headed to Paris Olympics for Track and Field

Florida’s track and field program is among the best and the country. It’s no surprise to see over a dozen current and former Gators in the Olympic field.

With rosters set for the 2024 Paris Olympics, 16 current and former Florida track and field athletes will participate in the Opening Ceremony.

Six Gators qualified for the United States roster, most notably Grant Holloway in the men’s 110-meter hurdle and Jasmine Moore in the women’s long jump and triple jump.

The other 10 are scattered across eight different international rosters. Sprinter Joseph Fahnbulleh is representing Liberia in the 100-meter, 200-meter and 4×100-meter relay. Lloydricia Cameron (women’s shot put), [autotag]Reheem Hayles[/autotag] (4x400m mixed relay) and [autotag]Jevaughn Powell[/autotag] (400m) are all on the Jamaican roster.

Distance runner [autotag]Parker Valby[/autotag] made the roster after a second-place finish in the 10,000-meter even at the U.S. Olympic Trials. She had to wait for official word because she didn’t have an Olympic Standard qualifying time, but her world ranking sufficed.

GATORS IN THE OLYMPICS– Track and Field/Athletics

WOMEN’S 2024 OLYMPICS ROSTER

Lloydricia Cameron; Shot Put; Jamaica; 2015-18
Genevieve Gregson; Marathon; Australia; 2009-12
Anna Hall; Heptathlon; United States; 2022
[autotag]Jasmine Moore[/autotag]; Long Jump, Triple Jump; United States; 2022-23
[autotag]Grace Stark[/autotag]; 100m H; United States; 2020-24
Parker Valby; 10,000m; United States; 2021-24
Alida van Daalen; Shot Put, Discus; Netherlands; 2023-present

MEN’S 2024 OLYMPICS ROSTER

Malcolm Clemons; Long Jump; United States; 2021-24
Joseph Fahnbulleh; 100m, 200m, 4x100m; Liberia; 2020-21
Eddie Garcia; Marathon; U.S. Virgin Islands; 2012-16
[autotag]Grant Holloway[/autotag]; 110m H; United States; 2017-19
Thomas Mardal; Hammer Throw; Norway; 2018-21
Wanya McCoy; 100m, 200m; Bahamas; 2024
Jevaughn Powell; 400m; Jamaica; 2023-24
Reheem Hayles; 4x400m mixed;  Jamaica; 2024
Hakim Sani Brown; 100m; Japan; 2018-19

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Grant Holloway a USA TODAY Sports winner from U.S. Olympic track & field trials

The pride of Florida’s track and field team appears to still be well in his prime with his recent performance at the U.S. Olympic track & field trials.

The U.S. Olympic track and field trials had a memorable final four days of competition, which included a statement performance from former Florida Gators star runner Grant Holloway.

USA TODAY Sports’ Tyler Dragon dropped his winners and losers column to start the month and included Holloway among his former group. He appears to still be in his prime, competing at the level he did the last time the Olympics rolled around.

“Holloway sent a message to the Paris Olympic participants in the men’s 110-meter hurdles. Holloway looked unbeatable at the Olympic trials,” Dragon begins.

“The three-time world champion saved his best for the final. Holloway ran a world-leading time of 12.86 seconds to win gold. It’s the second-fastest time he’s ever run.

“Holloway looks to be on a mission this year for his first Olympic gold. He placed second at the Tokyo Olympics.”

Before the final, Holloway was the only man to run a sub-13-second 110-meter hurdle this year. Freddie Crittenden (12.93) and Daniel Roberts (12.96) both joined that list and are headed to Paris on the Olympic team after medaling in Eugene.

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Gators legend Grant Holloway wins US 110m hurdle championship, headed to Paris Olympics

After silver medaling in Tokyo three years ago, Gators legend Grant Holloway is headed back to the Olympics with eyes on gold in the 110-meter hurdle.

Florida track and field legend Grant Holloway punched his ticket to the Paris Olympics on Friday night with a 12.86-second 110-meter hurdle to claim his second national championship.

The number is also good for fourth all-time, giving him two of the top four spots on that list. Holloway’s best performance came in June 2021 at the same event. He won a silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics and is chasing gold this time around. He is the current world leader for the season.

In the first round of the U.S. Trials on Monday, Holloway clocked a 12.92-second finish, good for first place by .15 seconds. He was a hair slower in the semis on Tuesday with a time of 12.96 seconds, but he still claimed first overall on the day.

Before the final, Holloway was the only man to run a sub-13-second 110-meter hurdle this year. Freddie Crittenden (12.93) and Daniel Roberts (12.96) both joined that list and are headed to Paris on the Olympic team after medaling in Eugene.

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Florida’s Parker Valby a finalist for The Bowerman Award

Parker Valby could become the first-ever Gators woman to earn earn The Bowerman Award.

The United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association announced the three finalists for The Bowerman Award on Monday afternoon with Florida’s Parker Valby making the cut, joining Harvard’s Maia Ramsden and Oregon‘s Jaida Ross.

Valby is one of four women and eight Gator Track and Field athletes in the program’s history to be named a finalist for The Bowerman. Marquis Dendy (2015) and [autotag]Grant Holloway[/autotag] (2019) are the only two Gators to have won the award.

If Valby earns a third, she will be the first female in program history to do so as well.

THE BOWERMAN VOTING

Votes received from The Bowerman Voters for female candidates shall be tabulated as follows:

  1. Ballots: Each female Finalist shall receive 3 points for each “first choice” vote, 2 points for each “second choice” vote, and 1 point for each “third choice” vote.
  2. Fan Voting: The top female vote-getter in the Fan Voting for The Bowerman shall receive 3 points. The second-highest female vote-getter shall receive 2 points, and the third-highest female vote-getter shall receive 1 point.
  3. USTFCCCA Member Voting: The top female vote-getter in the USTFCCCA Member Voting for The Bowerman shall receive 3 points. The second-highest female vote-getter shall receive 2 points, and the female third-highest vote-getter shall receive 1 point.

DETERMINATION OF THE WINNER

The female Finalist with the highest point total after the tabulation of ballots, fan voting, and USTFCCCA member voting shall be declared the women’s winner of The Bowerman.

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5 former Florida Gators who left school at the right time

Pat Dooley lists five Gators who were right to leave school when they did.

In the world of college athletics – which right now is both confusing and rewarding – careers are made by decisions.

It starts early with athletes deciding where they will visit, then where they will commit and finally where they sign. Nowadays, it’s a yearly decision about whether to stay or jump into the transfer portal.

Finally, it’s a decision for the elite (and some not so elite) to turn pro early or use all of their eligibility.

[autotag]Trinity Thomas[/autotag] is facing that decision even though she has been amazing for four full years. Because she has a pandemic year she can still use, Thomas could return for a fifth season and use it as a bridge to the next Olympics.

Thomas would be one of those athletes in Florida history who could choose to leave and we would all say, “Thanks.” The voice would be loud, too, because she is in the argument for greatest gymnast ever at Florida and perhaps the NCAA.

We’ll wait for her to announce, but while we do that, let us look at 10 UF athletes who left early and most Gator fans just wanted to give them a hug and wish them well. They had done enough.

Today, the first five of the top 10 of those athletes. Tomorrow, the second five plus a few that we were wondering what they were thinking.

Gators News: Tokyo Olympics continue while Gator Walk Village gets expansion

The Olympics continue with several current and former Gators competing among their international peers, with Grant Holloway leading the way.

We have reached the middle of the week and things are slowly heating up on the hot stove as the fall athletic season approaches. Meanwhile, the Tokyo Olympics continue with several current and former Gators competing among their international peers, with UF legend Grant Holloway leading the way. Back in Gainesville, Florida’s tailgating scene gets an expansion ahead of the 2021 college football season. Here is a look at the latest from around the Swamp.

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Former Florida track star Grant Holloway clinches Olympics berth

Grant Holloway will always be remembered as a Gator great for his three national titles. He earned a spot on Team USA Saturday.

Despite what the NBC graphic stated, Grant Holloway is a former track star for Florida, not Florida State. The broadcast aired the incorrect graphic after he secured his spot on Team USA for the Tokyo Olympics with a win in the 110-meter hurdles final on Saturday in Eugene, Oregon.

This will be Holloway’s first time suiting up for the red, white and blue at the Olympic Games. In the semifinals, he made some more noise. He recorded a time of 12.8, 1/100th of a second from tying the world record. The mark he did post was the fastest in the world this year and set a new U.S. Olympic Trials record.

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He tallied a 12.96 in the finals. In both events, Holloway blasted away the competition, being the only runner to crack the 13-second barrier. It’s not surprising to see him succeed, as he was the favorite after he won the world title in 2019.

Gators fans will want to tune into the Olympics broadcast in August because he has a legitimate chance to earn gold in Tokyo.

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