Tag: Olympic Games Paris 2024

Wisconsin multi-sport alumnus earns two Olympic victories in women’s rugby

Wisconsin multi-sport alumnus pockets two Olympic victories in women’s rugby

Wisconsin women’s hockey and soccer alumnus Alev Kelter helped guide USA rugby to two wins on the second day of competition at the Olympic Games.

USA Rugby kicked off its day at 9:30 a.m. CT with a 36-7 victory against Japan. Kelter did not record any points in her first match but responded with a spectacular performance later in the day.

Kelter started against Brazil in her second Olympic appearance of 2024 and executed on a try fewer than 45 seconds into the match. The former Badger followed the earlier try by scoring on a conversion at the 8:09 mark before yet another conversion late in the second half.

USA Rugby would go on to a 24-5 win and finish 2-0 on the day.

At UW, Kelter represented both the women’s hockey and soccer teams from 2009-13. She was named second-team All-Big Ten on the pitch in 2012 and NCAA Frozen Four All-Tournament Team member during her sophomore season in 2011.

The top two teams in each pool, as well as the best two teams placed third in their pools, will qualify to the quarterfinal round. The United States is competing alongside Brazil, France and Japan as a member of Pool C.

Kelter and the United States will continue action at 9:30 a.m. ET on Monday, July 29.

Former Badger helps U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team advance in Olympic Games

Former Badger helps U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team advance in Olympic Games

Wisconsin women’s soccer alumnus Rose Lavelle helped the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team advance to the knockout stage at the Olympic Games Paris 2024 on Sunday.

The United States defeated Germany 4-1 in its second match of group play. The Americans defeated Zambia in their Olympic opener on July 25.

Lavelle and company now hold sole leadership in their group — which also includes Zambia, Germany and Australia.

As she did against Zambia, the former Badger started at midfield alongside Samantha Coffee. Lavelle racked up four corner kicks and played all 90 minutes of the match.

In terms of scoring, the United States’ Sophia Smith nailed two goals while Mallory Swanson and Lynn Williams chipped in with one apiece. Goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher finished with four saves as well.

This marks Lavelle’s second Olympic appearance following her stint at the Olympic Games Tokyo. She played in all six games en route to the United States’ bronze medal finish in 2021.

Lavelle and the United States will square off against Australia next at 1:00 p.m. ET on July 31.

Wisconsin volleyball stars enjoy Olympic opening ceremony with NBA legend Steph Curry

Wisconsin volleyball legends enjoy Summer Olympics Opening Ceremony with Steph Curry

Just days after snapping a photo with rapper Snoop Dogg, former Wisconsin volleyball stars Lauren Carlini and Dana Rettke were pictured alongside NBA legend Steph Curry at the Summer Olympics opening ceremony on Friday.

Staged along Paris, France’s Seine River, the opening ceremony included a majority of the 592 American athletes selected to participate in the Olympic Games this summer.

Several crossovers between powerful sporting figures, including USA Volleyball’s women’s roster and four-time NBA champion Steph Curry, took place on Friday before the ceremony.

The Americans were together on one vessel as the Olympic procession floated down the Seine.

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Carlini and Rettke will represent the Badgers for the first time on an Olympic stage this Monday at 10:00 a.m. CT. The red, white and blue will square off against China before a match vs. Serbia on July 31.

Carlini will play setter while Rettke will play middle blocker during the USA’s quest for a gold medal.

Wisconsin women’s rowing alumni kick off 2024 Olympic action

Wisconsin women’s rowing alumni kick off Olympic action

Three Wisconsin women’s rowing alumni kicked off the Olympic competition at the Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium on Saturday.

Sophia Vitas, Grace Joyce and Lauren O’Conner represented the Badgers in the first day of competition at the Olympic Games Paris 2024.

Vitas, who rowed at UW from 2013-16, was the first Badger to compete on Saturday morning. Her women’s double sculls advanced to the semifinals after finishing third place in their heat.

She, alongside 2020 Summer Olympian Kristi Wagner, helped the Americans register 6:56.47 over 2000 meters. Only New Zealand (6:51.68) and Great Britain (6:52.31) finished higher.

The semifinals will take place at 3:10 a.m. CT on Sunday.

Composing half of their group in the women’s quadruple sculls, Lauren O’Connor and Grace Joyce secured a fourth-place finish in their heat. They will face China, Switzerland, Romania and Australia in the repechage at 4:30 a.m. CT on Monday.

Maddie Wanamaker, the fourth Wisconsin rowing alumnus, will begin her leg of Olympic participation on Monday, July 29.

Examining the final Olympic roster of Wisconsin Badgers in Paris

Examining the final Olympic roster of Wisconsin Badgers in Paris

A total of seventeen current or former Wisconsin athletes will represent the Badgers at the Olympic Games Paris 2024 from July 26 to Aug. 11.

Following the opening ceremony on Friday, July 26, the 17 Badgers who clinched a bid will compete in seven separate sports. Badger faithful will be able to watch former UW greats take part in rugby, soccer, women’s rowing, men’s basketball, women’s volleyball, track and field, swimming and diving during the event.

The Badgers will be participating in all but one of the competition days during the Olympic window with former soccer star Rose Lavelle kicking things off on Thursday against Zambia.

The track and field pool includes All-American and All-Big Ten cross country selection Mohammed Ahmed (Canada), 2020 Olympian Ollie Hoare (Australia), four-time NCAA Champion Morgan McDonald (Australia), five-time Big Ten champion Adam Spencer (Australia) and two-time track and field Olympian Zach Ziemek (United States).

A total of four former Badgers will participate in women’s rowing. Lauren O’Connor (United States), Grace Joyce (United States), Maddie Wanamaker (United States) and Sophia Vitas (United States) will venture across the pond, each with four years of experience in Madison.

2024 200 Backstroke NCAA Champion and 2024 Big Ten Swimmer of the Championship Phoebe Bacon (United States) will compete in the 200-meter backstroke while 2024 NCAA Championship qualifier Taiko Torepe-Ormsby (New Zealand) will make his Olympic debut in the 50 Freestyle.

Former volleyball legends Lauren Carlini (United States) and Dana Rettke (United States) will sport the red, white and blue on the United States’ 2024 Women’s Olympic Volleyball Team.

Badger forward Aleem Ford (Puerto Rico) will compete in men’s basketball, women’s rugby star Alev Kelter (United States) will also suit up for her third Olympics and incoming Badger Jaden Eikermann Gregorchuk (Germany) will participate in men’s diving.

Local time in Paris is 6 hours ahead ET and 7 hours ahead CT. All events will be available via stream on Peacock.

LOOK: Wisconsin volleyball legends pictured with rapper Snoop Dogg

LOOK: Wisconsin volleyball legends pictured with Snoop Dogg

You never know who you’ll run into at the Summer Olympics.

On Wednesday, former Wisconsin volleyball stars Lauren Carlini and Dana Rettke were pictured alongside legendary rapper Snoop Dogg ahead of the Olympic Games Paris 2024.

As a contributor to NBC’s coverage of the event, Snoop made his rounds to several Olympic squads today — including the 2024 USA Women’s Volleyball Team. The famous rapper appears to have bumped into Rettke and Carlini’s group either before or after a practice.

Carlini and Rettke will represent the Badgers and the USA when the Olympic games begin later this week. The contest will serve as the first Olympic experience for both former Badgers.

Carlini will play setter for the 2024 team while Rettke will play middle blocker during the USA’s quest for a gold medal.

Carlini was previously an AVCA First-Team All-American and All-Big Ten Team member in four consecutive seasons as a Badger. She also took home 2014 Big Ten Player of the Year nods and Big Ten Setter of the Year in both 2014 and 2015.

Rettke, arguably the greatest player in Wisconsin history, was an AVCA First-Team All-American in all four years, and named Big Ten Female Athlete of the Year twice in 2020 and 2022.

She also received 2019 Big Ten Player of the Year, 2017 Big Ten Freshman of the Year and 2019, 2020, and 2021 AVCA Northeast Region Player of the Year nods from 2019-21.

The crew opens Olympic action with China on July 29 at South Paris Arena.

Two former Wisconsin Badgers included in viral photo at USA Basketball practice

Two former Wisconsin Badgers included in viral photo at USA Basketball practice

Former Wisconsin basketball stars Nigel Hayes-Davis and Micah Potter were part of a viral photo from USA Basketball practice on Tuesday.

They were pictured with the rest of the 2024 USA Basketball men’s national team along with Vice President Kamala Harris, who was visiting the team’s practice. Also pictured are NBA legends Steph Curry, Kawhi Leonard, LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Joel Embiid, Jayson Tatum and others. Understandably, it led many to wonder how Hayes-Davis and Potter fit into the picture.

Harris’ visit coincided with the final day of the team’s training camp at UNLV’s Mendenhall Center. The vice president first greeted head coach Steve Kerr, then ventured onto the court to greet the 12-man squad and select practice players Potter, Hayes-Davis and Langston Galloway.

As members of the 2024 USA Select Team, Potter and Hayes-Davis served as practice players to play against the Olympic team during their preparation period in Las Vegas, Nevada. Neither Potter nor Hayes saw the court for the Select Team, but each remained on the hardwood after practice to get extra shots up.

That is likely how they were included in the photo next to some of the best basketball players of all time.

Hayes-Davis recently won the 2024 Turkish League Championship with Fenerbahçe Beko and dropped a Turkish Airlines Euroleague record 50 points this season. He has made NBA pit stops with the Los Angeles Lakers, Sacramento Kings and Toronto Raptors.

During his four-year tenure at UW, the small forward was named Big Ten Sixth Man of the Year (2014), two-time third-team All-Big Ten (2015, 2017) and first-team All-Big Ten (2016).

Potter, meanwhile, represents the Utah Jazz’ G League affiliate, the Salt Lake Stars. He averaged 11.6 points and 6.1 rebounds in 52 games for the Badgers from 2019-21.

Both are looking for an opportunity to stick on an NBA roster.

Wisconsin athletics among elite group ahead of Olympic Games Paris 2024

Wisconsin athletics among elite group ahead of Olympic Games Paris 2024

Wisconsin athletics will be well represented in France at Olympic Games Paris 2024.

As many as twelve former Badgers will make the trek oversees in search of a gold medal. Only a handful of collegiate programs, including Big Ten rivals Penn State, USC and UCLA, will send at least 10 Olympians to this summer’s games.

Among the recent qualified Badgers are former women’s soccer superstar Rose Lavelle, two-time track and field Olympian Zach Ziemek and current senior swimmer Phoebe Bacon in the 200-meter backstroke.

Former volleyball legends Lauren Carlini and Dana Rettke will sport the red, white and blue for the United States’ 12-woman 2024 Women’s Olympic Volleyball roster this summer while Lauren O’Connor, Grace Joyce, Maddie Wanamaker and Sophia Vitas will search for golds as members of the country’s rowing squad.

All-American and All-Big Ten cross country selection Mohammed Ahmed will represent Canada in men’s track, and current Badger school record-holder Taiko Torepe-Ormsby will swim for New Zealand as well.

Women’s rugby star Alev Kelter will also suit up as the final UW Olympian of 2024.