Utah Olympians Heading To Tokyo For 2020 Games
Jun 26, 2021, 8:52 PM | Updated: Dec 8, 2022, 11:48 am
(From L) USA's Taylor Sander, Aaron Russell and Maxwell Holt celebrate winning the 2018 FIVB World Championship bronze medal final 3-4 match Serbia vs USA on September 30, 2018 in Turin. (Photo Credit: MARCO BERTORELLO/AFP via Getty Images)
(Photo Credit: MARCO BERTORELLO/AFP via Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Multiple athletes will represent the state of Utah during the upcoming 2020 Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo.
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The Tokyo 2020 Games will take place from July 23-August 8.
While some of the Olympians with ties to Utah will play for Team USA, others will represent their home countries.
Olympians with ties to Utah
Jake Gibb
Tie to Utah: Bountiful native/University of Utah
Sport: Beach Volleyball
Representing: USA
Jake Gibb grew up in Bountiful and attended the University of Utah. After picking up the sport of beach volleyball when he was in his early twenties, Gibb went on to play professionally on the AVP Tour. Tokyo 2020 will be Gibb’s fourth Olympic Games.
TOKYO OLYMPICS: Utah's Jake Gibb set to become the oldest Olympic beach volleyball player in history.
This guy is a machine!🙌#TokyoOlympics https://t.co/kJYYuvI0Qg
— Shara Park ✨ (@KSLSharaPark) June 10, 2021
Nathaniel Coleman
Tie to Utah: Murray native
Sport: Sport Climbing
Representing: USA
A native of Murray and graduate of Murray High School, Nathaniel Coleman will be competing at Tokyo 2020 in sport climbing. Coleman’s specialty is bouldering. Tokyo 2020 will be sport climbing’s debut at the Summer Games.
We caught up with @USAClimbing Nathaniel Coleman during his training. He will compete in @Tokyo2020 Olympics this summer. However, this weekend, he'll be competing in the @ifsclimbing World Cup here in downtown #SaltLakeCity. We're doing a story with him for @KSL5TV tonight at 6. pic.twitter.com/Qgj8Epgb0z
— Alex Cabrero (@KSL_AlexCabrero) May 27, 2021
Haley Batten
Tie to Utah: Park City native
Sport: Cycling
Representing: USA
Haley Batten is a native of Park City and a member of Team USA’s cycling team. Batten will compete in mountain biking.
Thanks for sharing my story @usacycling ! https://t.co/WlQWIN7ctR
— Haley Batten (@BattenHaley) June 30, 2020
Rhyan White
Tie to Utah: Herriman native
Sport: Swimming
Representing: USA
Rhyan White is a American swimmer from Herriman. She will compete in backstroke. White currently attends the University of Alabama and swims for the Crimson Tide.
WHAT a finish!
Rhyan White and 18-year-old Phoebe Bacon are going to the Olympics in the women's 200m back.@USASwimming | #SwimTrials21 x #TokyoOlympics
📺 NBC pic.twitter.com/9U7IQyLGOj
— NBC Olympics (@NBCOlympics) June 20, 2021
Hannah Flippen
Tie to Utah: University of Utah
Sport: Softball
Representing: USA
Hannah Flippen is a softball player from Bonita, California. She attended and played for the University of Utah from 2014-17.
Thank you @hannahFlippen 😢 and good luck with @ScrapYardFP & @USASoftballWNT 😃https://t.co/q1RDtV8BQP#GoUtes 🙌🥎 pic.twitter.com/BCmoTkOp8m
— Utah Softball (@Utah_Softball) June 22, 2020
Eddy Alvarez
Tie to Utah: Salt Lake Community College
Sport: Baseball
Representing: USA
A native of Miami, Florida, Eddy Alvarez will play baseball for the USA in Tokyo 2020. In 2011, Alvarez began to play baseball at Salt Lake Community College. Before playing baseball, Alvarez competed in the Winter Olympics as a speed skater.
ICYMI: Four years after winning a silver medal, Eddy Alvarez is keeping an eye on Pyeongchang while battling for a spot on #WhiteSox Opening Day roster. https://t.co/EgvIMjFCDJ pic.twitter.com/3l0waUe9Mr
— Minor League Baseball (@MiLB) February 14, 2018
Jordan Matyas
Tie to Utah: BYU
Sport: Women’s Rugby
Representing: USA
A dual citizen of the United States and Canada, Matyas was born in Alberta and grew up in Nevada. She attended and played college rugby at BYU.
Our sister, USA WNT 7s/15s Rugby star & BYU Alumnae Jordan Gray Matyas @jjgray93 returns home. Thank you for your gifts of sacrifice for the team, humility, motivation and inspirations. #GoCougs #BYUwRUGBY #usarugby #sistersnotteammates #StrongAsOne #UnstoppableTogether pic.twitter.com/aFsDZsZBDc
— BYU Women's Rugby (@BYUWomensRugby) February 18, 2020
Taylor Sander
Tie to Utah: BYU
Sport: Men’s Indoor Volleyball
Representing: USA
Taylor Sander is native of Huntington Beach, California and a current professional volleyball player. Before going pro, Sander was an All-America standout at BYU.
WHAT. A. WIN! 👏 The U.S. Men complete the comeback against the Netherlands 🇳🇱 and take set five 15-13 with a walk off ace from Taylor Sander! #VNL2021 pic.twitter.com/W3fSTrsvRR
— USA Volleyball (@usavolleyball) June 17, 2021
Brenden Sander
Tie to Utah: BYU
Sport: Men’s Indoor Volleyball
Representing: USA
Like his older brother Taylor, Brenden Sander is a native of Huntington Beach, California, former BYU standout, and a current professional volleyball player. Sander is an alternate for Team USA.
BYU takes 2nd set, 25-18 to lead #NCAAMVB semi, 2-0 over Long Beach State. BYU's Brenden Sander has 11 kills. LBSU's TJ DeFalco has 9. pic.twitter.com/gXTM7SSrt7
— USA Volleyball (@usavolleyball) May 4, 2017
Ben Patch
Tie to Utah: BYU
Sport: Men’s Indoor Volleyball
Representing: USA
Ben Patch is a native of Utah, who was born in Layton and grew up in Provo. He played collegiate volleyball at BYU and is currently a professional player. Patch is an alternate for Team USA.
Today’s win against Argentina marked the 4th consecutive match in a row Ben Patch was the leading point scorer for Team USA!
Patch lead the team with 17 points followed by Taylor Sander with 14.#GoCougs #BYUMVB pic.twitter.com/HEMqSmgosg
— BYU Volleyball (@BYUvolleyball) June 14, 2019
Luka Slabe
Tie to Utah: BYU
Sport: Women’s Indoor Volleyball
Representing: USA
Luka Slabe is a native of Slovenia. He played and coached at BYU. After his time as an assistant coach with the Cougars, Slabe joined Team USA as an assistant coach.
Cheering for teams that have special place in my heart. 🇸🇮 🇺🇸 @usavolleyball @SloVolley https://t.co/YHM7aDiFk7
— Slabe Luka (@CoachSlabe) June 21, 2021
Joe Ingles
Tie to Utah: Utah Jazz
Sport: Men’s Basketball
Representing: Australia
Joe Ingles is a forward for the Utah Jazz. He is a native of Australia and has represented the Boomers in multiple Olympic Games.
🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺 @AUSOlympicTeam pic.twitter.com/fH3hv8xZPP
— Joe Ingles (@Joeingles7) June 20, 2021
Rudy Gobert
Tie to Utah: Utah Jazz
Sport: Men’s Basketball
Representing: France
Rudy Gobert is a center for the Utah Jazz. He is a native of France. Gobert has represented the French National Team in multiple international contests, including the 2016 Summer Games.
Rudy Gobert (21 PTS & 16 REB) and France upset Team USA 89-79 to advance to the @FIBAWC semi-finals! 🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/buSDFo4dAp
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) September 11, 2019
Damian Lillard
Tie to Utah: Weber State University
Sport: Men’s Basketball
Representing: USA
Damian Lillard is a native of Oakland, California. He played college basketball at Weber State University. Lillard currently plays for the Portland Trail Blazers and Team USA.
Former @WeberStateMBB and current Portland Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard will reportedly play for USA Basketball during the #TokyoOlympics.@kslsports #KSLOlympics https://t.co/2MeUKnWyvA
— KSL 5 TV (@KSL5TV) June 15, 2021
Alexis Lagan
Tie to Utah: University of Utah
Sport: Pistol Shooting
Representing: USA
Alexis Lagan is a native of Nevada. She attended the University of Utah. She is the Utes’ first Olympic Markswoman.
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Leilani Mitchell
Tie to Utah: University of Utah
Sport: Women’s Basketball
Representing: Australia
Like Ingles, Leilani Mitchell is a native of Australia. She played college basketball at the University of Utah. She currently plays for the WNBA’s Washington Mystics.
Oi Oi Oi!! 🇦🇺🦘🏀
Congratulations Leilani Mitchell on being named to the Australian Olympic Team! pic.twitter.com/V3AkYtuRDO
— Washington Mystics (@WashMystics) May 26, 2021
MyKayla Skinner
Tie to Utah: University of Utah
Sport: Women’s Gymnastics
Representing: USA
A member of the Red Rocks, Skinner made her Olympic dream come true qualifying as an individual.
WATCH: @mykaylaskinner talk about her journey from being hospitalized with COVID-19 to the #TokyoOlympics on @TODAYshow #TokyoOlympics #GoUtes @UtahGymnastics#KSLOlympicshttps://t.co/fKXFeO0jtP
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) June 28, 2021
Grace McCallum
Tie to Utah: University of Utah
Sport: Women’s Gymnastics
Representing: USA
A member of the Red Rocks, McCallum made her Olympic dream come true qualifying with the team of four.
Grace McCallum making it look easy 👏@NBCOlympics | #GymTrials21
📺 NBC pic.twitter.com/F7zZKgqOor
— On Her Turf (@OnHerTurf) June 28, 2021
Kara Eaker
Tie to Utah: University of Utah
Sport: Women’s Gymnastics
Representing: USA
A member of the Red Rocks, Eaker made her Olympic dream come true qualifying as an alternate.
Congratulations to incoming freshman, Kara Eaker, for being selected as an alternate for @TeamUSA!#GoUtes | #GymTrials21 pic.twitter.com/n5HGeYDuqb
— Utah Gymnastics (@UtahGymnastics) June 28, 2021
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