BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) — On Friday, over 10,000 athletes from around the world will sail down the Seine in Paris, each with the goal of bringing home a gold medal for their country in the Olympic games.
Here is a running list of those from Alabama or with ties to Alabama who will be competing in the games:
Gymnastics
Sunisa Lee (USA)
FILE - Suni Lee competes on the balance beam at the U.S. Gymnastics Championships, Friday, Aug. 25, 2023, in San Jose, Calif. Olympic gymnastics all-around champion Suni Lee revealed this week that at the height of a mystery kidney ailment last year, she gained around 45 pounds in water weight that made her question whether a return to top form was even possible. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn, File)
Sunisa Lee is one of the most high-profile gymnasts in the world, being a six-time member of the U.S. women's gymnastics team. She led the Auburn University gymnastics program to several program highs, winning gold in the balance beam in the 2022 Fort Worth competition. She left AU after her sophomore year due to health issues and preparing for the 2024 Olympics.
Luisa Blanco (Colombia)
FILE - Alabama's Luisa Blanco competes on the floor exercise during an NCAA gymnastics meet on Jan. 6, 2024 in Las Vegas. Blanco, who will compete for Colombia at the Paris Olympics, is considering extending her career by participating in the Global Impact Gymnastics Alliance, a start-up professional league that is hoping to start holding events in 2025. (AP Photo/Stew Milne, file)
Luisa Blanco, who will be making her Olympic debut in Paris, finished her career at the University of Alabama with 21 All-America Honors, the most in program history. She will compete in the women's artistic.
Shallon Olsen (Canada)
TOKYO, JAPAN - AUGUST 01: Shallon Olsen of Canada competes in the Women's Vault Final on day nine of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Ariake Gymnastics Centre in Tokyo, Japan on August 01, 2021. (Photo by Stringer/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
Shallon Olsen, who will compete in the women's artistic, recently completed her tenure with the University of Alabama's gymnastics team, where she earned All-America and All-SEC honors.
Track and Field
Olivia Fotopolou (Cyprus)
BERLIN, GERMANY - FEBRUARY 23: Olivia Fotopoulou of Cyprus competes in the 60 meter Women at the ISTAF Indoor Berlin 2024 at Mercedes-Benz Arena on February 23, 2024 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Ulrik Pedersen/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)
Olivia Fotopoulou, a member of the University of Alabama's track team, will compete in the women's 100 meters and the women's 200 meters. She will make her Olympic debut.
Daniel Haugh (USA)
EUGENE, OREGON - JUNE 28: Daniel Haugh competes in the first round of the men's hammer throw on Day Eight of the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Track & Field Trials at Hayward Field on June 28, 2024 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Daniel Haugh will be competing in his second Olympic Games in the men's hammer throw. He holds the Alabama school record in the sport at 73.5 meters. He competed on UA's track and field team from 2015 to 2018.
Kirani James (Grenada)
EUGENE, OREGON - SEPTEMBER 16: Kirani James of Grenada reacts after winning the Men's 400m during the 2023 Prefontaine Classic and Wanda Diamond League Final at Hayward Field on September 16, 2023 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Ali Gradischer/Getty Images)
Kirani James, who will run in the men's 400 meters, competed for the University of Alabama's track and field team in 2010 and 2011. This is his fourth Olympic game to compete in.
Curtis Thompson (USA)
EUGENE, OREGON - JUNE 23: Curtis Thompson competes in the men's javelin throw final on Day Three 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Trials Track & Field at Hayward Field on June 23, 2024 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Originally from New Jersey, Curtis Thompson is an assistant track and field coach at Spain Park High School. This will be his second Olympic games to compete in, where he will take part in the javelin throw.
Maka Charambe (USA)
Makanakaishe Charamba during Day 3 of the NCAA D1 Outdoor Track and Field Championships at Hayward Field in Eugene, OR on Friday, June 7, 2024. Photo by David Gray/Auburn Tigers
An accounting major at Auburn University, Maka Charambe recently brought a win to the Tigers' track program with a NCAA national relay championship trophy.
Portious Warren (Trinidad and Tobago)
TOKYO, JAPAN - JULY 30: Portious Warren of Team Trinidad And Tobago competes in the Women's Shot Put Qualification on day seven of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Olympic Stadium on July 30, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
Portious Warren competed in the women's shot put for the University of Alabama's track and field team, where she set the program record for longest shot put at 18.61 meters. This is her second Olympic games to take part in.
Francois Prinsloo (South Africa)
BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA - OCTOBER 14: Francois Otieno Prinsloo of South Africa competes in Men's Discus Throw 1.5kg Stage 2 on day 8 of Buenos Aires 2018 Youth Olympic Games at Youth Olympic Park Villa Soldati on October 14, 2018 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. (Photo by Marcelo Endelli/Getty Images)
Francois Prinsloo is a member of the University of South Alabama's track and field program, where he throws the discus. He is a biology major.
Donald Thomas (Bahamas)
Bahamas' Donald Thomas competes in the Men's High Jump final during the Indoor World Athletics Championships in Glasgow, Scotland, on March 3, 2024. (Photo by Ben Stansall / AFP) (Photo by BEN STANSALL/AFP via Getty Images)
Donald Thomas competed on Auburn University's track and field team from 2006 to 2007 in the high jump.
JuVaughan Harrison (USA)
EUGENE, OREGON - JUNE 30: JuVaughn Harrison competes in the men's high jump final on Day Ten of the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Track & Field Trials at Hayward Field on June 30, 2024 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
Originally from Huntsville, JuVaughan Harrison competed for the Columbia High School track team before going to Louisiana State University.
Ebony Morrison (Liberia)
BUDAPEST, HUNGARY: August 22: Ebony Morrison of Liberia prepares for the start of the Women's 100m Hurdles heat five during the World Athletics Championships at the National Athletics Centre on August 22nd, 2023, in Budapest, Hungary. (Photo by Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images)
Ebony Morrison competed on Auburn University's track team, where she took part in the women's 100-meter hurdles
Shelby McEwen (USA)
EUGENE, OREGON - JUNE 30: Shelby McEwen competes in the men's high jump final on Day Ten of the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Track & Field Trials at Hayward Field on June 30, 2024 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
Shelby McEwen competed on the University of Alabama's track and field team from 2018 to 2019. This is his second Olympic games.
Kanyinsola Ajayi (Nigeria)
EUGENE, OREGON - JUNE 7: Kanyinsola Ajayi of the Auburn Tigers and Louie Hinchliffe of the Houston Cougars compete in the 100 meter finals during the Division I Men's and Women's Outdoor Track and Field Championship held at Hayward Field on June 7, 2024 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by C. Morgan Engel/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)
Kanyinsoloa Ajayi competes for Auburn University's track and field team. In the Paris Olympics, Ajayi will take part in the men's 100 meters and the men's 4x400-meter relay.
Azeem Fahmi (Malaysia)
BUDAPEST, HUNGARY - AUGUST 19: Muhd Azeem Fahmi of Team Malaysia competes in heat 2 of the Men's 100m during day one of the World Athletics Championships Budapest 2023 at National Athletics Centre on August 19, 2023 in Budapest, Hungary. (Photo by Stephen Pond/Getty Images for World Athletics)
A member of Auburn University's track and field team, Azeem Fahmi will compete in the men's 100 meters.
Favour Ashe (Nigeria)
EUGENE, OREGON - JUNE 7: Favour Ashe of the Auburn Tigers competes in the 100 meter finals during the Division I Men's and Women's Outdoor Track and Field Championship held at Hayward Field on June 7, 2024 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by C. Morgan Engel/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)
During his time at Auburn University, Favour Ashe was named to the 2023 Second Team All-SEC in the 100 meters and 2023 First Team All-SEC in the 60 meters.
Samuel Ogazi (Nigeria)
PORT OF SPAIN, TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO - AUGUST 08: Samuel Uchenna Ogazi of Team Nigeria celebrates with a flag after winning the Men's 400m on day four of the 2023 Youth Commonwealth Games at Hasely Crawford Stadium on August 08, 2023 in Port of Spain, Trinidad And Tobago. (Photo by Matt McNulty/Getty Images for Commonwealth Sport)
Samuel Ogazi recently joined the University of Alabama's track and field team and is making his Olympic debut in Paris. In his first year at UA, he won the silver medal in the 400 meters and 4x400 meter relay in the SEC.
Tarsis Orogot (Uganda)
AUSTIN, TX - JUNE 07: Tarsis Orogot of Alabama Crimson Tide competes in the men's 4x400 meter relay during the Division I Men's and Women's Outdoor Track & Field Championship on June 7, 2023 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by C. Morgan Engel/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)
Tarsis Orogot has been a member of the University of Alabama's track and field team since 2021, where he holds the school record in the 200-meter. He will be making his Olympic debut in Paris.
Jareem Richards (Trinidad and Tobago)
Jereem Richards from Trinidad and Tobago is competing in the 400 meters event at the 2024 World Athletics Championships at the Emirates Arena in Glasgow. (Photo by MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Jareem Richards competed on Alabama's track team in 2017, where he was named 2017 SEC indoor champion in the 200-meter and 2017 NCAA runner-up in the 200-meter. This is his third Olympic games to take part in.
Golf
Stephanie Meadow (Ireland)
CALGARY, ALBERTA - JULY 26: Stephanie Meadow of Northern Ireland plays her shot from the tenth tee during the second round of the CPKC Women's Open at Earl Grey Golf Club on July 26, 2024 in Calgary, Alberta. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)
Stephanie Meadow played on the University of Alabama's women's golf team from 2011 to 2013, where she led the Tide to the national championship in 2012. This is Meadows' third Olympic games to take part in.
Sepp Straka (Austria)
TROON, SCOTLAND - JULY 19: Sepp Straka of Austria plays his second shot on the 11th hole during day two of The 152nd Open championship at Royal Troon on July 19, 2024 in Troon, Scotland. (Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images)
A native of Austria, Sepp Straka currently lives in Vestavia Hills. He has won the PGA tour twice.
Tennis
Erin Routliffe (New Zealand)
Canada's Gabriela Dabrowski (R) and New Zealand's Erin Routliffe (L) play against Czech Republic's Katerina Siniakova and USA's Taylor Townsend during their women's doubles final tennis match on the thirteenth day of the 2024 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon, southwest London, on July 13, 2024. (Photo by ANDREJ ISAKOVIC / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE (Photo by ANDREJ ISAKOVIC/AFP via Getty Images)
Erin Routliffe competed on the University of Alabama's women's tennis team from 2014 to 2017, where she was a three-time First Team All-SEC selection and won consecutive NCAA doubles championships with partner Maya Jansen in 2014 and 2015.
Tim Puetz (Germany)
HALLE, GERMANY - JUNE 23: Kevin Krawietz (R) and Tim Puetz of Germany in action in their doubles final match during day nine of the Terra Wortmann Open 2024 at OWL-Arena on June 23, 2024 in Halle, Germany. (Photo by Thomas F. Starke/Getty Images)
Tim Puetz played on the Auburn University men's tennis team from 2007 to 2011, where he rose to be a first-team All-SEC honoree.
Swimming
Kristian Gkolomeev (Greece)
Greece's Kristian Gkolomeev prepares to compete in a heat of the men's 50m freestyle swimming event during the 2024 World Aquatics Championships at Aspire Dome in Doha on February 16, 2024. (Photo by SEBASTIEN BOZON / AFP) (Photo by SEBASTIEN BOZON/AFP via Getty Images)
Kristian Gkolomeev swam for the University of Alabama from 2014 to 2016, where he posted the fastest relay split in program history during the NCAA title in 2016. This is his fourth Olympic games appearance.
Kalia Antoniou (Cyprus)
TOPSHOT - An underwater view shows Ecuador's Anicka Delgado (L), Egypt's Farida Osman (C) and Cyprus' Kalia Antoniou in a heat for the women's 100m freestyle swimming event during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre in Tokyo on July 28, 2021. (Photo by François-Xavier MARIT / AFP) (Photo by FRANCOIS-XAVIER MARIT/AFP via Getty Images)
Kalia Antoniou competed for the University of Alabama's women's swim team from 2019 to 2023, where she was part of the Tide's 2021 NCAA championship and won the 400-freestyle relay. This is her second time to compete in the Olympics.
Paige Madden (USA)
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - JUNE 22: Paige Madden of the United States competes in the Women's 800m freestyle final on Day Eight of the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Swimming Trials at Lucas Oil Stadium on June 22, 2024 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
A native of Mobile, Paige Madden competed on UMS-Wright Preparatory School's women’s swim team before attending the University of Virginia. She will compete in the 400-meter freestyle, women’s 800-meter freestyle and the women’s 4x200-meter freestyle relay.
Victor Johansson (Sweden)
Sweden's Victor Johansson reacts after winning a heat for the men's 800m freestyle swimming event during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre in Tokyo on July 27, 2021. (Photo by Jonathan NACKSTRAND / AFP) (Photo by JONATHAN NACKSTRAND/AFP via Getty Images)
Victor Johansson, who competed on UA's men's swim team from 2022 to 2023, will compete in the men’s 400-meter freestyle, men’s 800-meter freestyle, men’s 1,500-meter freestyle and men’s 10-kilometer open water in the Paris Olympics.
Matt King (USA), 4x100-meter freestyle relay
Valerie Tarazi (Palestine)
PARIS, FRANCE - JULY 22: Valerie Rose Tarazi of Team Palestine looks on during the Athletes' Call for Peace at the Olympic Village Plaza ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games on July 22, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Maja Hitij/Getty Images)
A member of Auburn University women's swim team, Valerie Tarazi will compete in the women’s 200-meter individual medley in the Olympics.
Marcelo Chierighini (Brazil)
Brazil's Marcelo Chierighini competes in the men's 50m freestyle swimming event of the Pan American Games Santiago 2023, at the Aquatics Centre in the National Stadium Sports Park in Santiago, on October 24, 2023. (Photo by François-Xavier MARIT / AFP) (Photo by FRANCOIS-XAVIER MARIT/AFP via Getty Images)
Auburn's Marcelo Chierighini will compete in the men's 100-meter freestyle
McKenna DeBever (Peru)
Peruvian Mckenna deBever competes in 200m medley swimming during the XVIII Bolivarian Games 2017 in Santa Marta, Colombia on November 23, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / LUIS ACOSTA (Photo credit should read LUIS ACOSTA/AFP via Getty Images)
Auburn's McKenna DeBever will compete in the women's 200-meter individual medley.
Anton McKee (Iceland)
Iceland's Anton McKee competes in the Swimming Men's 200m Breaststroke Final during the LEN European Aquatics Championships, at the Milan Gale Muskatirovic sports centre in Belgrade, on June 20, 2024. (Photo by ANDREJ ISAKOVIC / AFP) (Photo by ANDREJ ISAKOVIC/AFP via Getty Images)
Anton McKee competed for Alabama's swim team from 2014 to 2017. This is his fourth Olympic games appearance.
Kyle Micallef (Malta)
GENEVA, OHIO - MARCH 16: Kyle Micallef of the Florida Southern Moccasins competes in the men's 100 yard freestyle during the Division II Swimming and Diving Championships held at the SPIRE Institute aquatics center on March 16, 2024 in Geneva, Ohio. (Photo by Jay LaPrete/NCAA Photos/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)
Kyle Micallef will compete for Alabama's swim team in the 2025 season. This will be his Olympic debut.
Levenia Sim (Singapore)
RICHMOND, VIRGINIA - JANUARY 16: Levenia Sim reacts after winning in the Women's 100 Meter Backstroke Final during Day Three of the TYR Pro Swim Series at SwimRVA at the Collegiate School Aquatics Center on January 16, 2021 in Richmond, Virginia. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
Levenia Sim attended Baldwin County Virtual School. She will compete in the 4x100-meter medley relay.
Letitia Sim (Singaporte)
Singapore's En Yi Letitia Sim competes in a heat of the women's 200m breaststroke swimming event during the 2024 World Aquatics Championships at Aspire Dome in Doha on February 15, 2024. (Photo by SEBASTIEN BOZON / AFP) (Photo by SEBASTIEN BOZON/AFP via Getty Images)
Sim's sister, Letitia, attended Spanish Fort High School in south Alabama. She will compete in the women’s 100-meter breaststroke, women’s 200-meter breaststroke and the 4x100-meter medley relay.
Soccer
Tanner Tessman (USA)
MARSEILLE, FRANCE - JULY 24: Portrait of Tanner Tessmann #8 of the United States during the Men's group A match between France and United States during the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Stade de Marseille on July 24, 2024 in Marseille, France. (Photo by Daniela Porcelli/ISI Photos/Getty Images)
Tanner Tessman is a member of the Birmingham United Soccer Association and has played for the Dallas FC and Venezia FC. This is his first time in the Olympics since 2008.
Nicole Payne (Nigeria)
PORTLAND, OREGON - JUNE 23: Nicole Payne #11 of the Portland Thorns kicks the ball during the first half \Cat Providence Park on June 23, 2024 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Soobum Im/Getty Images)
Nicole Payne played for Oak Mountain High School's women's soccer team before going to the University of Southern California.
Toni Payne (Nigeria)
BORDEAUX, FRANCE - JULY 25: Toni Payne #7 of Team Nigeria runs with the ball during the Women's group C match between Nigeria and Brazil during the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Nouveau Stade de Bordeaux on July 25, 2024 in Bordeaux, France. (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)
Payne's sister, Toni, also played at Oak Mountain before going on to Duke University.
Shooting
Vincent Hancock (USA)
Vincent Hancock of the United States competes during the skeet men's final at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan, July 26, 2021. (Photo by Ju Huanzong/Xinhua via Getty Images)
Originally from Port Charlotte, Florida, Vincent Hancock attended Troy University. He has competed in three Olympic games as a skeet shooter.
Diving
Mohamed Farouk (Egypt)
Egypt's Mohamed Farouk competes in the semi-final of the men's 3m springboard diving event during the 2024 World Aquatics Championships at Hamad Aquatics Centre in Doha on February 7, 2024. (Photo by SEBASTIEN BOZON / AFP) (Photo by SEBASTIEN BOZON/AFP via Getty Images)
Mohamed Farouk attended the University of Alabama from 2020 to 2022, where he was part of the dive team before going to the University of Miami.
Emily Hallifax (France)
France's Emily Hallifax competes in the Diving Women's 10m Platform Preliminary during the LEN European Aquatics Championships, at the Serbian Institute of Sports and Sports Medicine in Belgrade, on June 19, 2024. (Photo by OLIVER BUNIC / AFP) (Photo by OLIVER BUNIC/AFP via Getty Images)
Emily Hallifax competed for Auburn University's dive team. In the Paris Olympics, she will take part in the women's 10-meter synchronized platform.
Basketball
JT Thor (South Sudan)
LONDON, ENGLAND: JULY 20: JT Thor #10 of South Sudan at the free throw line during the USA V South Sudan, USA basketball showcase in preparation for the Paris Olympic Games at The O2 Arena on July 20th, 2024, in London, England. (Photo by Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images)
JT Thor played for Auburn University's men's basketball team from 2020 to 2021 before being drafted by the Detroit Pistons. He currently plays for the Charlotte Hornets.
