Less than 60 current student-athletes have qualified to represent Team USA at the 2024 Olympic Games, all of whom will officially participate in the event. For many of these students, the Paris games from July 26 to Aug. 11 will mark their first Olympic appearance. They will be among more than 300 former student-athletes representing Team USA this year.
Some schools, like Stanford, Princeton and Harvard, have multiple athletes on Team USA, with Stanford having the most at eight.
Below, BestColleges has highlighted some standout student-athletes to watch at the Paris Olympics.
College Athletes Competing at the 2024 Olympics
Emily Ausmus: Water Polo, University of Southern California
Emily Ausmus, a first-year civil engineering student at the University of Southern California, is the youngest student-athlete among this year’s Team USA water polo roster. Ausmus has achieved notable success at aquatics world championships in 2023 and 2024.
Jade Carey: Artistic Gymnastics, Oregon State University
Jade Carey, a fourth-year student at Oregon State University, is a returning Olympic gold medalist from 2020 with several other accomplishments in NCAA championships.
Chris Guiliano: Swimming, University of Notre Dame
Chris Guiliano, a fourth-year student at the University of Notre Dame, is a standout swimmer competing in five events at the Olympics.
Guiliano is the first swimmer from Notre Dame to qualify for the Olympics.
Payton Jacobson: Wrestling, Northern Michigan University
Payton Jacobson, a fourth-year student at Northern Michigan University, is set to compete in Greco-Roman wrestling at the Olympics.
Tatiana Nazlymov: Fencing, Princeton University
Tatiana Nazlymov, a second-year student at Princeton University, is preparing for her first Olympics.
Carson Tyler: Diving, Indiana University
Carson Tyler, a third-year political science major at Indiana University, is a notable diver at the Olympics.
Hailey Van Lith: Basketball, Texas Christian University
Hailey Van Lith, a graduate student at Texas Christian University, is a key player in the USA women’s basketball team.
Gretchen Walsh: Swimming, University of Virginia
Gretchen Walsh, a fourth-year student at the University of Virginia, will make her Olympic debut this year.
Juliette Whittaker: Track & Field, Stanford University
Juliette Whittaker, a second-year student at Stanford University, will also make her Olympic debut this July.
Nico Young: Track & Field, Northern Arizona University
Nico Young, a third-year exercise science major at Northern Arizona University, has impressive achievements in track and field.
It Pays to Be a Student on Team USA
Team USA student-athletes can access in-state tuition benefits in three states if they certify their participation in an elite-level training program and attend eligible state institutions.
California, Colorado, and Utah offer in-state tuition benefits to Team USA athletes who meet certain criteria.
“Removing financial barriers to athletes considering higher education is a huge opportunity for them and is directly in line with our mission of competitive excellence and well-being,” said Carrie White, vice president of athlete development and engagement at the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee.
This story was produced by BestColleges and reviewed and distributed by Stacker Media.
