Three years ago at the Tokyo Summer Olympics, 17 athletes with Minnesota ties took home 12 medals, including gold in five events. The following Minnesota-connected athletes have qualified for the Paris Olympics, which will be held July 26-Aug. 11. This list will be updated as more Olympic berths are earned.
Sarah Bacon, Gophers, diving (3-meter springboard, 3-meter synchronized)
Napheesa Collier, Lynx, women’s basketball
Lara Dallman-Weiss, Shoreview, sailing (mixed dinghy-470)
Anthony Edwards, Timberwolves, men’s basketball
Dakotah Lindwurm, St. Francis, track and field (women’s marathon)
Payton Otterdahl, Rosemount, track and field (men’s shot put)
Cheryl Reeve, Lynx, women’s basketball (head coach)
Regan Smith, Lakeville, swimming (100 backstroke, 200 backstroke, 200 butterfly)
Jordan Thompson, Edina, volleyball
Alise Willoughby, St. Cloud, BMX cycling
* Matthew Wilkinson, Minnetonka/Carleton/Gophers, track and field (3,000-meter steeplechase)
In addition to U.S. Olympians with Minnesota ties, the following athletes who competed for Minnesota high schools and colleges or are current pros in the state will be in Paris representing other countries.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Timberwolves, Canada, men’s basketball
Alasan Ann, Maple Grove, The Gambia, tae kwon do
Joseph Fahnbulleh, Hopkins, Liberia, track and field (sprints)
Rudy Gobert, Timberwolves, France, men’s basketball
Emmanuel Matadi, St. Paul/Minnesota State Mankato, Liberia, track and field (sprints)
Nuni Omot, Mahtomedi, South Sudan, men’s basketball
Jabez Reeves, Minnesota State Mankato, Liberia, track and field (sprints)
Alanna Smith, Lynx, Australia, women’s basketball
Erik van Rooyen, Gophers, South Africa, golf
* – Wilkinson finished second at U.S. Olympic trials, but does not have the Olympic standard qualifying time. He would need to qualify for Paris based on his world ranking, which will be determined July 7.
Know of other Minnesotan Olympians not listed here? Email sports@startribune.com or leave a comment with this article.
