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Your guide to local athletes in the Olympics

Here are the Olympic athletes with ties to Oregon and Southwest Washington.
Credit: KGW Staff

PORTLAND, Ore. — Dozens of athletes with ties to Oregon and Southwest Washington will compete on the world’s biggest stage at the Tokyo Olympics.

The delayed 2020 Olympics will begin Friday, July 23.

Here are the athletes to watch with ties to Portland, the state of Oregon or Southwest Washington:

Track and Field

Credit: AP
Ryan Crouser hit a mark of 76 feet, 8 1/4 inches in his fourth throw in the finals.

Ryan Crouser, Shot Put – The defending gold medalist hails from Sam Barlow High School in Gresham. Crouser set a new shot put world record at the U.S. Olympic Trials in Eugene. The 31-year-old hit a mark of 76 feet, 8 1/4 inches in his fourth throw in the finals. He shattered the old record of 75 feet, 10 1/4 inches that was set by Randy Barnes in 1990.

RELATED: Ryan Crouser shatters shot put world record at U.S. Olympic Trials

Credit: AP
Galen Rupp crosses the finish line to win the U.S. Olympic marathon trials, Saturday, Feb. 29, 2020, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Amis)

Galen Rupp, Marathon – A two-time Olympic medal winner, Rupp went to Portland’s Central Catholic High School and ran track at the University of Oregon. He currently trains in Beaverton, Oregon. This will be Rupp’s fourth Olympics. He won a silver medal in the 10,000 meters at the London Olympics in 2012, and he won a bronze medal in the marathon at the Rio Olympics in 2016. Rupp won the U.S. Olympic marathon trials.

RELATED: Oregon runner Galen Rupp qualifies for Tokyo Games, wins US Olympic marathon trials

Micah Williams, 100 meters – Williams went to Portland’s Benson High School and rewrote the record books for Oregon high school sprinters. He chose to run track at the University of Oregon, where he just finished his freshman year. He finished fifth in the 100-meter dash at the U.S. Olympic Trials with a time of 9.91 seconds and was the only college student in the final. Williams will likely run on the relay team in the 4 x 100m. Watch KGW’s story on Williams from 2020

RELATED: Benson track star focused on the next level at University of Oregon

Aug 16, 2016; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Devon Allen (USA) during the men's 110m hurdles semifinals in the Rio 2016 Summer Olympic Games at Estadio Olimpico Joao Havelange. Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

Devon Allen, 110-meter hurdles – A former University of Oregon football player and track star, Allen finished fifth in the 110-meter hurdles at the Olympics in Rio. He qualified for Tokyo by placing second at this year's trials in Eugene. 

RELATED: Ducks' Devon Allen to quit football, turn pro in track

Credit: AP
Raevyn Rogers wins the fifth heat in the women's 800-meter run at the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials Thursday, June 24, 2021, in Eugene, Ore.(AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Raevyn Rogers, 800 meters – Rogers ran track at the University of Oregon and currently trains in Portland. She won silver in the 800 at the World Championships in 2019. She finished second in the 800 meters at the Olympic Trials.

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - AUGUST 20: Matthew Centrowitz of the United States reacts after winning gold in the Men's 1500 meter Final on Day 15 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on August 20, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

Matt Centrowitz, 1,500 meters – Centrowitz is the defending gold medalist in the 1,500, but the former Oregon Duck finished second in the track trials to current Duck Cole Hocker in dramatic fashion.

Cole Hocker, 1,500 meters – Hocker, a sophomore at the University of Oregon, is a college national champion in the 1,500 and he outkicked Matt Centrowitz, the defending gold medalist, in an amazing finish at the Olympic Trials.

Credit: AP
Paul Chelimo celebrates after beating Grant Fisher and Woody Kincaid in the finals of men's 5000-meter run at the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials Sunday, June 27, 2021, in Eugene, Ore. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Woody Kincaid, 5,000 & 10,000 meters – Kincaid is a runner to watch in the 5,000- and 10,000-meter race. The former Portland Pilot and current Bowerman Track Club runner won the 10,000 and finished third in the 5,000 at the U.S. trials in Eugene.

Grant Fisher, 5,000 & 10,000 meters – Fisher finished second at the U.S. trials to Kincaid in the 10,000 meters and was also runner up in the 5,000 meters. He also runs for Bowerman Track Club, which is based in Portland.

Credit: AP
Sally Kipyego finishes third in the women's U.S. Olympic marathon trials, Saturday, Feb. 29, 2020, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Amis)

Sally Kipyego, Marathon – Kipyego will run in her second Olympics, but her first representing the U.S.A. In 2012, the Kenyan-born runner won silver in the 10,000 meters. She became an American citizen in 2017. She trains in Eugene, Oregon, and finished third in the Olympic Marathon Trials to qualify for Tokyo.

Credit: AP
Jenna Prandini wins a semi-final in the women's 200-meter run at the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials Friday, June 25, 2021, in Eugene, Ore. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Jenna Prandini, 100 & 200 meters – Prandini, a former Oregon Duck, finished fourth in the 100 meters at the U.S. track trials and is expected to be part of the 4 x 100m relay. She also qualified for the 200-meter race by finishing second.

Credit: AP
Clayton Murphy celebrates after winning the men's 800-meter run at the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials in Eugene, Ore., in this Monday, June 21, 2021, photo. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Clayton Murphy, 800 meters – Murphy won the bronze medal in the 800 meters at the 2016 Olympics in Rio. He finished first in the 800 at the U.S. trials in June. Murphy used to train in Portland with the Nike Oregon Project before it folded in the wake of a four-year ban for longtime coach Alberto Salazar.

RELATED: Nike Oregon Project will 'wind down' after Alberto Salazar's doping violation ban

Jessica Hull, 800 & 1,500 meters – Hull, another former Oregon Duck, will represent Australia at the Tokyo Olympics.

Cravon Gillespie, 100 meters – Another former Oregon Duck, Gillespie qualified for the U.S. 4 x 100 relay team.

Credit: AP
Elise Cranny celebrates after winning the finals of women's 5000-meter run at the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials Monday, June 21, 2021, in Eugene, Ore. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Elise Cranny, 5,000 meters – Cranny won the 5,000 meters at the U.S. track trials to make her first Olympic team. She trains in Portland with the Bowerman Track Club.

Karissa Schweizer, 5,000 meters – Schweizer finished second to Cranny at the U.S. trials. She also runs with the Bowerman Track Club in Portland.

Credit: AP
Kara Winger

Kara Winger, Javelin   An American record holder in the javelin, Winger is getting ready to compete in her fourth Olympics. She finished second at the Olympic Trials to qualify for Tokyo. Winger grew up in Vancouver, Wash. and graduated from Skyview High School.

RELATED: Vancouver Olympian thriving in quarantine, focused on Tokyo Games

English Gardner, 100 meters  The former Oregon Duck will be making her second Olympic appearance. Gardner finished seventh in the 100m in Rio. She'll be in the 4 x 100-meter relay pool in Tokyo.

Kemba Nelson, 100 meters –  Nelson is currently a Junior at the University of Oregon and will representing Jamaica at the Olympics. Nelson ran a personal best of 10.90 seconds at NCAA Championship in June, finishing in fourth place. She'll be in the 4 x 100-meter relay pool. 

Charlie Hunter, 800 meter – Hunter is another Oregon Duck and will be representing Australia. He finished third at NCAA Outdoor Championship in the 800 meters.

Jillian Weir, Hammer – Weir is a former Oregon Duck and currently at a volunteer coach at the University of Missouri. She's making her first Olympics representing Canada. Weir won the Canadian hammer throw title in 2018 after being the runner-up in 2017.

Emmanauel Ihemeje, Triple Jump – Ihemeje is just a freshman at the University of Oregon and won a title at the NCAA Outdoor Championship. He set an outdoor PR of 56 feet, 2.75 inches. Ihemeje is representing Italy in the Olympics.

Aneta Konieczek, Steeplechase Konieczek will be representing Poland in her first Olympics appearance. She's currently a Junior at the University of Oregon. Konieczek won the national title in Poland and set a PR at 9:25:98 seconds in the steeplechase.

Lauri Parades, Javelin Parades just finished her Senior season at the University of Oregon. She's representing Paraguay in the Olympics. Parades finished 17th at the NCAA Outdoor Championship in June. 

Fencing

Credit: AP
Fencer Mariel Zagunis poses for photos at the 2016 Team USA Media Summit Monday, March 7, 2016, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Mariel Zagunis – This two-time gold medal winner from Beaverton will compete in her fifth Olympics. She is also a two-time bronze medal winner in the team competition. The most decorated U.S. fencer of all time, Zagunis is a graduate of Valley Catholic High School. The Tokyo Olympics will be her first since giving birth to her daughter in 2017. In 2012, Zagunis was the U.S. flag bearer during the opening ceremonies in London.

Volleyball

The USA (Portland's Kim Hill 2nd from left) celebrates winning the bronze medal in women's volleyball during the Rio 2016 Summer Olympic Games at Maracanazinho. Jack Gruber-USA TODAY Sports

Kim Hill – Hill grew up in Portland and won bronze in volleyball at the 2016 Olympics in Rio. The 6-foot-4 outside hitter graduated from Portland Christian High School and has been a member of the U.S. Women’s National Team since 2013.

Gymnastics

Credit: AP
Jordan Chiles competes in the floor exercise during the U.S. Gymnastics Championships, Sunday, June 6, 2021, in Fort Worth, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Jordan Chiles – Chiles grew up in the Vancouver area and now trains in Texas with four-time gold medalist Simone Biles. She finished third in the all-around competition.

RELATED: Vancouver gymnast makes Team USA's women's gymnastics team

Credit: AP
Jade Carey before competing on the uneven bars during the women's U.S. Olympic Gymnastics Trials Sunday, June 27, 2021, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

Jade Carey – A future Oregon State Beaver, Carey will compete as an individual specialist in Tokyo. She earned an individual invite due to how she has performed in the Apparatus World Cup Series over the past three years. She is expected to join the Beavers gymnastics team in time for the 2022 season.

RELATED: Why the US is sending 6 women gymnasts to Olympics, not 5

Basketball

Credit: Craig Mitchelldyer, AP
Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard shoots over Memphis Grizzlies forward Jaren Jackson Jr. on Friday, April 23, 2021.

Damian Lillard – Dame Time is heading to the Olympics. The Portland Trail Blazers’ all-star point guard will play in his first Olympic basketball tournament. One of the first players to publicly commit to Team USA, Lillard leads a roster filled with fellow NBA All-Stars, including Kevin Durant and Jayson Tatum.

Maite Cazorla - Cazorla played at the University of Oregon and was on the team that made it to the Final Four in 2019. Cazorla is playing for Spain in the Olympics.

Ali Gibson - Gibson graduated from Oregon State University in 2015. She's playing for Puerto Rico in the Olympics.

Soccer

Credit: AP Photo/Amanda Loman
Portland Thorn's Becky Sauerbrunn and Kelli Hubly celebrate their team's 2-0 win over OL Reign following an NWSL Challenge Cup soccer match, Wednesday, April 21, 2021, in Portland, Ore. Portland Thorns won 2-0.

Crystal Dunn, Lindsey Horan, Adrianna Franch and Becky Sauerbrunn – Four members of the Portland Thorns FC were named to the U.S. Women’s National Team (USWNT) roster. Sauerbrunn will play in her third Olympics. Dunn and Horan were named to the Olympic roster for the second time, and Franch was named to the roster for the first time.

RELATED: Four Portland Thorns named to US Women's National Team for Tokyo Olympics

Christine Sinclair – Portland Thorns midfielder Christine Sinclair was named to the Canada Women’s National Team roster for the fourth time. She has the most goals all-time in international competition.

Megan Rapinoe – A former star at the University of Portland, Rapinoe will play in her third Olympics. In 2019, she won the Golden Ball award at the World Cup after leading the USA to a title.

Claudio Bravo - Bravo is a defender for the Portland Timbers. He's representing Argentina in the Olympics.

Swimming

Credit: Jim Corbeau

Caspar Corbeau – Corbeau grew up in Portland and graduated from Sunset High School in 2019 and now swims for the University of Texas. He holds dual citizenship with the U.S. and The Netherlands. He will swim the 100- and 200-meter breast stroke for The Netherlands in Tokyo.

RELATED: Portland swimmer makes Dutch Olympic team

Softball

Janie Takeda Reed – A former college All-American at the University of Oregon, Reed will play outfield for Team USA in Tokyo.

Baseball

Scott McGough - Graduated from the University of Oregon. He was the first Duck to make it to the majors after Oregon brought back baseball in 2009. McGough now plays professionally in Japan.

Triathlon

Claire Michel – Michel is making her second Olympic appearance for Belgium. She's a former Oregon Duck and is currently ranked 14th in the world.

Wrestling

Amar Dhesi - Dhesi was a three-time Pac-12 Champion in wrestling at Oregon State University. He's representing Canada in the Olympics.

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