After being delayed a year because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics are officially underway. Athletes from around the world are seeking to leave a mark in the history books, including several with ties to Maryland.
The Games will begin Friday, July 23, with the Opening Ceremony and end with the Closing Ceremony on Sunday, Aug. 8. The Opening Ceremony will be broadcast live on NBC at 7 a.m. Friday and re-aired in prime-time at 7:30 p.m., also on NBC. Because of COVID restrictions, fans will not be allowed to attend.
Four-time Olympic basketball gold medalist Sue Bird and baseball player Eddy Alvarez, who also won a silver medal in the 5,000 meter short-track speedskating relay at the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi, will be the flag bearers for Team USA.
Here’s the list of Maryland athletes competing, their events, when they will battle for gold and where to watch:
Olympics (July 23-Aug. 8)
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Jerami Grant (Bowie), @JeramiGrant — The former DeMatha Catholic standout is coming off a career season with the Detroit Pistons, averaging 22.3 points and 4.6 rebounds on 42.9% shooting from the field. Grant was a runner-up for the NBA’s Most Improved Player Award.
Kevin Durant (Washington, D.C.), @KDTrey5 — The 2013-14 NBA Most Valuable Player and Brooklyn Nets superstar is perhaps the best player to come out of Prince George’s County. Durant, who will be playing in his third Olympics, averaged 26.9 points, 7.1 rebounds and 5.9 assists in 32 games for the Nets this season, leading the team to Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinals despite a slew of Brooklyn injuries.
When: July 25-Aug. 6. Team USA will kick off preliminary round action 8 a.m. Sunday against France. Team USA will play three preliminary games before the quarterfinals begin Aug. 2. The semifinals will take place Aug. 5, with the gold medal game Aug. 6.
How to watch: Team USA’s preliminary opener against France can be viewed on NBC Olympics. The quarterfinals, semifinals and gold medal game will air on NBC Olympics and NBC Sports Network.
WOMEN’S RUGBY
Abby Gustaitis (White Hall), @AbbyGustaitis — Gustaitis, who played rugby for the University of Maryland club team, will be the co-captain for Team USA.
When: Gustaitis and Team USA will open pool round play against China on July 29 at 9 p.m. The quarterfinals are set to take place July 30. The semifinals will be July 31, with the gold medal match taking place later that day.
How to watch: The first session of the Rugby Sevens pool round can be streamed on NBC Olympics. The semifinals and gold medal match will air on CNBC.
Results: The U.S. was eliminated in the quarterfinals for the second straight Olympics, falling 21-12 to Great Britain on Friday.
SAILING
Farrah Hall (Annapolis), @FarrahHall — Hall, a Broadneck graduate, qualified for a spot in Tokyo when she was the only American woman to compete in the RS:X World Championships in February. This will be Hall’s second Olympic appearance. She raced for Team USA in the London Games in 2012.
When: The first Women’s Windsurfer RS:X race will begin at 2:05 a.m. There will be 12 races before the medal race July 30 at 1:33 a.m.
How to watch: Races can be streamed on NBC Olympics.
Results: Hall finished full fleet racing in RS:X boardsailing class at the Tokyo Olympics in 15th place, thereby missing the medal round.
SWIMMING
Chase Kalisz (Bel Air), @chasekalisz — After a roller coaster five years marked by career-best performances and subsequent disappointments, Kalisz will get his chance in Tokyo. He’ll swim the 400-meter individual medley, which he won June 13 at the U.S. trials, and the 200 IM, in which he qualified second. He will project as a medal contender in both races.
When: Kalisz will compete in the 400-meter individual medley heats Saturday starting at 6 a.m. The men’s 400-meter final will take place later that day at 9:30 p.m. The first heats for the 200 IM are July 28 at 6:50 a.m.
How to watch: The races can be viewed live on NBC Sports Network and NBC Olympics.
Results: Kalisz triumphed over the field in the 400-meter individual medley Saturday night, winning his first career gold medal and the first gold for the Americans at the Tokyo Olympics. Kalisz, a protege and former training partner of Olympic great Michael Phelps, touched first in 4 minutes, 9.42 seconds. In the 200 IM semifinals, Kalisz finished sixth in 1:58.03 and failed to qualify for the top eight spots — a surprising result for the 2017 and 2019 world champion in the event.
Andrew Wilson (Bethesda), @awil5504 — Wilson will be making his Olympic debut after finishing second in the men’s 100 and 200 breaststroke.
When: Wilson placed fifth in the 100-meter breaststroke semifinals Saturday in 59.18 seconds to earn a spot in the finals Sunday at 10:12 p.m. On July 27, Wilson will compete in the men’s 200-meter breaststroke at 6:50 a.m. The 200-meter breaststroke semifinals will be held at 10:04 p.m. while the finals will take place July 28.
How to watch: The men’s 100-meter and 200-meter breaststroke races can be viewed on NBC Sports and NBC Olympics.
Results: Wilson placed sixth in the 100 breaststroke in 58.99 seconds as Great Britain’s Adam Peaty won gold in 57.37. Wilson fell just short of qualifying for the 200 breaststroke, placing sixth in his heat.
Phoebe Bacon (Chevy Chase), @baconswims — Bacon is coming off a strong freshman season at the University of Wisconsin, as she was named the 2021 NCAA 200-yard backstroke champion. Bacon beat out world-record holder Regan Smith during the Olympic trials of the women’s 200-meter backstroke in June.
When: Bacon will compete in the women’s 200-meter backstroke heats July 29 at 7:08 a.m. The semifinals will be at 10:35 p.m. while the finals will take place July 30.
How to watch: The women’s 200-meter backstroke can be viewed on NBC Sports and NBC Olympics.
Results: Bacon finished second in the 200 backstroke semifinals just behind Emily Seebohm of Australia. She placed fifth in the final, which was won by Kaylee McKeown of Australia in 2:04.68. Bacon finished in 2:06.40.
Katie Ledecky (Bethesda), @katieledecky — Ledecky, who will be making her third Olympic appearance, has won five gold medals and a silver. During the U.S. trials on June 21, Ledecky placed first in the women’s 200 freestyle, 1,500 freestyle and 800 freestyle.
When: Ledecky’s first race will be the women’s 400-meter freestyle Sunday at 7:39 a.m. The 400-meter freestyle final will be at 10:20 p.m. The following day, Ledecky will swim in the 200-meter freestyle and the 1,500-meter freestyle starting at 6:02 a.m. The 200-meter and 1,500 meter finals will take place July 27. Ledecky will compete in the 800-meter freestyle July 29.
How to watch: Ledecky’s races can be viewed on NBC Sports and NBC Olympics.
Results: After winning silver in the 400 freestyle, Ledecky placed a stunning fifth in the 200 freestyle as Australian star Ariarne Titmus won gold. She rebounded to reclaim gold in the 1,500 freestyle, ahead of American teammate Erica Sullivan.
TRACK AND FIELD
Matthew Centrowitz Jr. (Arnold), @MattCentrowitz— The 2016 Olympic champion in the 1,500 meters qualified for this summer’s games by finishing second at the U.S. trials in 3:35.34. This is the third Olympics for Centrowitz, who attended Broadneck.
When: Centrowitz will compete in one of the individual 1,500-meter heats Aug. 2 starting at 8:05 a.m. The 1,500-meter semifinals are Aug. 5, beginning at 7 a.m. The final is on Aug. 7 at 7:40 a.m.
How to watch: The men’s 1,500-meter races can be viewed on CNBC, NBC Sports Network and NBC Olympics.
Christina Clemons (Waldorf), @SheTheMann_ing — While styling in her Doritos earrings, Clemons finished third in the women’s 100-meter hurdles during the U.S. trials June 21 to qualify for her first Olympics.
When: Clemons will participate in one of the women’s 100-meter hurdles heats July 30 starting at 9:45 p.m. The 100-meter hurdles semifinals are Aug. 1 starting at 6:45 a.m. while the final will be at 10:50 p.m.
How to watch: Clemons’ races can be viewed on CNBC, NBC Sports Network and NBC Olympics.
TRIATHLON
Katie Zaferes (Hampstead), @KZaferes6 — Zaferes, the 2019 world champion, was named to the U.S. Olympic Triathlon Team and will participate in her second Games. Zaferes, then Katie Hursey, ran cross country and track at North Carroll High School and was a six-time Carroll County Times Player of the Year and the 2005 All-Metro Player of the Year. She attended Syracuse from 2007 to 2012 and ran both cross country and track for the Orange. Zaferes placed 18th in the 2016 Rio Olympics in 2:00:55.
When: The women’s triathlon event begins at 5:30 p.m. on July 26.
How to watch: The women’s triathlon can be viewed on NBC Sports Network and NBC Olympics.
Results: Zaferes finished the course at Odaiba Marine Park — the site of where she suffered a serious injury from a horrific accident in 2019 — in 1 hour, 57 minutes, 3 seconds to take the bronze medal. Gold medalist Flora Duffy of Bermuda posted a winning time of 1:55:36. Georgia Taylor-Brown of Great Britain took home the silver in 1:56:50.
Zaferes also secured a silver medal in the triathlon mixed relay July 30 as the U.S. team finished second behind Great Britain. Zaferes, Morgan Pearson, Taylor Knibb and Kevin McDowell finished in 1:23:55, while Great Britain crossed first in 1:23:41.
WRESTLING
Kyle Snyder (Woodbine), @snyderman45 — During the 2016 Rio Games, Snyder became the youngest U.S. wrestler to win a gold medal. The former three-time national champion at Ohio State dominated at 97 kilograms to earn a spot on Team USA after defeating Kollin Moore during the Olympic trials in April. When Snyder attended Good Counsel in Olney, he compiled a remarkable 179-0 record.
When: Men’s 97 kilogram freestyle competitions will start Aug. 5 at 10 p.m.
How to watch: Wrestling can be viewed on CNBC, NBC Sports Network and NBC Olympics.
Helen Maroulis (Rockville), @helen_maroulis — Maroulis, who in 2016 became the first American woman to win gold in the Olympics, pinned Jenna Burkert in 23 seconds in the 57-kilogram final in April to qualify for her second Games. The Rockville native had a difficult road to qualify. After winning world titles in 2015 and 2017, Maroulis had two concussions in 2018 and the effects lingered for months. She was later diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder but said she has fully recovered.
When: The women’s 53 kilogram freestyle competitions start Aug. 4 at 10 p.m.
How to watch: Wrestling can be viewed on CNBC, NBC Sports Network and NBC Olympics.
John Stefanowicz (Bel Air), @StefanowiczJohn — Stefanowicz, who grew up in Bel Air before attending Kennard-Dale High School in Pennsylvania and joining the U.S. Marines Corps, will be part of U.S. Greco-Roman wrestling team after qualifying at 87 kilograms.
When: The men’s 87 kilogram Greco-Roman matches begin Aug. 2 at 10 p.m.
How to watch: Wrestling can be viewed on CNBC, NBC Sports Network and NBC Olympics.
TENNIS
Frances Tiafoe (Riverdale), @FTiafoe — The Prince George’s County native and product of the Junior Tennis Champions Center in College Park qualified for his first Olympics on the heels of his biggest win. The 23-year-old, ranked No. 57 in the world in men’s singles, beat No. 3 seed Stefanos Tsitsipas, the French Open runner-up, in the first round at Wimbledon.
When: Tiafoe will compete in the men’s doubles first round with his partner Rajeev Ram on July 24 at 10 p.m. Tiafoe will also participate in the men’s single competition, with matches beginning July 23.
How to watch: Tennis can be viewed on NBC Sports Network and NBC Olympics.
Results: Taifoe and Ram defeated the sixth-seeded Russian team of Karen Khachanov and Andrey Rublev, 6-7, 7-6 and 12-10 in the deciding tiebreak, in the first round of the doubles tournament before losing to Ivan Dodig and Marin Cilic of Croatia, 6-3, 7-5, in the second round. Tiafoe fell to Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece, 6-3, 6-4, in the second round of men’s singles in a rematch of Tiafoe’s stunning upset last month at Wimbledon.
GYMNASTICS
*Kayla DiCello (Boyds), @kayladicello — The Montgomery County native trains at Hill’s Gymnastics, which has produced several Olympic medalists. The 2019 junior national champion finished sixth at the U.S. trials and was named one of four alternates, who will be ready to replace one of the four main qualifiers in the event of an injury, illness or other extenuating circumstances.
How to watch: Gymnastics can be viewed on NBC, NBC Sports, CNBC and NBC Olympics.
Paralympics (Aug. 24- Sept. 5)
SWIMMING
Jessica Long (Baltimore), @JessicaLong — Long, who will be making her fifth appearance in the Paralympics, is the second-most decorated U.S. Paralympian in history, collecting 23 medals (13 gold, six silver and four bronze). Long will compete in the S8 50 freestyle (Sept. 1), S8 400 freestyle (Aug. 31), S8 100 backstroke (Aug. 27), S8 100 breaststroke (Sept. 1), S8 100 butterfly (Sept. 3) and SM8 200 IM (Aug. 28).
McKenzie Coan (Clarkesville, Georgia), @McKenzie_Coan — Coan, a Loyola Maryland graduate, has won four medals, including three golds. A three-time Paralympian, she swam her best time (5 minutes, 4.88 seconds) in the S7 400-meter freestyle during trials. Coan will compete in the S7 100 freestyle (Aug. 31), S7 400 freestyle (Aug. 29), S7 100 backstroke (Aug. 30) and S7 50 butterfly (Sept. 3).
Lawrence Sapp (Waldorf), @lawrencefastswimmer — The 19-year-old swimmer will be making his Paralympic debut. Sapp excelled during the trials, setting American records in the S14 100 butterfly, 200 individual medley and 200 freestyle. He’ll compete in the S14 100 butterfly (Aug. 25), SM14 200 IM (Aug. 31) and S14 50 freestyle (Aug. 27).
Zachary Shattuck (Mount Airy), @zshattuck96 — Shattuck, a first-time Paralympian, set a U.S. record in the SM6 men’s 200 individual medley during the swimming trials with a time of 2:50.96. He’ll compete in that event in Tokyo on Aug. 26.
TRACK AND FIELD
Tatyana McFadden (Clarksville), @TatyanaMcFadden — McFadden, a six-time Paralympian, has a collection of 17 Paralympic medals — seven gold, seven silver and three bronze. She’ll compete in the T54 100 (Sept. 1), 400 (Sept. 2), 800 (Aug. 29), 1,500 (Aug. 30), 5,000 (Aug. 27), 4×400 relay and marathon (Sept. 5) in Tokyo.
Daniel Romanchuk (Mount Airy), @daniel.romanchuk — Romanchuk will be making his second appearance in the Paralympics after finishing first in five T54 races during trials. He will compete in the T54 5,000 (Aug. 27-28), 400 (Aug. 29), 1,500 (Aug. 30-31), 800 (Sept. 2) and marathon (Sept. 5).
Markeith Price (Towson), @markeithprice — Price, who was born in Silver Spring and raised in Baltimore, graduated from Mount Saint Joseph in 2008. The three-time Paralympian came in fifth at the 2019 world championships in the 400 meters. Price will compete in the T13 100 (Aug. 29), 400 (Sept. 1) and long jump (Sept. 4).
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