We’re competitive as hell here at 8THIRTYFOUR, which is why we can’t get enough of the Olympics. But beyond the medal counts and photo finishes, some seriously badass athletes battled to the world’s biggest stage.
We’re not about to bore you with a never-ending highlight reel – ain’t nobody got time for that. Instead, let’s spotlight a few of the incredible humans you’ll see from around the globe. These aren’t your run-of-the-mill success stories; these are the people who’ve looked impossible right in the eye and said, “Watch me.”
These athletes aren’t just competing for medals – they’re redefining what it means to be a champion. And trust us, their stories are way more interesting than whatever cat video you were about to watch.
Alena Olsen – Rugby, USA
We want to start with one of our local athletes. Alena is from Caledonia, Michigan. At the age of 18, she started playing rugby and went on to be a Collegiate All-American in 2015 and 2016 at the University of Michigan. Alena has already won a bronze medal in Team USA Women’s Rugby Sevens at the Paris Olympics. This is the first time the US Rugby team has medaled in any Olympic rugby event since 1924. That’s right. Never send a man to do a woman’s job.
Bruna Alexandre – Table Tennis, Brazil
Bruna, who lost her right arm as a baby, is set to become the second athlete ever to compete in both the Olympic and Paralympic Games in the same year. She’s a four-time Paralympic medalist who will represent Brazil in the women’s team event at the Paris 2024 Olympics. She hopes her historic participation will inspire other people with disabilities and help normalize their inclusion in mainstream competitions. Bruna, you kick ass.
Eva Okaro – Swimming, Great Britain
At just 17 years old, Eva Okaro will become the first black woman to represent Team Great Britain in swimming. She and her sister have set British swimming records since they were 14, and Okaro hopes to continue this legacy in Paris.
Dana Mathewson – Wheelchair Tennis, USA
Diagnosed with transverse myelitis at 11, which left her paralyzed from the waist down, Dana Mathewson began playing tennis at 13. She has since become the world’s top-ranked wheelchair tennis player and aims to secure gold in Paris.
At the end of the day, a big focus will be on which country is first in the medal count, but we want to continue to highlight these incredible humans who are out there redefining what it means to be an athlete. They’re smashing stereotypes, overcoming ridiculous odds, and showing us all that the true spirit of the Olympics isn’t just about winning – it’s about pushing the boundaries of what’s possible.
We also got the chance to talk to an Olympic athlete on Happy Hour Hustle this week–you’re not going to want to miss it. Now excuse us while we sign up for literally any sport these badasses are involved in because clearly, we’ve got some catching up to do.
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