As the 2024 Summer Olympics commence in Paris from July 26 to August 11, eleven Wisconsinites will showcase their talents on the world stage, representing Team USA with pride. Among them is Kenny Bednarek from Rice Lake, a silver medalist in the 200 meters from the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Bednarek is competing in both the 100-meter and 200-meter races in Paris, continuing his remarkable career.
Margherita Guzzi Vincenti, an épée fencer from Hartland, will bring her expertise to the fencing arena. Born in Italy, Guzzi Vincenti won gold at the 2023 Legnano World Cup and trains at the Ataba Fencing Club under Olympic coach Abbas Fadel, according to Milwaukee Magazine.
Oshkosh native Tyrese Haliburton, a two-time NBA All-Star, will represent Team USA in basketball. After a stellar season with the Indiana Pacers, Haliburton hopes to build on the success of Bucks players Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday, who clinched gold in Tokyo.
Kenosha’s Maria Laborde, a judo competitor, will hold the highest seed for Team USA in the 48 kg category. Laborde, who previously represented Cuba before becoming a US Citizen, began competing for the U.S. in 2022 and earned a silver medal at the 2023 Masters Worlds.
Rowing will see significant representation from Wisconsin, with athletes like Lauren O’Connor from Belleville, Nick Rusher from West Bend, Sophia Vitas from Franklin, and Madeleine Wanamaker from Neenah aiming for top placements. East Troy’s Stephanie Roble, a seasoned sailor, will also strive for excellence in the 49erFX class.
Weightlifter Mary Theisen-Lappen from Eau Claire and Greco-Roman wrestler Payton Jacobson from Elkhorn complete the Wisconsin contingent.
These athletes join a storied tradition of Wisconsin excellence in the Summer Games, from Alvin Kraenzlein’s legendary 1900 Paris victories to Gwen Jorgensen’s triathlon gold in Rio 2016 and Molly Seidel’s marathon bronze in Tokyo. As the Olympics unfold, Wisconsinites and their supporters will be eagerly watching to see if new champions emerge from the Badger State.