With the Olympics in Tokyo mere days away, athletes all over the world are landing in Japan with high hopes of winning the medals their countries deserve. This is especially true for Team USA, whom boasts plenty of athletes coming in from all over Missouri, just to reach for the Gold.

So just who are these wunderkinds and how do the athletes themselves connect to Show Me state?

Well, for one, there’s Bradley Beal, 28, who happens to be a graduate of the nearby Chaminade High School. He is a three-time NBA All-Star, totalling out an average of 31.3 points, 4.4 assists every game and about 4.7 rebounds. In this instance, he’s on his first Olympic team. This would indicate that he’d lead as a candidate for a role in the starting lineup. Jayson Tatum, a fellow alumni of Chaminade, is also on the team.

Then you have Gwen Berry. She’s a native of Florissant’s own McCluer High School and will be competing in the hammer throw. Not only is she a Psychology and Criminal Justice major, but she is also a self-made activist. Recently at the 2019 Pan American Games, she retaliated against the National Anthem by raising her fist, right after winning the Gold. This year alone, she wore on her head a t-shirt, emblazoned with “Activist Athlete.” It will be fascinating to see in what capacity she represents what she believes in on Team USA’s roster.

There are countless other athletes, but to sum it up, the last of note is Becky Sauerbrunn. The captain of the US Women’s National Soccer Team has gone from Ladue High School to playing for the National Women’s Soccer Leagues’ Thorns. This will be the third Olympics she’s competing in, having garnered the gold in 2012 and fifth in Rio, back in 2016. 

Go Team USA! Make us proud someday!