The University of Louisville is home to one of the most prolific sports programs in the entire United States. With so many sports played and competitions held at the 2024 Paris Olympic games, it’s only right that a few Cardinals snuck their way into the prestigious worldwide phenomenon.
The Louisville Cardinals posted a picture on Friday, July 26 showcasing every Cardinal, past and present, who is on the list of competitors in this year’s Olympics. Out of the 12 competitors, eight of them will be competing in swimming during the Olympic games.
Though they did not go to the UofL, hometown hero Yared Nuguse, and Louisvillian turned New Yorker, Sunny Choi are also in the 2024 Paris Olympics. Nuguse currently holds the fastest time in the US for the 1,500-meter dash and will be stacked up against stiff competition again this year as the games go on. Meanwhile, Choi is a member of the first U.S. Olympic Breakdancing team.
With that said, here is the breakdown of every Olympian who has been or is currently attending UofL:
Evgenii Somov
Now an alumni of Louisville, Somov is not representing a country in this year’s Olympics. He finished fourth in the nation during his senior season in the 100 breaststroke with a time of 51.17 seconds. Evgenii Somov InstagramIlia Sibirtsev
Sibirtsev made the A-final of the 500 freestyle when he was a senior at the ACC Championships. The Russian native is now competing for gold at the Olympics. Ilia Sibirtsev InstagramDenis Loktev
The Israeli swimmer is representing his country at the Paris Olympics this year. He qualified for the 2023 World Championships in the 200M freestyle for Israel and set the national record for the event with a 1:46.17 time. Denis Loktev InstagramNick Albiero
Albiero is one of two Brazil swimmers heading to the Olympics this year representing their country. Fun fact, this swimmer also attended Christian Academy of Louisville before going to the University of Louisville. Nick Albiero InstagramMurilo Sartori
Sartori is the other Brazil-based swimmer to compete for gold. He currently attends Louisville as a junior, and qualified for the 800 Freestyle Relay for Brazil last year. Murilo Sartori InstagramDenis Petrashov
Another junior at UofL, Petrashov is from Kygyzstan and will compete under the country’s banner at this year’s Olympics. Denis Petrashov InstagramAndrej Barna
This Serbian will compete for his home country with very fast times in the 100 freestyle (42.69), 50 freestyle (19.97) and 200 freestyle (1:34.27) at the ACC Championships during his senior season in 2020-21. Courtesy of the Louisville CardinalsDaria Golovaty
Golovaty recently committed to UofL last year, posting times at the 2023 Israeli Championships that would have landed her in contention at last year’s NCAA Championship with a personal-best time of 1:58.24 in the 200 freestyle. Daria Golovaty InstagramElse Praasterink
Praasterink is the only diver on this list. She is a senior at UofL and had a history-making season in 2022-23, earning All-American honors as a finalist in teh 3M when she finished 8th with a score of 328.10. She will be competing under the Netherlands flag at this year’s Olympics. Else Praasterink InstagramJayden Ulrich
Ulrich, the only competitor under the American banner at this year’s Olympics, will be competing in Track & Field in shot put and discus throwing. Jayden Ulrich InstagramCarlik Jones
Jones will be playing for South Sudan in this year’s Olympics, and led the team in a friendly against the All-Star cast United States to a nail-biter loss, with a score of 101-100 in favor of the US. The two teams are in the same pool during the first round of the Olympics, so be sure to look out for Jones again. AP Photo / Michael ConroyMatthias Schmid
Schmid will be competing in Men’s Golf in this year’s Olympics under Germany. The alumni scored an average of 72.03 his senior year in 2020-21. Matthias Schmid Instagram
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Caleb is currently the Editor in Chief for LEO Weekly from Southern Indiana, AKA the Suburbs of Louisville, and has worked for other news outlets, including The Courier Journal and Spectrum News 1 KY....
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