Nevada Athletes Are Big Medal Winners At Paris Olympics
Nevada athletes are medal winners. And the Silver State athletes didn’t just win silver.
Nevada Athletes Did Not Disappoint In Paris
Athletes who grew up in, trained, and live in Nevada, celebrated an amazing couple of weeks in Paris, at the 2024 Olympics. They competed in events ranging from swimming to rugby. And they didn’t disappoint.
Nevada Swimmers Swam Their Way To Silver And Bronze
Luke Hobson, a Reno High School graduate (this writer’s alma mater), is leaving Paris with 2 medals in Swimming. A silver medal in the men’s 4 x 200 meter freestyle relay, and a Bronze medal in the men’s 200 meter freestyle.
Now a two-time Olympian, Katie Grimes, won a silver medal in the 400-meter individual medley early in the Olympic games. Grimes finished 15th after six laps of the 10-kilometer course on the River Seine. Six laps riding the current, and six laps fighting some rough waters. But she ended up finishing in 2:06.29.6 – WHEW!
The 18 year old Grimes, who trains with the Sandpipers in Las Vegas, said it was the hardest thing she’s ever done. We believe you Katie, because any of us can only imagine.
Nevada Athletes Made Us Proud in Rugby, Basketball, and Track and Field.
Perris Benegas, also from Reno, won the Silver Medal in BMX Freestyle. In May, Just two months before the 2024 Paris Olympics, 29-year-old Benegas competed for the first time since having ACL and meniscus surgery in 2023. She secured her spot at the Olympics, and took the silver medal.
And in Rugby 7’s – yes, I said RUGBY – Team USA dramatically snatched up the bronze medal in women’s rugby with a surprising late try by first-time Olympian Alex “Spiff” Sedrick. It was in the very final seconds of the game. They beat Australia 14-12.
Stephanie Rovetti was part of the Rugby 7’s medal winning team. She is also a norther Nevada Olympian, from Reno. Rovetti played basketball for BYU from 2010-14, when the BYU made the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA playoffs. Her sister played Rugby for BYU, and encouraged Stephanie to try it. The rest, as they say, is history!
Gabby Williams, also from Reno (a Reed High School graduate), plays for The Chicago Sky. She played for France in the Paris Olympics, and suffered a devastating loss in the finals of women’s basketball, but took home a silver medal for France.
The women’s basketball gold went to the USA – where most of the team seemed to hail from the Las Vegas Aces. Way to go team USA!
Vashti Cunningham, daughter of NFL running back Randall Cunningham, competed in track and field for her third time at the Olympics. The Bishop Gorman Graduate finished 5th in the high jump finals. Her best jump of 1.95 meters (6.39 feet) was good enough to tie her for the bronze, but she ended up losing in a tiebreaker.
Next up, the Winter Olympics in Milano-Cortina, Italy, 2026, Then it’s over to L.A. for the 2028 games. Los Angeles is working on it as we speak. Word is, there will be no cars allowed on the roads. Stay tuned!
