The Tokyo Olympics kick off in just over one week. If you're wondering who to root for, here's a list of the Olympians with ties to the Bluegrass State.

Louisville

Team USA:

  • Louisville native Justin Thomas will compete in men’s golf
  • Louisville native Ronnie Baker will compete in men’s 100M dash
Yared Nuguse (right) celebrates with his coach after making his first olympic team, finishing third at the trials. (Citius Mag/Justin Britton)
  • Louisville native Yared Nuguse will compete in men’s 1500M
  • Louisville native Brooke Forde will swim on women’s 200M freestyle relay team
  • Former UofL swimmer Zach Harting will compete in men’s 200M butterfly

Competing for other countries:

  • Current UofL student Andrej Barna will swim for Serbia
  • Current UofL student Merissah Russell is an alternate on women’s basketball team for Canada
  • Former UofL student Matt Hughes will compete in Steeplechase for Canada
  • Former UofL student Ayeisha McFerran will compete in Field Hockey for Ireland
  • Former UofL student Ben Williams will compete in Triple Jump for England

Lexington

Team USA:

  • Former UK student Sydney McLaughlin will compete in women’s 400M hurdles. She is the gold medal favorite after setting World Record at U.S. Olympic trials
  • Former UK student Daniel Roberts will compete in men’s 110M hurdles
  • Former UK student Keni Harrison will compete in women’s 100M hurdles
  • Former UK student Javianne Oliver will compete in women’s 100M dash
Sydney McLaughlin wins a semi-final in the women's 400-meter hurdles at the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials Saturday, June 26, 2021, in Eugene, Ore. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
  • Current UK student Will Shaner will compete in rifle
  • Current UK student Mary Tucker will compete in women’s air rifle and small-bore
  • Former UK basketball players Bam Adebayo and Devin Booker

Competing for other countries:

  • Incoming UK student Alexia Lacatena will compete in softball for Italy
  • Current UK student Dwight St. Hillaire will compete in men’s 400M for Trinidad and Tobago
  • Current UK student Megan Moss will compete in women’s 4x400M relay for Bahamas
  • Former UK student Tim Duckworth will compete in Decathalon for England
  • Former UK student Jasmine Camacho-Quinn will compete in women’s 100M hurdles for Puerto Rico
  • Former UK student Leah Nugent will compete in women’s 400M hurdles for Jamaica

Bowling Green

  • Former WKU student Jessica Ramsey will compete in women’s shot put

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