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Meet Your North Carolina and South Carolina Olympic Athletes

We are counting down the days until the Olympics (finally) begin. It feels like we’ve had to wait even longer than 4 years, oh wait we have. And while it’s…

Olympic Rings Unveiled In Yokohama North and South Carolina olympic athletes

The Olympic Rings are displayed at Akarenga Park on June 30, 2021 in Yokohama, Japan. With less than one month to go before the start of the Tokyo Olympic Games, final preparations are being made to venues despite ongoing concern over the viability of holding the event during the global coronavirus pandemic.

Takashi Aoyama/Getty Images

We are counting down the days until the Olympics (finally) begin. It feels like we've had to wait even longer than 4 years, oh wait we have. And while it's always fun to cheer on the entirety of Team USA sometimes it's fun to narrow it down a little with specific athletes to support. And lucky for all of us, both North and South Carolina are well represented in Tokyo. What did we count as "local Olympians"? We wanted to give credit to as many talented individuals as possible. Therefore anyone who was born in, credits a hometown in, attended college, or currently trains in the Carolinas made the cut.  So without further ado let's meet your North Carolina and South Carolina Olympic Athletes!

North Carolina and South Carolina Olympic Athletes

Bam Adebayo

Sport: Basketball

Local Tie: Bam grew up in High Point, NC, and attended High Point Christian Academy where he graduated in 2016. He went on to play basketball at the University of Kentucky and currently plays for the Miami Heat.

Paul Chelimo

Sport: Track and Field

Local Ties: Paul Chelimo was born in Kenya but he attended college at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro where he graduated in 2013.

Crystal Dunn

Sport: Soccer

Local Ties: Crystal Dunn attended UNC-Chapel Hill and currently plays soccer in NC for North Carolina Courage.

Tim Federowicz

Sport: Baseball

Position: Catcher

Local Ties: Tim Federowicz attended UNC-Chapel Hill where he played baseball.

Naomi Graham

Sport: Boxing

Local Ties: Naomi is from Fayetteville, NC

Chelsea Gray

Sport: Basketball

Local Ties: Chelsea Gray attended Duke University where she played basketball.

Allisha Gray

Sport: Basketball

Local Ties: Allisha was born in Greenwood, SC and attended the University of South Carolina.

Keni Harrison

Sport: Track and Field

Local Ties: Keni Harrison is a native of Clayton, NC

Quanera Hayes

Sport: Track and Field

Local Ties: Quanera is from Hope Mills, NC and attended Livingstone College in Salisbury.

Tobin Heath

Sport: Soccer

Local Ties: Tobin played soccer at the University of North Carolina

Adrian Hegyvary

Sport: Cycling

Local Ties: Adrian currently resides part-time in Asheville, NC.

Lucas Kozeniesky

Sport: Shooting/Rifle Shooting

Local Ties: Lucas Graduated from NC State University in 2017

Evy Leibfarth

Sport: American Canoe- Kayak Slalom, Canoe Slalom

Local Ties: Evy is from Bryson City, NC, and will be attending Davidson College.

Khris Middleton

Sport: Basketball

Local Ties: Khris is from Charleston, SC

Sandi Morris

Sport: Track and Field- Pole Vault

Local Ties: Sandi is from Greenville, SC

Doug Payne

Sport: Equestrian Eventing

Local Ties: Doug Pain is from Aiken, SC

Summer Rappaport

Sport: Triathalon

Local Ties: Summer currently resides in Durham, NC

Raven Saunders

Sport: Track and Field Shotput

Local Ties: Raven is from Charleston, SC

Andrew Seliskar

Sport: Swimming

Local Ties: Andrew was born in Charlotte.

Kenny Selmon

Sport: Track and Field

Local Ties: Kenny attended the University of North Carolina

Michal Smolen

Sport: American Canoe

Local Ties: Michael is from Charlotte and attended Belmont Abbey College

Jessica Springsteen

Sport: Equestrian

Local Ties: Jessica attended Duke University (she's also the daughter of Bruce Springsteen!)

John Stefanowicz

Sport: Wrestling

Local Ties: John's hometown is Jacksonville, NC

Trevor Stewart

Sport: Track and Field

Local Ties: Trevor attended NC A&T University

Naya Tapper

Sport: Rugby

Local Ties: Naya was born in Beaufort, SC. She grew up in Charlotte where she graduated from West Charlotte High School and went on to attend the University of North Carolina.

Jayson Tatum

Sport: Basketball

Local Ties: Jayson played basketball at Duke.

Mary Tucker

Sport: Rifle Shooting

Local Ties: Mary was born in Pineville, NC

Ashley Twichell

Sport: Swimming

Local Ties: Ashley graduated from Duke University in 2011

A'ja Wilson

Sport: Basketball

Local Ties: A'ja was born and raised in Columbia, SC, and attended the University of South Carolina

Katie Zaferes

Sport: Triathalon

Local Ties: Katie currently resides in Cary, NC

Congratulations to all of our North Carolina and South Carolina Olympic Athletes. We cannot wait to cheer you and the rest of Team USA on!

For a full list of Team USA members visit TeamUSA.com

Melanie Day is a graduate of North Carolina State University. She has worked for Beasley since 2012 in a variety of behind-the-scenes roles in both digital and promotions. Melanie writes about a diverse range of topics some of her favorites include travel, restaurants, Taylor Swift, and college athletics. When not at work you'll find her at a country concert or NC State sporting event.