Charlotte Athletes Competing in the Summer Olympic Games

The Queen City Celebrates Local Athletes Competing in the 2024 Paris Olympics

Charlotte is home to some of the world’s top sports talent, with its many lakes, hills, and facilities serving as their training grounds.

Since 2021, the USA Women’s National Field Hockey Team has trained in Charlotte. The team's first home was Queens University of Charlotte’s Bessant Field then, in 2023, the team moved its headquarters to UNC Charlotte. The move to Charlotte has allowed the team to focus on building team culture while utilizing the highest-caliber training resources. According to Teryn Brill Galloway, Director of Communications for USA Field Hockey, all athletes named to the Paris roster have resided in Charlotte since January 2024.

“We have also become a center that teams want to visit, especially given the USPC [United States Performance Center] facilities and support we receive regarding strength and conditioning, ATT, psychology and other sports science and medical services," explains David Passmore, USA Women’s National Field Hockey head coach. "Canada and New Zealand were the first to visit, and this year we are welcoming powerhouse Germany to play matches, so hopefully this will provide the Charlotte community an opportunity to see their local Olympians play.”

Charlotte is also home to other training facilities that are well-known globally and locally. The U.S. National Whitewater Center has supported athletes competing at the highest level in the canoe and kayak slalom division since 2001, with the world’s largest man-made whitewater river boasting up to class IV rapids.

Another local training facility that has made an impact is the Harris YMCA of Greater Charlotte, where Charlotte-based Olympian Cierra Burdick was introduced to the sport. “I grew up in south Charlotte, and the Harris YMCA was a huge part of my childhood and youth development,” shares Burdick. “It’s where I was first introduced to basketball and is where I fell in love with competing. I owe an immense amount of gratitude to the Harris YMCA for all they did for my mom and me. The Harris YMCA is arguably one of the biggest blessings of my childhood!”

Celebrate and get to know a bit about the world-class athletes, with ties to the Charlotte area, who will be competing in the 2024 Summer Olympics and Paralympic Games in Paris.

Liel Abada

Sport: Soccer
Charlotte Connection: Charlotte FC player
When to Watch: Wednesday, July 24
Where to Cheer Liel on: Instagram

Hannah Aspden

Sport: Para Swimming
Charlotte Connection: Queens University of Charlotte graduate
When to Watch: Thursday, Aug. 29
Where to Cheer Hannah on: Instagram, X

Kaylyn Brown

Sport: Track & Field
Event: 400m Relay
Charlotte Connection: Charlotte native
When to Watch: Saturday, Aug. 3
Where to Cheer Kaylyn on: Instagram

Cierra Burdick

Sport: Basketball
Event: 3x3
Charlotte Connection: Charlotte native
When to Watch: Monday, July 29
Where to Cheer Cierra on: Instagram, X

Carson Clough

Sport: Paratriathlon
Charlotte Connection: Charlotte native, co-owner of Giddy Goat Coffee Roasters
When to Watch: Sunday, Sept. 1
Where to Cheer Carson on: Instagram

Anna Cockrell

Sport: Track & Field
Event: 400m Hurdles
Charlotte Connection: Charlotte native
When to Watch: Friday, Aug. 2
Where to Cheer Anna on: Instagram, X

Erika Connolly

Sport: Swimming
Event: 4x100m Freestyle Relay
Charlotte Connection: Charlotte native
When to Watch: Saturday, July 27
Where to Cheer Erika on : Instagram

Stephen Curry

Sport: Basketball
Charlotte Connection: Charlotte native, Davidson College graduate
When to Watch: Monday, July 29
Where to Cheer Stephen on: Instagram, X

Casey Eichfeld

Sport: Canoe/Kayak
Event: Canoe Slalom/Singles
Charlotte Connection: Trains at the U.S. National Whitewater Center
When to Watch: Saturday, July 27
Where to Cheer Casey on: Instagram, X

Josh Green

Sport: Basketball
Charlotte Connection: Charlotte Hornets player
When to Watch: Saturday, July 27
Where to Cheer Josh on: Instagram

Evy Leibfarth

Sport: Canoe/Kayak
Events: Kayak, Canoe, Kayak Cross
Charlotte Connection: Davidson College student
When to Watch: Saturday, July 27
Where to Cheer Evy on: Instagram

Seth Rider

Sport: Triathlon
Charlotte Connection: Queens University of Charlotte graduate
When to Watch: Friday, July 26
Where to Cheer Seth on: Instagram

Apsara Sakbun

Sport: Swimming
Event: 50m Freestyle
Charlotte Connection: Charlotte resident
When to Watch: Saturday, Aug. 3
Where to Cheer Apsara on: Instagram

Naya Tapper

Sport: Rugby
Charlotte Connection: Charlotte native
When to Watch: Sunday, July 28
Where to Cheer Naya on: Instagram, X

Danielle Williams

Sport: Track & Field
Event: 100m Hurdles
Charlotte Connection: Johnson C. Smith University graduate
When to Watch: Friday, Aug. 2
Where to Cheer Danielle on: Instagram

The 2024 Summer Olympics commence on Wednesday, July 24, with the Opening Ceremony on Friday, July 26 featuring a float parade with all the athletes on barges down the Seine River. The 2024 Paralympic Games begin on Wednesday, Aug. 28 and will hold an opening ceremony parade through the iconic Avenue des Champs-Elysees.

If you can’t make it to Paris for the games, save on some of Charlotte’s top activities and attractions with the free Summer Games Saving Pass.