University of Georgia Athletics
Welcome Home UGA's Olympians on Aug. 31
August 22, 2016 | General
ATHENS ---- University of Georgia athletes and coaches that participated in the 2016 Summer Olympic Games -- as well as those scheduled to compete at the upcoming Paralympic Games -- will be celebrated on Wednesday, Aug. 31 at a `'Welcome Home'' reception, presented by Athens BMW, on the UGA campus.
The public is invited to the reception, which will take place from 5:00-7:00 p.m. in the third-floor rotunda of the Butts-Mehre Heritage Hall. Commemorative posters, courtesy of Athens BMW, will be available for autographs from the Olympians.
| 5-6:00 p.m. | All Olympians Available for Autographs in Heritage Hall |
| 6:00 p.m. | Greg McGarity Welcome and Introductions |
| 6:05 p.m. | President Jere Morehead Comments (will Introduce Danna Durante) |
| 6:10 p.m. | Danna Durante Comments (Will introduce Petros Kyprianou) |
| 6:20 p.m. | Petros Kyprianou Comments (Will Introduce Jack Baurle) |
| 6:30 p.m. | Jack Bauerle Comments |
| 6:40 p.m. | Greg McGarity Closing Comments |
| 6:45 p.m. | Photo Opportunities with Olympians |
UGA's contingent of 37 athletes and coaches represents the greatest number in school history. Were UGA a country, the 10 medals they won would rank 27th among the 207 nations that participated in the Rio Olympics.
The complete list of UGA's representatives at both the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games follows. A number of these athletes and coaches are slated to attend the `'Welcome Home'' reception on Aug. 31.
2016 OLYMPIC GAMES
Diving
Men (1)
César Castro (volunteer diving coach) -- Brazil (fourth Olympics)
Staff (1)
Coach Dan Laak (diving) -- Brazil assistant (third Olympics on staff {first 2 with U.S.})
Golf
Men (1)
Bubba Watson (2000-01) -- USA (first Olympics)
Gymnastics
Women (1)
Brittany Rogers (2013-16) -- Canada (second Olympics)
Swimming & Diving
Men (5)
Gunnar Bentz (2015-Present) -- USA (first Olympics) GOLD MEDAL 4X200 FREE RELAY
Chase Kalisz (2013-15, 2016-Present) -- USA (first Olympics) SILVER MEDAL 400 IM
Jay Litherland (2015-Present) -- USA (first Olympics)
Javier Acevedo (2016-Present) -- Canada (first Olympics)
Matias Koski (2013-16) -- Finland (second Olympics)
Women (7)
Hali Flickinger (2013-16) -- USA (first Olympics)
Melanie Margalis (2011-14) -- USA (first Olympics) GOLD MEDAL 4X200 FREE RELAY
Allison Schmitt (2009-11, 2013) -- USA (third Olympics) GOLD MEDAL 4X200 FREE RELAY, SILVER MEDAL 4x100 FREE RELAY
Olivia Smoliga (2014-Present) -- USA (first Olympics) GOLD MEDAL 4X100 MEDLEY RELAY
Amanda Weir (2005) -- USA (third Olympics) SILVER MEDAL 4x100 FREE RELAY
Brittany MacLean (2013-16) -- Canada (second Olympics) BRONZE MEDAL 4X200 FREE RELAY
Chantal Van Landeghem (2013-15, 2016-Present) -- Canada (first Olympics) BRONZE MEDAL 4x100 FREE RELAY
Staff (1)
Coach Jack Bauerle (swimming) -- USA assistant (third Olympics on staff)
Table Tennis
Men (1)
Yijun "Tom" Feng (incoming freshman student) -- USA (first Olympics)
Track & Field
Men (5)
Kibwe Johnson (2000) -- USA (second Olympics)
Cejhae Greene (2014-15, 2016-Present) -- Antigua (first Olympics)
Karl Saluri (2014-Present) -- Estonia (first Olympics)
Maicel Uibo (2012-16) -- Estonia (first Olympics)
Charles Grethen (2013-15) -- Luxembourg (first Olympics)
Women (7)
Keturah Orji (2015-Present) -- USA (first Olympics)
Kendell Williams (2014-Present) -- USA (first Olympics)
Jenny Dahlgren (2004-07) -- Argentina (fourth Olympics)
Shaunae Miller (2012-13) -- Bahamas (second Olympics) GOLD MEDAL 400m
Leontia Kallenou (2012-2016) -- Cyprus (first Olympics )
Levern Spencer (2006-08) -- St. Lucia (third Olympics)
Tynia Gaither (2012-13) - Bahamas (first Olympics)
Staff (2)
Coach Petros Kyprianou -- Estonia assistant (second Olympics as a coach)
Coach Ken Harnden - Cayman Islands assistant (fourth Olympics as a coach)
Volleyball
Women (1)
Alexandra Oquendo (2002-05) -- Puerto Rico (first Olympics)
Beach Volleyball
Women (1)
Britta Büthe (2007) -- Germany (first Olympics)
2016 PARALYMPIC GAMES
Swimming
Women (1)
Lindsay Grogan (UGA bachelor's and master's degrees) -- USA (first Paralympics)
Sitting Volleyball
Women (1)
Michelle Gerlosky Schiffler (B.S. in Biological Sciences in 2008 from UGA) -- USA (second Paralympics)
Track & Field
Men (1)
Jarryd Wallace (2008) -- USA (second Paralympics)
Players Mentioned
