Georgia Fields Strong Contingent for Tokyo Games

ATHENS, Ga. – As the world turns its attention toward the opening of the 2020 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games in Tokyo, Japan, the University of Georgia will once again be well-represented by a host of current and former Bulldog standouts throughout the competition.

30 members of the Georgia athletic community will compete for 13 different nations in five different sports at both the Olympic and Paralympic Games. It is the second-largest Georgia contingent in Olympic history, trailing only the Rio 2016 (36) field.

The Bulldog track and field program will send the largest number of athletes, contributing 16 current and former athletes, including four currently on the roster. 2016 gold medalist Shaunae Miller-Uibo is making her third appearance for the Bahamas, while former standouts Cejhae Green (Antigua & Barbuda), Keturah Orji (USA), Maicel Uibo (Estonia), and Kendell Williams (USA) are all returning for the second time. Uibo, along with fellow NCAA champions Johannes Erm and Karel Tilga, comprise the entire Estonian decathlon team. In addition to Erm and Tilga, junior Elija Godwin (USA, relays) and sophomore Jasmine Moore (USA, triple jump) mark the current student-athletes heading to Tokyo.

Also in track, Georgia product Jarryd Wallace is headed to his third career Paralympic Games, following a world-best time of 10.99 in the 100-meter dash at U.S. Trials. Wallace, the son of Georgia women's tennis head coach Jeff Wallace, previously finished fifth in the 400-meter in Rio and sixth in the 100-meter in London.

Georgia swimming and diving also has a strong presence on the Olympic roster, with nine former athletes and one incoming freshman making the field. Tom Cousins Head Coach Jack Bauerle was named a men's assistant coach for the U.S. national team, his fourth time serving on the staff. With seven American alums, Georgia placed more swimmers on the U.S. Olympic Team than any other program in the country.

2014 alum Allison Schmitt makes her fourth appearance on the team, becoming only the seventh American swimmer to reach four Games, while fellow Rio medalists Gunnar Bentz, Chase Kalisz, and Olivia Smoliga all look to earn more hardware in the pool. In diving, 2021 graduate Freida Lim is the first female Olympic diver in both Singaporean and Georgia program history as she competes in the 10-meter platform event.

In women's tennis, former All-American Ellen Perez will team up with Samantha Stosur to compete for Australia in the doubles competition. Perez is currently playing in both the singles and doubles draw at Wimbledon, making her career debut in singles. In the golf competition, former Bulldog Sepp Straka will represent Austria, with his brother and fellow Georgia alum Sam assisting him as his caddy.

The 2020 Summer Olympic Games commence with the Opening Ceremonies on Friday, July 23 in Tokyo, Japan, with competition running through Sunday, August 8. The 2020 Paralympic Games will open in Tokyo on Tuesday, August 24 and conclude on Sunday, Sept. 5.

2020 Georgia Olympic / Paralympic Roster
Diving
Freida Lim, Singapore, 10m Platform

Golf
Sepp Straka, Austria

Swimming
Javier Acevedo, Canada, 400m Freestyle Relay
Gunnar Bentz, USA, 200m Butterfly
Duné Coetzee, South Africa, 800m Freestyle Relay
Nic Fink, USA, 200m Breaststroke
Hali Flickinger, USA, 200m Butterfly / 400m IM
Chase Kalisz, USA, 200m IM / 400m IM
Jay Litherland, USA, 400m IM
Allison Schmitt, USA, 200m Freestyle / 400m Freestyle Relay
Olivia Smoliga, USA, 400m Freestyle Relay
Jack Bauerle, USA, Men's Assistant Coach

Tennis
Ellen Perez, Australia, Doubles

Track & Field
Denzel Comenentia, Netherlands, Hammer Throw
Johannes Erm, Estonia, Decathlon
Elija Godwin, USA, Relays
Cejhae Green, Antigua & Barbuda, 100m
Charles Grethen, Luxembourg, 1,500m
Lynna Irby, USA, Relays
Morgann Leleux, USA, Pole Vault
Shaunae Miller-Uibo, Bahamas, 200m / 400m
Jasmine Moore, USA, Triple Jump
Keturah Orji, USA, Triple Jump
Chanice Porter, Jamaica, Long Jump
Garrett Scantling, USA, Decathlon
Levern Spencer, Saint Lucia, High Jump
Karel Tilga, Estonia, Decathlon
Maicel Uibo, Estonia, Decathlon
Jarryd Wallace, USA, 100m / 200m (Paralympic Games)
Kendell Williams, USA, Heptathlon

Italics denotes current student-athlete

University of Georgia Athletics

Related Videos