The U.S. military is proudly sending 18 athletes to the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janiero, Brazil. Some games have already started, including soccer, but the opening ceremony is set for Aug. 5 with the games running for about two weeks.
For decades, the U.S. military has sent a select number of its troops to compete against the world’s best athletes, and this year’s XXXI Olympiad is no exception. Here they are along with a couple fast facts about each one:
1. Army Spc. Hillary Bor
(Photo: Army.mil)
Specialist Hillary Bor is a financial management technician and a two-time Big 12 conference champion in the 3,000-meter steeplechase. He placed second in the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials.
2. Army Spc. Paul Chelimo
(Photo: Army.mil)
Specialist Paul Chelimo is a water treatment specialist who will compete in the 5,000-meter race.
3. Army Sgt. 1st Class Glenn Eller
(Photo: Army.mil)
Sergeant 1st Class Glenn Eller is an instructor on the Army Marksmanship Unit’s International Shotgun Team. He will compete in the double trap event in Rio de Janiero, Brazil.
4. Marine Corps 2nd Lt. David Higgins
(Photo: Marine Corps Recruiting Command)
Second Lt. David Higgins is a recent graduate of the Air Force Academy who cross-commissioned into the Marine Corps. He will compete in the 50-meter prone rifle event in the Rio Olympics.
5. Army 2nd Lt. Sam Kendricks
Army Reserve 2nd Lt. Sam Kendricks, center, walks with the other members of the US Pole Vault Team. (Photo: courtesy Tom “Drac” Williams)
Second Lt. Sam Kendricks broke the Olympic pole vault trial record on July 4 because ‘Murica! He will compete in the pole vault in the 2016 games and is currently ranked number 2 in the world.
6. Edward King
Edward King is a 2011 Naval Academy graduate and completed SEAL training before being assigned to the Navy’s information warfare community at Fort Meade, Maryland. He has taken an extended leave of absence from the service to compete on the U.S. Olympic Rowing team for the Rio Games. Originally from South Africa, King was first introduced to rowing at the Naval Academy.
7. Army Spc. Shadrack Kipchirchir
(Photo: Army.mil)
Specialist Shadrack Kipchirchir is a financial management technician who will compete in the 10,000-meter race in the 2016 Olympic Games.
8. Army Spc. Leonard Korir
(Photo: Army.mil)
Specialist Leonard Korir is a competitor in the 10,000-meter race who also serves as a motor transport operator in the Army.
9. Army Spc. Daniel Lowe
(Photo: Army.mil)
Specialist Daniel Lowe is a watercraft engineer and first-time Olympian. He will compete in the air rifle event and the three-position prone rifle event.
10. Army Staff Sgt. Michael Lukow
(Photo: Army.mil)
Staff Sgt. Michael Lukow is an infantryman and adaptive athlete who will represent the U.S. in the recurve bow event at the 2016 Paralympic Games. He learned archery while recovering from injuries sustained in Iraq that cost him his right foot.
11. Army Sgt. Elizabeth Marks
(Photo: Army.mil)
Sergeant Elizabeth Marks is a medic and Paralympic Athlete who won four gold medals at the 2016 Invictus Games. She will compete in the 100-meter breaststroke at the Rio Games. She is best known for giving one of her Invictus Gold Medals to Prince Harry of England to donate to the Papworth Hospital staff in England who helped save her life.
12. Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael McPhail
(Photo: Army.mil)
Sergeant 1st Class Michael McPhail is an infantryman heading into his second Olympics. In 2012, he competed in the 50-meter prone rifle. He will compete in the same event in 2016.
13. Army Staff Sgt. John Nunn
(Photo: Army.mil)
Staff Sgt. John Nunn is a dental specialist and competitive race walker. He competed in the 2004 and 2012 Olympics and will do so again in Rio. He won the 2016 U.S. Olympic Race Walk 50k Team Trials with a personal record of 4:13:21.
14. Army Sgt. 1st Class Josh Richmond
(Photo: Army.mil)
Sergeant 1st Class Josh Richmond is an infantryman headed to his second Olympic games. He competes in the double trap shotgun event and serves as an instructor on the Army Marksmanship Unit’s International Shotgun Team.
15. Army Sgt. 1st Class Keith Sanderson
(Photo: Army.mil)
Sergeant 1st Class Keith Sanderson is an infantryman and competitive pistol shooter. Rio will be his third Olympic appearance. In 2008, he set an Olympic qualification record in the Beijing games for the 25-meter rapid fire pistol event.
16. Army Sgt. Nathan Schrimsher
(Photo: Army.mil)
Sergeant Nathan Schrimsher is a motor transport operator and competitor in the modern pentathlon, a five-sport event that includes fencing, swimming, equestrian show jumping, cross-country running and pistol shooting. He was the first athlete to qualify for the 2016 U.S. Olympic Team.
17. Air Force 1st Lt. Cale Simmons
(Photo: US Air Force Staff Sgt. Cory D. Payne)
First Lt. Cale Simmons is a pole vaulter and member of the World Class Athlete Program. He graduated from the Air Force Academy where he competed in the pole vault and other track events in 2013.
18. Naval Academy Cadet Regine Tugade (for Team Guam)
Regine Tugade is a Midshipman at the Naval Academy who has been excused for a portion of her plebe summer to compete in the 100-meter dash in the 2016 Olympic Games for Team Guam. She first arrived on the continental U.S. on June 29, the day before plebe summer began. She will return to academy training after the Olympics.
