The wait is almost over for the beginning of the 2024 Olympic games in Paris. Athletes around the world have been training and fighting through qualifying obstacles in order to strive towards the number one spot as a national champion. Some of those athletes are from right here in the great state of Texas. Naturally, you can’t mention Texas Olympic champions without bringing up Houston’s own nationally recognized gymnast Simone Biles from Spring, TX. Simone has made such a phenomenal impact on gymnastics that they have named five moves after her. Another notorious juggernaut of track and field is the amazing Sha’carri Richardson from Dallas TX. Richardson made herself a household name after breaking the world record in the 100-meter race. However, these two extraordinary women are not the only people from Texas making a name for themselves in Paris 2024. Over 50 professional athletes here are either qualified or in the final qualifying rounds of their specialty sport. Speaking of specialties, there are officially two new sports debuting as medaled competitions this year that also include two Texans; Olympic breakdancing, and skateboarding.
Breakdancing is one of the most anticipated debuts of the Summer Games. According to the Olympic committee, the acrobatic skill it takes for b-boys and b-girls to perform their moves makes this a rank-able sport fit for fair competition. Breakdancing originally premiered in the 2018 Youth Olympics but is now a medaled event for competitors of all ages with judging criteria being based on creativity, personality, technique, variety, performativity, and musicality. 80 athletes are trying out for Paris qualifiers between now and June. Each country is allowed to have 4 breakdancers compete this summer. Jeffery “Jeffro” Louis of Houston, TX is aiming to be one of those 4 representing Team USA. Louis is currently ranked 4th in the world by the World Dance Sport Federation. Over the next few weeks he’ll be competing for last spot available in Paris. In an interview with Houston Chronicle spoke of how he appreciates the Olympics taking breakdancing as a legit sport that is widely respected for the skill and hard work it takes to do what he and others do so well. “This is the biggest opportunity breaking has ever seen, and I don’t say opportunity meaning exposure. We finally get to educate people on what breaking is; because a lot of times people don’t understand what we’re doing or they think were rolling around or whatever, but there’s a lot of technique to it. There’s a lot of creativity.”
Jordan Santana from Houston, TX is the next national hopeful in the new Olympic level competition of Women’s Skateboarding. Santana is currently ranked at an impressive place of 155 in the global ranking of skateboarders. The city is fully supportive of her journey and looking forward to her continued success in Paris this summer. The official Olympic website describes exactly how this new competition will take place. “The world’s greatest skateboarders will face each other at the Olympic Games, competing in the two most popular and spectacular disciplines: park and street. Athletes must carry out their most impressive tricks, meeting criteria for the degree of difficulty, speed, and range of moves.”
Street events will take place on straight course with rails and ledges as obstacles to showcase their skills. Skaters will be allowed to to ask judges for a redo on one trick if needed. The park skating competition consist of tricks done in the slopes. A 5-judge panel will critique 3 rounds of 45 second runs. Competitors earn points based on height and speed of their tricks. If you’ve ever played a video game like ‘Tony Hawk’ you get the gist of how the competition gets rated. Skateboarding premiered in the Tokyo 2020 but is now ready to be a medaled event at the Place de La Concorde of Paris 2024. There’s sure to be new flips and tricks on the next game based on the showmanship expected to be seen here.
HOUSTON
Brittany Griner, from Houston, will be competing in her second Olympic competition this year after re-signing with the Phoenix Mercury. Her first Olympic win was in Rio of 2016.
Lawson Craddock, of the UCI World Team, is taking his first run at Road Cycling with a promising foretelling. Courtney Hurley born in Houston, raised in San Antonio, will be competing in. their third Olympic competition in Epee Fencing. Previously winning bronze in the London games. Kelley Hurley is on her fourth Olympic competion, previously doing well in London, Beijing and Rio games. Joshua Edwards of Houston, TX is the first male boxer from Houston to qualify for the olympic games since Rocky Juarez in 2000.
DALLAS
Scottie Scheffler, of central Dallas County Highland Park, is an impressive golfer already qualified for the summer in Paris. He recently won both the Masters and Plaid Jacket from 2024 RBC Heritage tournament in South Carolina. Golf qualifications are still open for men until June 17th and for women June 24th. Another Dallas favorite is gymnast Luisa Blanco. The well decorated athletes who made their way from L.A has already earned her spot as well.
AUSTIN
Hailey Hernandez, of Southlake, TX, is dominating Diving. A leader in the 1 and 3 meter springboard at the University of Texas. She has earned three All-American awards, three big 12 team championships, two time big 12 diver of the year and five-time individual champion at UT. Trials for diving ends between June 15th-23rd.
FRISCO
Skye Blakely Frisco, Tx gymnast. Silver in 2024 winter cup. 40 Olympic and world championship medals. Trials June 27-30
Jaedyn Shaw Frisco, Tx soccer. First player in USWNT history to score five goals in her fist five starts with the national team.
Surrounding Areas
Jourdan Delacruz of Wylie, TX is competing in weightlifting trials.
Sam Watson of South Lake Tarrant County is competing in Sport climbing in the discipline of speed. Sam has already broken two world records at the World Cup competition in China and is qualified for this years U.S Team.
Bryce Hoppel of Midland, TX is going to the Olympic trials for the 800-meter race, previously winning in the Tokyo Olympics 2021. The trials will be June 21-30.
Ibrahim Fuseinin at Texas A&M university just won placement on the US track team Sunday. In 4×100 relay for Ghana. It was a close call with his relay team coming in second, reviving the only chance Ghana had in the qualifying race.
Texas is home to many decorated athletes with impressive accomplishments both in and outside of their sport. Each having a unique story of dedication and perseverance along the way. The historic games have taken such huge pivots in the competitions offered and are continuing that effort by adding surfing, sport climbing and other youth-centric events that will keep audiences glued to their screens. The 2028 Olympic games are set to be in Los Angeles with added events, flag football, pillow fighting, lacrosse, cricket and squash already set as medaled sports. The opening ceremony for Paris 2024 will be July 26th.
