The University of Utah has been a significant hub for Olympic athletes, thanks to its exceptional training facilities and athletic culture. At the 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris, the university was represented by six alumni, one current student, and two future students competing in various sports.
Zachary Hammer and Sam Watson, both 18 years old, made their Olympic debut in Men’s Speed Climbing. Watson, who held the world record in the sport with a time of 4.79 seconds, improved his personal best to 4.75 seconds during the qualifying rounds, earning him a bronze medal. Unfortunately, Watson’s record-setting performance came during an elimination heat where he competed against Hammer, resulting in Hammer being eliminated from medal contention. Both athletes will have the chance to compete together again as incoming freshmen at the university.
In women’s 3×3 Basketball, Utah alumni Michelle Plouffe, Paige Crozon, and coach Kim Gaucher represented Canada. Plouffe and Crozon, who played for the Utah Women’s Basketball team from 2010 to 2016, were part of a four-person team that had a strong showing in Paris. They secured a significant victory over Australia to reach the semifinals but eventually lost to Germany, finishing fourth after losing to the United States in the bronze medal match.
Emilia Nilsson Garip, a sophomore diver at the university, participated in the women’s 3m Diving event for Sweden. Garip had a successful season prior to the Olympics, with notable achievements including a ninth-place finish at the NCAA 1m Championships and winning gold in both the 1m and 3m events at the Pac-12 Championships. In Paris, she placed ninth overall in the 3m Diving event, scoring 279.40.
Track and Field saw alumni Simone Plourde and Josefine Eriksen compete for Canada and Norway, respectively. Plourde set five school records at Utah and competed in the 1500m race, finishing sixth in her heat and narrowly missing qualification for the semifinals. Eriksen, who graduated this year and set 11 school records, was part of Norway’s inaugural 4×400 relay team at the Olympics. The team finished sixth in their heat with a time of 3:28.61, just outside of qualifying for the finals.
Regardless of their placements, the University of Utah and its supporters take pride in the accomplishments of these athletes, who have showcased their talents on the world stage, inspiring future generations of Utes.