London Calling

 

Area athletes who dream of Olympic gold and others who have already found it

 
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photo credit: Eddy Harris
 

More than 200 athletes competing in the 2012 Summer Games have a California connection. They either live in the state now or were born here. See the list here. You can also follow many of them on Twitter.


 

Insight Interviews with and News Stories About Local Olympians

  • Local Swim Coach Recaps Weltz's London Games

    Tuesday, August 07, 2012

    San Jose's Scott Weltz surprised the swimming world at the US Olympic Trials by winning the 200m breast stroke. He competed in London and finished fifth. His personal coach Pete Motekaitis, whom he met at UC Davis, talks about Weltz's experience.

  • source: NBC

    Reno's Jake Dalton in London: "We Learned A Lot About Ourselves"

    Monday, August 06, 2012

    U.S. men's gymnastics team member Jake Dalton took 5th in the men's floor exercise final on Sunday, capping off an impressive Olympic debut. The day after that performance, the Reno native talked with Beth Ruyak about his experience in London.

  • Photo by Rob Vomund / Sacramento Capitals

    Past Olympian With Sacramento Ties Remembers Games

    Friday, August 03, 2012

    Lindsay Davenport played for the Sacramento Capitals for several seasons, but is now playing for the Orange County Breakers in the World Team Tennis league. She talked about her Olympic memories before a recent match here in Sacramento.

  • source: New York Times

    U.S. Rowing Team Wins Gold in Women's Eight

    Thursday, August 02, 2012

    Congrats to U.S. Women's Rowing for grabbing gold on Thursday in Women's Eight! (They also won in Beijing.) Coxswain Mary Whipple, a Sacramento native, talks about what it takes to be a great rowing team in this video produced by the New York Times.

  • Mike Sayers

    Olympics Update

    Wednesday, August 01, 2012

    As the 2012 London Olympic Games continue to unfold, we check in with Mike Sayers about British cyclist Bradley Wiggins winning an Olympic gold medal and the Tour de France.

  • Nevada Family Sees Hard Work Pay Off With Trip to London

    Monday, July 30, 2012

    As we watch the Olympics, we sometimes forget the athletes who have made it to the pinnacle of sport often didn’t get there alone. We have the story of one family who put everything into their child’s dream.

  • Summer's Olympics: Remembering Barcelona

    Thursday, July 26, 2012

    At the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, a 19-year-old from Roseville became the most decorated US swimmer of those games. Summer Sanders won four medals: two golds, a silver and a bronze. Now she’s in London reporting on the games for Yahoo Sports.

  • Former UC Davis Star Scott Weltz Will Swim For Team USA

    Tuesday, July 17, 2012

    UC Davis swimmer Scott Weltz pulled off an upset during the US Olympic swimming trials in the 200 meter breaststroke, beating out favorites Brendan Hansen and Eric Shanteau. Weltz is now preparing for a trip to the London games.

  • Photo by Andrew Nixon

    Native American Olympian Billy Mills On His Legacy

    Wednesday, July 11, 2012

    His 10,000 meter race for the Olympic gold medal in 1964 has been called "the greatest race of the 20th century" by Running Times. Billy Mills joins us to talk about the legacy of his race as the 2012 Olympics near.

  • 2008 Gold Medalist Gabe Gardner an Alternate for London Games

    Monday, July 09, 2012

    After Gabe Gardner won a gold medal at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, he retired from the US Men’s Volleyball Team. Fast forward to 2012 and the Carmichael resident is now a team alternate, just one step removed from competing at the London Games.

  • U.S. Men’s Cycling Coach Provides Olympics Preview

    Thursday, June 28, 2012

    Long-time Sacramento-area professional cyclist Mike Sayers, who shifted his career from racing to coaching, will direct the US Olympic Men's Cycling Team at the 2012 Summer Games in London.

Kim Conley Update: Qualified for Finals on Thursday
Tue, Jun 26, 2012

West Sacramento runner Kim Conley has qualified for the finals of the US Track and Field Olympic team.


Galt's Stephanie Brown Trafton Looking To Repeat
Tue, Jun 26, 2012

Stephanie Brown Trafton thrilled Northern Californians and fans everywhere by winning the Olympic Gold Medal in Women's Discus Throw in 2008.


Rio Americano Grad Swimming for Spot on US Team
Mon, Jun 25, 2012

Sacramento swimmer Kevin Ferguson found his water legs as a child at Arden Hills and continued on to swim competitively as a member of the Rio Americano High School team.


West Sacramento Runner Kim Conley at Trials in Oregon
Thu, Jun 21, 2012

Runner Kim Conley is hoping to qualify for a spot on the US Olympic Team to compete in the Women's 5000 meters.


Olympic Gold Medalist and Sacramento-area Resident Ruthie Bolton
Thu, Jun 07, 2012

Sacramento's Hall of Famer, Olympic Gold Medalist and Monarchs star Ruthie Bolton has released her biography The Ride of a Lifetime.


 

NBC Olympics website
 

Olympians With a California Connection

 
Table courtesy KQED
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From NPR News

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PHOTOS: Memorable Moments From The Pyeongchang Winter Olympic Games

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Highlights Of The Pyeongchang Olympics Closing Ceremony, In Photos

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Pyeongchang Olympics: Closing Ceremony Ends Biggest Winter Games Ever

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A Russian Fan's Perspective On A Most Unusual Gold Medal Ceremony In Pyeongchang

"I was proud greatly. It was from one side, tears of pride and happiness. From another side, I regretted greatly we can't see our flag," said Natalia Kim, who lives in South Korea.


After Going Shot For Shot, Olympic Athletes From Russia Win Men's Hockey Gold

The Olympic Athletes from Russia won 4-3 against Germany in a game where neither team had much to lose.


Canada Has Best-Ever Winter Olympics Performance, Despite Unexpected Losses

The country has 29 medals, including 11 gold, despite less-than-gold performances from their usual powerhouses.


Olympics' Board Does Not Lift Suspension Of Russian Olympic Committee

Calling two doping cases "hugely disappointing," the IOC's executive board said that factors had "prevented the IOC from even considering lifting the suspension for the closing ceremony."


Sweden Wins Gold, South Korea's 'Garlic Girls' Win Silver Medal In Curling

With their performance, the much-loved Garlic Girls medalled in a sport that's still unfamiliar to most South Koreans. The nation's first Olympic women's curling team debuted just four years ago.


Canadian Olympic Athlete And Coach Apologize After Drunken Joyride Arrest

Skier Dave Duncan, his wife and his coach were arrested after drunkenly stealing an idling pink Hummer in Pyeongchang. Until prosecutors weigh in, all three are restricted from leaving South Korea.


 
 
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