Utah Olympians Heading To Tokyo For 2020 Games

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Multiple athletes will represent the state of Utah during the upcoming 2020 Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo.

The Tokyo 2020 Games will take place from July 23-August 8.

While some of the Olympians with ties to Utah will play for Team USA, others will represent their home countries.

Olympians with ties to Utah

Jake Gibb

Tie to Utah: Bountiful native/University of Utah

Sport: Beach Volleyball

Representing: USA

Jake Gibb grew up in Bountiful and attended the University of Utah. After picking up the sport of beach volleyball when he was in his early twenties, Gibb went on to play professionally on the AVP Tour. Tokyo 2020 will be Gibb’s fourth Olympic Games.

TOKYO OLYMPICS: Utah's Jake Gibb set to become the oldest Olympic beach volleyball player in history.

This guy is a machine!🙌#TokyoOlympics https://t.co/kJYYuvI0Qg

— Shara Park ✨ (@KSLSharaPark) June 10, 2021

Nathaniel Coleman

Tie to Utah: Murray native

Sport: Sport Climbing

Representing: USA

A native of Murray and graduate of Murray High School, Nathaniel Coleman will be competing at Tokyo 2020 in sport climbing. Coleman’s specialty is bouldering. Tokyo 2020 will be sport climbing’s debut at the Summer Games.

We caught up with @USAClimbing Nathaniel Coleman during his training. He will compete in @Tokyo2020 Olympics this summer. However, this weekend, he'll be competing in the @ifsclimbing World Cup here in downtown #SaltLakeCity. We're doing a story with him for @KSL5TV tonight at 6. pic.twitter.com/Qgj8Epgb0z

— Alex Cabrero (@KSL_AlexCabrero) May 27, 2021

Haley Batten

Tie to Utah: Park City native

Sport: Cycling

Representing: USA

Haley Batten is a native of Park City and a member of Team USA’s cycling team. Batten will compete in mountain biking.

Thanks for sharing my story @usacycling ! https://t.co/WlQWIN7ctR

— Haley Batten (@BattenHaley) June 30, 2020

Rhyan White

Tie to Utah: Herriman native

Sport: Swimming

Representing: USA

Rhyan White is a American swimmer from Herriman. She will compete in backstroke. White currently attends the University of Alabama and swims for the Crimson Tide.

WHAT a finish!

Rhyan White and 18-year-old Phoebe Bacon are going to the Olympics in the women's 200m back.@USASwimming | #SwimTrials21 x #TokyoOlympics

📺 NBC pic.twitter.com/9U7IQyLGOj

— NBC Olympics (@NBCOlympics) June 20, 2021

Hannah Flippen

Tie to Utah: University of Utah

Sport: Softball

Representing: USA

Hannah Flippen is a softball player from Bonita, California. She attended and played for the University of Utah from 2014-17.

Thank you @hannahFlippen 😢 and good luck with @ScrapYardFP & @USASoftballWNT 😃https://t.co/q1RDtV8BQP#GoUtes 🙌🥎 pic.twitter.com/BCmoTkOp8m

— Utah Softball (@Utah_Softball) June 22, 2020

Eddy Alvarez

Tie to Utah: Salt Lake Community College

Sport: Baseball

Representing: USA

A native of Miami, Florida, Eddy Alvarez will play baseball for the USA in Tokyo 2020. In 2011, Alvarez began to play baseball at Salt Lake Community College. Before playing baseball, Alvarez competed in the Winter Olympics as a speed skater.

ICYMI: Four years after winning a silver medal, Eddy Alvarez is keeping an eye on Pyeongchang while battling for a spot on #WhiteSox Opening Day roster. https://t.co/EgvIMjFCDJ pic.twitter.com/3l0waUe9Mr

— Minor League Baseball (@MiLB) February 14, 2018

Jordan Matyas

Tie to Utah: BYU

Sport: Women’s Rugby

Representing: USA

A dual citizen of the United States and Canada, Matyas was born in Alberta and grew up in Nevada. She attended and played college rugby at BYU.

Our sister, USA WNT 7s/15s Rugby star & BYU Alumnae Jordan Gray Matyas @jjgray93 returns home. Thank you for your gifts of sacrifice for the team, humility, motivation and inspirations. #GoCougs #BYUwRUGBY #usarugby #sistersnotteammates #StrongAsOne #UnstoppableTogether pic.twitter.com/aFsDZsZBDc

— BYU Women's Rugby (@BYUWomensRugby) February 18, 2020

Taylor Sander

Tie to Utah: BYU

Sport: Men’s Indoor Volleyball

Representing: USA

Taylor Sander is native of Huntington Beach, California and a current professional volleyball player. Before going pro, Sander was an All-America standout at BYU.

WHAT. A. WIN! 👏 The U.S. Men complete the comeback against the Netherlands 🇳🇱 and take set five 15-13 with a walk off ace from Taylor Sander! #VNL2021 pic.twitter.com/W3fSTrsvRR

— USA Volleyball (@usavolleyball) June 17, 2021

Brenden Sander

Tie to Utah: BYU

Sport: Men’s Indoor Volleyball

Representing: USA

Like his older brother Taylor, Brenden Sander is a native of Huntington Beach, California, former BYU standout, and a current professional volleyball player. Sander is an alternate for Team USA.

BYU takes 2nd set, 25-18 to lead #NCAAMVB semi, 2-0 over Long Beach State. BYU's Brenden Sander has 11 kills. LBSU's TJ DeFalco has 9. pic.twitter.com/gXTM7SSrt7

— USA Volleyball (@usavolleyball) May 4, 2017

Ben Patch

Tie to Utah: BYU

Sport: Men’s Indoor Volleyball

Representing: USA

Ben Patch is a native of Utah, who was born in Layton and grew up in Provo. He played collegiate volleyball at BYU and is currently a professional player. Patch is an alternate for Team USA.

Today’s win against Argentina marked the 4th consecutive match in a row Ben Patch was the leading point scorer for Team USA!

Patch lead the team with 17 points followed by Taylor Sander with 14.#GoCougs #BYUMVB pic.twitter.com/HEMqSmgosg

— BYU Volleyball (@BYUvolleyball) June 14, 2019

Luka Slabe

Tie to Utah: BYU

Sport: Women’s Indoor Volleyball

Representing: USA

Luka Slabe is a native of Slovenia. He played and coached at BYU. After his time as an assistant coach with the Cougars, Slabe joined Team USA as an assistant coach.

Cheering for teams that have special place in my heart. 🇸🇮 🇺🇸 @usavolleyball @SloVolley https://t.co/YHM7aDiFk7

— Slabe Luka (@CoachSlabe) June 21, 2021

Joe Ingles

Tie to Utah: Utah Jazz

Sport: Men’s Basketball

Representing: Australia

Joe Ingles is a forward for the Utah Jazz. He is a native of Australia and has represented the Boomers in multiple Olympic Games.

🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺 @AUSOlympicTeam pic.twitter.com/fH3hv8xZPP

— Joe Ingles (@Joeingles7) June 20, 2021

Rudy Gobert

Tie to Utah: Utah Jazz

Sport: Men’s Basketball

Representing: France

Rudy Gobert is a center for the Utah Jazz. He is a native of France. Gobert has represented the French National Team in multiple international contests, including the 2016 Summer Games.

Rudy Gobert (21 PTS & 16 REB) and France upset Team USA 89-79 to advance to the @FIBAWC semi-finals! 🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/buSDFo4dAp

— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) September 11, 2019

Damian Lillard

Tie to Utah: Weber State University

Sport: Men’s Basketball

Representing: USA

Damian Lillard is a native of Oakland, California. He played college basketball at Weber State University. Lillard currently plays for the Portland Trail Blazers and Team USA.

Former @WeberStateMBB and current Portland Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard will reportedly play for USA Basketball during the #TokyoOlympics.@kslsports #KSLOlympics https://t.co/2MeUKnWyvA

— KSL 5 TV (@KSL5TV) June 15, 2021

Alexis Lagan

Tie to Utah: University of Utah

Sport: Pistol Shooting

Representing: USA

Alexis Lagan is a native of Nevada. She attended the University of Utah. She is the Utes’ first Olympic Markswoman.

 

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Leilani Mitchell

Tie to Utah: University of Utah

Sport: Women’s Basketball

Representing: Australia

Like Ingles, Leilani Mitchell is a native of Australia. She played college basketball at the University of Utah. She currently plays for the WNBA’s Washington Mystics.

Oi Oi Oi!! 🇦🇺🦘🏀

Congratulations Leilani Mitchell on being named to the Australian Olympic Team! pic.twitter.com/V3AkYtuRDO

— Washington Mystics (@WashMystics) May 26, 2021

MyKayla Skinner

Tie to Utah: University of Utah

Sport: Women’s Gymnastics

Representing: USA

A member of the Red Rocks, Skinner made her Olympic dream come true qualifying as an individual.

WATCH: @mykaylaskinner talk about her journey from being hospitalized with COVID-19 to the #TokyoOlympics on @TODAYshow #TokyoOlympics #GoUtes @UtahGymnastics#KSLOlympicshttps://t.co/fKXFeO0jtP

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) June 28, 2021

Grace McCallum

Tie to Utah: University of Utah

Sport: Women’s Gymnastics

Representing: USA

A member of the Red Rocks, McCallum made her Olympic dream come true qualifying with the team of four.

Grace McCallum making it look easy 👏@NBCOlympics | #GymTrials21

📺 NBC pic.twitter.com/F7zZKgqOor

— On Her Turf (@OnHerTurf) June 28, 2021

Kara Eaker

Tie to Utah: University of Utah

Sport: Women’s Gymnastics

Representing: USA

A member of the Red Rocks, Eaker made her Olympic dream come true qualifying as an alternate.

Congratulations to incoming freshman, Kara Eaker, for being selected as an alternate for @TeamUSA!#GoUtes | #GymTrials21 pic.twitter.com/n5HGeYDuqb

— Utah Gymnastics (@UtahGymnastics) June 28, 2021