Kurt Darling
Network Indiana
PARIS — Several Hoosiers will be coming home with medals from the Olympic Games in Paris.
So far, all of them are for the United States as there are some Hoosier athletes representing other countries of origin. Twelve athletes with ties to the state of Indiana will be leaving with eight medals around their necks.
A majority of them so far are in swimming.
Former Indiana University swimmer and Evansville native Lilly King played a big role in Team USA’s women’s 4×100 medley relay on Sunday which claimed a gold medal. Carmel High School swimmer Alex Shackell gets a gold medal for that same effort as well since she swam the relay in the prelims.
IU swimmer Anna Peplowski, along with Shackell, got a silver medal in the women’s 4×200 freestyle as well last Thursday.
On the men’s side in the pool Carmel’s Drew Kibler, Chesterton’s Blake Pieroni, and Notre Dame’ Chris Giuliano helped Team USA to a silver medal in the 4×200 freestyle. Giuliano also has a gold medal for his part in the men’s 4×100 freestyle relay.
On the diving platform, Sarah Bacon got a silver medal in the 10-meter synchronized diving with her partner Kassidy Cook.
Notre Dame fencing national champion Lee Kiefer claimed her second gold medal in the women’s foil discipline early last week. Chloe Dygert came home with a bronze medal in the women’s time trial in cycling.
Finally, the latest medal was won by Rajeev Ram, who with his tennis doubles partner Austin Krajicek won a silver medal in men’s tennis doubles. The pair lost to the duo from Australia in the gold medal match.
Looking ahead, more Hoosiers and athletes from Indiana are hoping to add their names to those who have already claimed some hardware.
Most notable among them are Tyrese Haliburton (USA) and Andrew Nembhard (Canada). The Indiana Pacers teammates are hoping to lead their national teams deep into the knockout rounds of the men’s basketball tournament.
In Track and Field Cathedral graduate and Indianapolis-native Cole Hocker has advanced to the final of the men’s 1500 meters, and with Notre Dame runner Yared Nuguse, will be a part of a men’s field that may be one of the most historic races ever. They will be going up against the world leader this year Jakob Ingebrigtsen of Norway in the final on Tuesday.
Hobbs Kessler of the United States is also in the field along with Timothy Cheruiyot of Kenya and Josh Kerr of Great Britain also pose significant threats to the podium.
Chloe Dygert is not done yet in Paris. She placed 15th in the women’s road race in Cycling over the weekend. She will be moving indoors now as she will attack the Team Pursuit event in Track Cycling this week.
Finally, former Indiana State University track and field thrower Mary Theisen-Lappen will be one of three women from the United States taking part in Weightlifting on Aug. 11.
