Texas A&M qualifies 27 athletes for 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro
Jul 15, 2016 | General
Texas A&M currently has 27 athletes, representing 14 countries, qualified for the Games of the XXXI Olympiad, which will be held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from August 5 to 21.
The first edition of the Olympic Games held in South America will feature 42 sport disciplines with 306 events across 37 venues. A record total of 206 countries are entered with more than 10,500 athletes competing.
Five Aggies are part of Team USA amid three sports – three in track and field, along with one each in basketball and swimming. The trio of track and field athletes include Maggie Malone (javelin), Ameer Webb (200m) and Shelbi Vaughan (discus). DeAndre Jordan is a member of the men's basketball team while Cammile Adams (200 fly) is part of the women's swim team.
Countries represented by Texas A&M athletes also include Australia, Bahamas, Canada, France, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Mexico, Nigeria, South Africa, Tonga, Trinidad & Tobago, and Zambia.
Sports the Aggies will contest in the 2016 Olympics include basketball, soccer, swimming and diving, along with track and field. There are 18 Texas A&M athletes competing in track and field, seven in swimming and one each in basketball and soccer.
"Around the world we had a lot of Aggies make Olympic teams as they continue to compete on a high level," said Texas A&M track and field head coach Pat Henry. "It's going to be a great Olympics for Texas A&M and our program.
"With 18 track and field athletes qualified, I would say there are not many universities in the country that could match the numbers that we're putting in the Games, so that's gratifying for our staff as well."
Steve Bultman, Texas A&M women's swimming and diving head coach, noted: "The Olympic Games are the greatest sporting event on Earth, and it's extremely humbling to see so many Aggies reach their goal of competing with the world's great athletes.
"Reaching the Olympics isn't just the culmination of four years of hard work and dedication, it's the reward of a lifetime in committed pursuit of a dream. Congratulations to all the Olympians!"
Following is a list of athletes competing in the Rio Olympics separated by country, event discipline and the seasons they competed at Texas A&M.
CURRENT & FORMER TEXAS A&M STUDENT-ATHLETES COMPETING IN RIO OLYMPICS
TEXAS A&M-- 27
Cammile Adams—USA—Swimming—2011-14
DeAndre Jordan – USA – Basketball –2007-08
Maggie Malone—USA—Track & Field—2013-16
Shelbi Vaughan—USA—Track & Field—2013-16
Ameer Webb—USA—Track & Field—2012-13
Fabrice Lapierre – Australia – Track & Field 2003-06
Grant Nel – Australia – Diving – 2009-2012
Latario Collile – Bahamas – Track & Field – 2015-16
Shavez Hart – Bahamas – Track & Field – 2014-16
Demetrius Pinder—Bahamas—Track & Field—2010-11
Sydney Pickrem – Canada – Swimming – 2015-Pres.
Béryl Gastaldello – France – Swimming – 2014-Pres.
Kanika Beckles—Grenada—Track & Field—2012-13
Bralon Taplin – Grenada – Track & Field – 2013-15
Lindon Victor – Grenada – Track & Field – 2015-Pres.
Brenessa Thompson – Guyana – Track & Field – 2015-Pres.
Alia Atkinson—Jamaica—Swimming—2006-10
Simone Facey—Jamaica—Track & Field—2007-08
Liliana Ibáñez – Mexico – Swimming – 2010-15
Olivia Ekponé—Nigeria—Track & Field—2012-15
Jennifer Madu—Nigeria—Track & Field—2013-16
Ibukun Mayungbe—Nigeria—Track & Field—2011-14
Stephanie Malherbe—South Africa—Soccer—2014-Pres.
Amini Fonua—Tonga—Swimming—2008-12
Janeil Bellille – Trinidad & Tobago – Track & Field – 2013-14
Deon Lendore – Trinidad & Tobago – Track & Field – 2012-15
Gerald Phiri—Zambia—Track & Field—2008-11
