July 21, 2008
When the 2008 Summer Olympic Games begin Aug. 8 in Beijing, China, the University of Arizona will be well represented.
A total of 30 athletes, coaches and support staff with ties to the school will participate in the games of the XXIXth Olympiad. Twenty-three are athletes, including four current Wildcat student-athletes, four are coaches and support staff and three are athletes trained by UA coaches.
Thirteen of the 23 UA athletes scheduled to participate have previous Olympic experience and seven of those have earned medals.
The Opening Ceremonies for the 2008 Beijing Olympics is Friday, Aug. 8. Competition begins in earnest on Saturday, Aug. 9 and will conclude on Aug. 24. Please note that Beijing is 16 hours ahead of current Tucson time (PDT) due to daylight savings.
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Name (UA year), Hometown
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Country
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Sport
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Abdi Abdirahman ('99), Tucson, Ariz.
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United States
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Men's Track & Field
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*Jean Basson ('10), Johannesburg, South Africa
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South Africa
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Men's Swimming
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Amanda Beard ('01), Irvine, Calif.
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United States
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Women's Swimming
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Simon Burnett ('06), Tetsworth, United Kingdom
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England
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Men's Swimming
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Jason Donald ('06), Clovis, Calif.
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United States
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Baseball
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Claire Febvay ('05), Lyon, France
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France
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Women's Diving
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Lyndon Ferns ('06), Pietersburg, South Africa
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South Africa
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Men's Swimming
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Jennie Finch ('02), La Mirada, Calif.
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United States
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Softball
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Kim Glass ('05), Lancaster, Pa.
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United States
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Women's Volleyball
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*Joel Greenshields (`10), Calgary, Alberta, Canada
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Canada
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Men's Swimming
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Alicia Hollowell ('07), Suisun, Calif.
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United States
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Softball (alternate)
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Dominic Johnson ('98), Tucson, Ariz.
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St. Lucia
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Men's Track & Field
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Lovie Jung ('03), Fountain Valley, Calif.
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United States
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Softball
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Caitlin Lowe ('07), Tustin, Calif.
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United States
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Softball
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Ryk Neethling ('00), Bloemfontein, South Africa
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South Africa
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Men's Swimming
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*Nicolas Nilo ('09), Bello Horizante, Brazil
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Brazil
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Men's Swimming
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Lacey Nymeyer ('08), Tucson, Ariz.
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United States
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Women's Swimming
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Angelique Rodriguez ('98), Guaynabo, Puerto Rico
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Puerto Rico
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Women's Diving
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Roland Schoeman ('02), Pretoria, South Africa
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South Africa
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Men's Swimming
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Albert Subirats ('08), Valencia, Venezuela
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Venezuela
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Men's Swimming
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*Jake Tapp ('10), Langley, British Columbia, Canada
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Canada
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Men's Swimming
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Darian Townsend ('08), Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
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South Africa
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Men's Swimming
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Juan Veloz ('03), Mexico City, Mexico
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Mexico
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Men's Swimming
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Coaches (4)
Name Position
Frank Busch Assistant coach, U.S. swim team
Mike Candrea Head coach, U.S. softball team
Rick DeMont Assistant coach, South Africa swim team
James Li Manager, U.S. men's track & field team
Other non-Arizona graduates with UA ties (3)
Name
Jill Camarena U.S. track & field team (women's shot put)
Trained by UA throws coach Craig Carter
Matt Grevers U.S. swim team (men's 100-meter backstroke
Trained by UA swim coach Frank Busch
Bernard Lagat U.S. track & field team (men's 1,500 and 5,000 meters)
Trained by UA cross country coach James Li
