Going for Gold: 2016 Olympians

 
Jenna Prandini and Deajah Stevens throw the O after both made the US Olympic Team in the women's 200 meters / ASSOCIATED PRESS

GOING FOR GOLD

Twenty current and former University of Oregon student-athletes competed at the 2016 Olympics Games in Rio—12 from the United States, three from Canada, one from Australia, one from Belgium, one from Greece, one from Guatemala, and one from Nigeria. That's more Ducks than in 2012, 2008, and 2004 combined.

With six medals, including four gold, if the Ducks competed as a nation, they would have tied for 39th in the overall medal count with Greece, Belgium, and Thailand, and would have tied with Canada, New Zealand, and Uzbekistan for the 19th most gold medals.

 

Olympic Rings
Ducks olympic Medalists

4 Gold Medals, 2 Bronze Medals

Taking the lead at the start of the men’s 1,500-meter final on Saturday, August 20, former Duck Matthew Centrowitz led wire-to-wire and became the first American Olympic gold medalist in the 1,500 meters since 1908 and is the first American to win an Olympic track race longer than 400 meters since 1972.

Decathlete Ashton Eaton, BA ’10, once again captured the unofficial title of the “World’s Greatest Athlete” on Thursday, August 18. The Bend, Oregon, native won the Olympic decathlon, defending the title he won at the 2012 London Olympics and becoming just the third athlete to win two gold medals in the decathlon. Eaton won the grueling two-day, 10-event competition with a score of 8,893 points, tying the Olympic record.

A dominating performance in the first round on Friday set the stage as Phyllis Francis and her U.S. teammates Courtney Okolo, Natasha Hastings, and Allyson Felix pulled away from Jamaica to win the 4x400-meter relay final and capture the gold medal on Saturday, August 20.

After overcoming disaster with a successful appeal in the first round on Thursday, former Duck sprinter English Gardner combined with U.S. teammates Tianna Bartoletta, Allyson Felix, and Tori Bowie to win the 4x100-meter relay gold medal on Friday, August 19, running the second fastest time in history.

Running in just his second ever marathon, former Duck Galen Rupp posted a personal best to take home the bronze medal on the final day of the Olympics, winning the first men's marathon medal for the United States in 12 years.

Canadian heptathlete Brianne Theisen-Eaton, BA ’11, joined her husband as Oregon medal winners in the Rio Olympics. Theisen-Eaton won bronze in the heptathlon on Saturday, August 13, becoming only the second current or former Duck track and field woman to win a non-relay medal, and the first since 1988.


 

Matthew Centrowitz  / Image by Kirby Lee
Matthew Centrowitz

EVENT: Men’s 1,500 meters
STUDIED: Sociology*
HOMETOWN: Arnold, Maryland
HIGH SCHOOL: Broadneck High School

2011 IAAF World Championships Bronze Medalist
Four-Time USATF Champion
2012 Olympian
2011 NCAA Champion
2009 Pac-12 Newcomer of the Year
Three-Time Pac-10 Champion
Seven-Time All-American

* - Turned professional in 2011 before graduating

GOLD MEDALIST

 

Rio Olympics Gold Medal

CENTROWITZ'S OLYMPICS EVENT SCHEDULE

August 16
1,500m First Round
Fifth in Heat, Advanced to Semifinals
August 18
1,500m Semifinal
Third in Heat, Advanced to Finals
August 20
1,500m Final
Finished First Place
August 20
1,500m Medal Ceremony
Gold Medalist

 

Ashton Eaton / Image by Kirby Lee
Ashton Eaton

EVENT: Men’s Decathlon
DEGREE: BA '10 Psychology
HOMETOWN: Bend, Oregon
HIGH SCHOOL: Mountain View High School

2016, 2012 Olympic Champion—Decathlon
World Record Holder—Decathlon (Outdoors)
World Record Holder—Heptathlon (Indoors)

Three-Time World Champion (Indoors/Outdoors)
Five-Time USATF Champion—Decathlon
2010 Bowerman Award winner

Five-Time NCAA Champion (Indoors/Outdoors)

GOLD MEDALIST

 

Rio Olympics Gold Medal

EATON'S OLYMPICS EVENT SCHEDULE

August 17
Decathlon 100m
Second in Heat, Second Overall
August 17
Decathlon Long Jump
First in Group, First Overall
August 17
Decathlon Shot Put
Sixth in Group, First Overall
August 17
Decathlon High Jump
Sixth in Group, First Overall
August 17
Decathlon 400m
First in Heat, First Overall
August 18
Decathlon 110m Hurldes
Second in Heat, First Overall
August 18
Decathlon Discus B
Third in Group, First Overall
August 18
Decathlon Pole Vault
Fourth in Group, First Overall
August 18
Decathlon Javelin B
11th in Group, First Overall
August 18
Decathlon 1,500m
Third in Heat, First Overall
August 19
Decathlon Medal Ceremony
Gold Medalist

 

Phyllis Francis / Image by Kirby Lee
Phyllis Francis

EVENT: Women’s 400 meters, 4x400-meter relay
DEGREE: BS '14 General Social Science
HOMETOWN: Queens, New York
HIGH SCHOOL: Catherine McAuley High School

Two-Time NCAA Champion
Five-Time All-American
Three-Time Pac-12 Champion

GOLD MEDALIST

 

Rio Olympics Gold Medal

FRANCIS' OLYMPICS EVENT SCHEDULE

August 13
400m First Round
Won Heat, Advanced to Semifinals
August 14
400m Semifinal
Won Semifinals, Advanced to Finals
August 15
400m Final
Finished Fifth Place
August 19
4x400m Relay First Round
Won Heat, Advanced to Finals
August 20
4x400m Relay Final
Finished First Place
August 20
4x400m Relay Medal Ceremony
Gold Medalist

 

English Gardner / Image by Kirby Lee
English Gardner

EVENT: Women’s 100 meters, 4x100-meter relay
STUDYING: General Social Science*
HOMETOWN: Voorhees, New Jersey
HIGH SCHOOL: Eastern Senior High School

Two-Time USATF Champion
Five-Time NCAA Champion
Six-Time Pac-12 Champion
Five-Time UO Record Holder
Eight-Time All-American

* - Current student

GOLD MEDALIST

 

Rio Olympics Gold Medal

GARDNER'S OLYMPICS EVENT SCHEDULE

August 12
100m First Round
Won Heat, Advanced to Semifinals
August 13
100m Semifinal
Second in Heat, Advanced to Finals
August 13
100m Final
Finished Seventh Place
August 18
4x100m Relay First Round
Advanced to Finals
August 19
4x100m Relay Final
Finished First Place
August 20
4x100m Relay Medal Ceremony
Gold Medalist

 

Galen Rupp / Image by Kirby Lee
Galen Rupp

EVENTS: Men’s Marathon, Men's 10,000 meters
STUDIED: Business Administration*
HOMETOWN: Portland, Oregon
HIGH SCHOOL: Central Catholic High School

2012 Olympic Games Silver Medal—10,000 meters
American Record Holder—10,000 meters (Outdoors)
American Record Holder—3,000 meters (Indoors)
Eight-Time USATF Champion—10,000 meters
Two-Time USATF Champion—5,000 meters

2009 Bowerman Award winner
Five-Time NCAA Champion
2008-2009 Academic All-American of the Year

* - Turned professional in 2009 before graduating

Bronze Medalist

 

RUPP'S OLYMPICS EVENT SCHEDULE

August 13
10,000m Final
Finished Fifth
August 21
Marathon
Finished Third
August 21
Marathon Medal Ceremony
Bronze Medal

 

Brianne Theisen-Eaton going over the bar in the high jump / Image by Kirby Lee
Brianne Theisen-Eaton

COUNTRY: Canada
EVENT: Women’s Heptathlon
DEGREE: BA '11 Business Administration
HOMETOWN: Humboldt, Saskatchewan
HIGH SCHOOL: Humboldt Collegiate Institute

2016 Olympic Bronze Medalist—Heptathlon
Canadian Record Holder—Heptathlon (Outdoors)
2016 World Indoor Champion (Pentathlon)
2015, 2013 World Championship Silver Medalist (Heptathlon)

Seven-Time NCAA Champion (Heptathlon, 4x400 Meter Relay, Pentathlon)
Two-time USTFCCCA Outdoor Field Athlete of the Year
Two-time USTFCCCA Indoor Field Athlete of the Year

Bronze Medalist

 

THEISEN-EATON'S OLYMPICS EVENT SCHEDULE

August 12
Heptathlon 100m Hurdles
Sixth in Heath, Sixth Overall
August 12
Heptathlon High Jump
Fifth in Group A, Fifth Overall
August 12
Heptathlon Shot Put
Eighth in Group A, Fifth Overall
August 12
Heptathlon 200m
Seventh in Heat, Sixth Overall
August 13
Heptathlon Long Jump
Third in Group B, Fifth Overall
August 13
Heptathlon Javelin B
Ninth in Group B, Third Overall
August 13
Heptathlon 800m
Third in Heat, Third Overall
August 14
Heptathlon Medal Ceremony
Bronze Medalist

Ducks at the Olympics from the United States
Devon Allen wins the 100-meter hurdles at the US Olympic Team Trials

Devon Allen

EVENT: Men’s 110-meter hurdles
STUDYING: Business Administration*
HOMETOWN: Phoenix, Arizona
HIGH SCHOOL: Brophy Prep High School

2014, 2016 USATF 110 Hurdles Champion
Two-Time NCAA Champion
Two-Time All-American
2014 Perry Holloman Newcomer of the Year

2014 Pac-12 Newcomer of the Year
Three-Time Pac-12 All-Academic Honorable Mention

* - Current student

Read more about Devon Allen

ALLEN'S OLYMPICS EVENT SCHEDULE

August 15
110m Hurdles First Round
Second in Heat, Advanced to Semifinals
August 16
110m Hurdles Semifinal
Third in Heat, Advanced to Finals
August 16
110m Hurdles Final
Finished Fifth Place

Sam Crouser

Sam Crouser

EVENT: Men’s Javelin
DEGREE: BS '15 Sociology
HOMETOWN: Gresham, Oregon
HIGH SCHOOL: Gresham High School

2016 USATF Champion
2014 NCAA Champion
Three-Time All-American
2012 US Olympic Trials Runner-Up
Three-Time Pac-12 Champion

CROUSER'S OLYMPICS EVENT SCHEDULE

August 17
Javelin Qualifying B
17th in Group, Finished 34th Place

Cyrus Hostetler throwing the javelin at the USA Track & Field Olympic Trials

Cyrus Hostetler

EVENT: Men's Javelin
DEGREE: BS '10 Art
HOMETOWN: Newberg, Oregon
HIGH SCHOOL: Newberg High School

2012 Olympian
Two-Time Pac-10 Champion
Two-Time All-American
Pac-10/UO Record Holder

Read more about Cyrus Hostetler

HOSTETLER'S OLYMPICS EVENT SCHEDULE

August 17
Javelin Qualifying A
Ninth in Group, Finished 20th Place

Jenna Prandini edges out Allyson Felix at the finish line to make the US Olympic Team in the 200 meters / ASSOCIATED PRESS

Jenna Prandini

EVENT: Women’s 200 meters, 4x100-meter relay (Did not participate in relay)
DEGREE: BA '16 General Social Science
HOMETOWN: Clovis, California
HIGH SCHOOL: Clovis High School

2015 IAAF World Championships Silver Medal —4x100-meter relay
2015 USATF Champion—200 meters
Three-Time NCAA Champion
Eight-Time All-American
Five-Time Pac-12 Champion

Read more about Jenna Prandini

PRANDINI'S 2016 OLYMPICS SCHEDULE

August 15
200m First Round
Won Heat, Advanced to Semifinals
August 16
200m Semifinals
Finished Third in Heat

Deajah Stevens is emotional after finishing second in the 200 meter final and earning a spot on the US Olympic Team / NATE BARRETT

Deajah Stevens

EVENTS: Women’s 200 meters
STUDYING: Undeclared*
HOMETOWN: Bayside, New York
HIGH SCHOOL: Benjamin Cardozo High School

2016 Olympic Trials Runner Up
2016 NCAA Runner Up—200 meters

* - Current student

STEVENS' OLYMPICS EVENT SCHEDULE

August 15
200m First Round
Won Heat, Advanced to Semifinals
August 16
200m Semifinals
Finished Third, Advanced to Finals
August 17
200m Finals
Finished Seventh Place

Zack Test playing for the US against Kenya

Zack Test

EVENTS: Men’s Rugby Sevens
STUDYING: Undeclared*
HOMETOWN: Redwood City, California
HIGH SCHOOL: Woodside High School

2011 Best Men’s Sevens Player in the World
All-time leading try scorer in USA Sevens history
Second all-time points scorer in USA Sevens history

* - Transferred to Loughborough University in England to focus on rugby

TEST'S OLYMPICS EVENT SCHEDULE

August 9
USA vs. Argentina
L, 17-14
August 9
USA vs. Brazil
W, 26-0
August 10
USA vs. Fiji
L, 24-19
August 10
USA vs. Brazil
W, 24-12
August 11
USA vs. Spain
W, 24-12 – Finished Ninth Place

Ariana Washington won both the 100m and 200m at the 2016 NCAA Championships

Ariana Washington

EVENTS: Women’s 4x100-meter relay (Did not participate)
STUDYING: Pre-Journalism*
HOMETOWN: Signal Hill, California
HIGH SCHOOL: Poly High School

2016 NCAA Champion—100 meters
2016 NCAA Champion—200 meters

* - Current student


Zoe Buckman

COUNTRY: Australia
EVENT: Women’s 1,500 meters
DEGREE: BA '11 Humanities
HOMETOWN: Canberra, Australia
HIGH SCHOOL: Canberra Grammar School for Girls

BUCKMAN'S OLYMPICS EVENT SCHEDULE

August 12
1,500m First Round
Finished Sixth, Advanced to Semifinal
August 14
1,500m Semifinal
Finished Ninth in Heat

Johnathan Cabral

COUNTRY: Canada
EVENT: Men's 110-meter hurdles
STUDYING: General Social Science*
HOMETOWN: Calabasas, California
HIGH SCHOOL: Agoura High School

* - Current student

CABRAL'S OLYMPICS EVENT SCHEDULE

August 15
110m Hurdles First Round
Fourth in Heat, Advanced to Semifinals
August 16
110m Hurdles Semifinal
Fourth in Heat, Advanced to Finals
August 16
110m Hurdles Final
Finished Sixth Place

Claire Michel

COUNTRY: Belgium
EVENT: Women's Triathlon
DEGREE: BA ’11 International Studies, Romance Languages
HOMETOWN: Clackamas, Oregon
HIGH SCHOOL: Clackamas High School

MICHEL'S OLYMPICS EVENT SCHEDULE

August 20
Women's Triathlon
Did Not Finish

Chamberlain Oguchi

COUNTRY: Nigeria
EVENT: Men's Basketball
MAJOR: Political Science*
HOMETOWN: Houston, Texas
HIGH SCHOOL: George W. Bush High School

* - Transferred to Illinois State

OGUCHI'S OLYMPICS EVENT SCHEDULE

August 7
Nigeria vs. Argentina
L, 94-66
August 9
Nigeria vs. Lithuania
L, 89-80
August 11
Nigeria vs. Spain
L, 96-87
August 13
Nigeria vs. Croatia
W, 90-76
August 15
Nigeria vs. Brazil
L, 86-69

Alexi Pappas

COUNTRY: Greece
EVENT: Women's 10,000 meters
DEGREE: MA '13 Individualized Program
HOMETOWN: Alameda, California
HIGH SCHOOL: Bishop O'Dowd High School

PAPPAS' OLYMPICS EVENT SCHEDULE

August 12
10,000m Final
Finished 17th Place (National Record)

Carlos Trujillo

COUNTRY: Guatemala
EVENT: Men’s Marathon
DEGREE: BA '08 Psychology
HOMETOWN: Middleton, Idaho
HIGH SCHOOL: Middleton High School

TRUJILLO'S OLYMPICS EVENT SCHEDULE

August 21
Marathon
Finished 67th

Chris Winter

COUNTRY: Canada
EVENT: Men's 3,000m Steeplechase
DEGREE: BA '09 Business Administration, History
HOMETOWN: North Vancouver, British Columbia
HIGH SCHOOL: Handsworth High School

WINTER'S OLYMPICS EVENT SCHEDULE

August 15
3,000m Steeplechase First Round
Finished 25th Place

Medalists images of Matthew Centrowitz, Ashton Eaton, Phyllis Francis, English Gardner, Galen Rupp, and Brianne Theisen-Eaton are from Kirby Lee; lead image of Jenna Prandini and Deajah Stevens and image of Jenna Prandini are from the Associated Press; image of Devon Allen is from Eric Evans; and images of Sam Crouser, Cyrus Hostetler, and Deajah Stevens are from Nate Barrett.