More than two dozen UBC Thunderbirds past and present are poised to descend upon Paris for the 2024 Olympic Games, which officially get underway on July 26 in the French capital.
From the track and field oval at Stade de France to the waters of the Vaires-sur-Marne, 29 T-Bird athletes and staff will represent the blue and gold along with the flags of four different countries on the world’s biggest stage.
Led by UBC swimming alum Yuri Kisil who is competing in his fourth Olympic Games, the Thunderbird contingent is a blend of experienced and first-time Olympians, all of whom are aiming to add to the university’s impressive historical medal haul.
Since Ned Pratt won UBC’s first medal (bronze) in men’s rowing at the 1932 Los Angeles Games, Thunderbirds have accumulated 61 medals including 19 gold.
In addition to the T-Bird athletes competing in Paris, a number of current and former T-Bird staff members are also at the Olympics in coaching and support roles.
UBC will also be represented at the 2024 Paralympic Games, which begin August 28, as Travis Murao, Trevor Hirschfield, and Byron Green have all been named to Canada’s Men’s Wheelchair Rugby squad.
Be sure to follow @ubctbirds on your social channels as well as gothunderbirds.ca to stay up to date on UBC athletes in Paris as they chase Olympic glory!
Confirmed UBC athletes attending Paris 2024
- Olivia Lundman – Women’s Track & Field
- Evan Dunfee (BKin’14) – Men’s Track & Field
- Blake Tierney – Men’s Swimming
- Emma O’Croinin – Women’s Swimming
- Ingrid Wilm – Women’s Swimming
- Yuri Kisil – Men’s Swimming
- Finlay Knox – Men’s Swimming
- Kristen Kit – Women’s Rowing
- Kristina Walker (BCom’21) – Women’s Rowing
- Jessica Sevick (MSc’22) – Women’s Rowing
- Rowan Hamilton (BSc’23) – Men’s Track & Field
- Kieran Lumb – Men’s Track & Field
- Travis Murao – Men’s Wheelchair Rugby
- Trevor Hirschfield – Men’s Wheelchair Rugby
- Byron Green (BASc’09) – Men’s Wheelchair Rugby
- Fynn McCarthy – Men’s Volleyball
- Karen Tam (BKin’21) – Women’s Swimming (representing Hong Kong)
- Kayla Sanchez – Women’s Swimming (representing Philippines)
- Piper Logan – Women’s Rugby 7s
- Florence Symonds – Women’s Rugby 7s
- Abigail Raye (BKin’15) – Women’s Field Hockey (representing Belgium)
Confirmed UBC staff attending Paris 2024
- Mike Hawkins – Assistant Coach (Men’s Volleyball)
- Mallory White (BKin’12, MPT’14) – Lead Therapist (Women’s Soccer)
- Joe Vecchione (MSc’23) – Sports Science Support (Women’s Soccer)
- Kerry MacDonald – Team Leader (Women’s Beach Volleyball)
- Nicole Sullivan (BKin’04) – Team Physiotherapist (Women’s Beach Volleyball)
- Sam Pritchard – Performance Analysis, Technology Specialist
- Rich Lam (BA’97) – Paris 2024 Senior Project Manager, Photo Operations
- Tricia Smith (BA’81, LLB’85, LLD’01) – COC President
Among UBC’s first-time Olympians are Thunderbird Track and Field alumni Rowan Hamilton and Kieran Lumb, both of whom secured their spots on Team Canada thanks to outstanding results at the recent Athletics Canada Track and Field Trials in Montreal.
Hamilton finished second in men’s hammer throw at the Canadian trials and enters his first Olympic Games ranked 12th in the world. The three-time NAIA Champion capped off his collegiate career this past spring by claiming the NCAA Division I title on the strength of a personal best throw of 77.18 metres.
Kieran Lumb competes in his first games in the men’s 1500 metres after winning gold at the Canadian trials.
Other notable performances at the Athletics Canada trials include Holly MacGillivray’s eighth place finish in the women’s 1500 metres, her third consecutive top ten performance on the national stage. Andrew Davies finished ninth in the men’s 5000 metres while alumni John Gay (BA’18, MM’19) and Cole Dinsdale (BASc’20, MLWS’21) completed the men’s 3000 metre steeplechase in seventh and ninth, respectively.
Three-time Olympian Liz Gleadle (BKin’14) won the women’s javelin throw with a top attempt of 59.52 metres, more than eight metres further than the silver medallist.
Tyler Wilson took first place in the men’s 20-kilometre race walk while two-time NAIA women’s pole vault champion Sonya Urbanowicz tied for fifth in Montreal.
William Kizell earned a fifth-place finish in men’s discus.
