By George Eichorn
Miles upon miles away from the city of Detroit is a sporting event with implications for the 613 U.S.A. athletes who’ve waited a full year to compete. The Games of the 32nd Olympiad are ongoing in Tokyo, Japan.
These “awkward” Games already have seen dozens of athletes, coaches and officials ordered to test aside after not passing a COVID test by Japanese and Olympic medical personnel.
As the Summer Olympic Games continue in the host country’s capital city, fans across Detroit and the the state of Michigan are cheering from afar as no spectators are allowed at the various sites. Parents, relatives, friends and fans are content with viewing the Games on NBC and its bevy of peacock stations.
Twenty-eight year old gymnast Sam Mikulak helps lead the Michigan contingent in Asia. This is the third Olympics for Mikulak, an NCAA all-around title winner at the University of Michigan, he now makes his home in southern California but trains in Colorado Springs.
Athletes with Michigan ties to watch: basketball-Devin Brooker, Jerami Grant/Pistons, Draymond Green and Javale McGee. BMX-Hannah Roberts, diving-Michael Hixon, rowing-Grace Luczak, sculls-Ellen Tomek, softball-Amanda Chidester, swimming-Patrick Callan, Catie Deloof, Annie Lazor, Jake Mitchell and Allison Schmitt,
Decathlon-Steven Bastien, track & field-Anavia Battle, Mason Ferlic, Grant Fisher, Tori Franklin, Taylor Manson and Donald Scott. Weightlifting-Kate Nye and Sarah Robles; wrestling-Adeline Gray, Helen Maroulis and Alejandro Sancho.
Additionally, there are 19 Michigan athletes competing for their national countries (non-U.S.) such as Moritz Wagner (U-M basketball/Germany) and Jayde Riviere and Shelina Zadorsky (U-M soccer/Canada.)
The U.S. squad features a record 329 women, most ever by any country in Olympic history, and 284 men. There are 128 in track & field and 16 from our military. Forty-six states and the District of Columbia are represented. Some 126 from California with 32 from the Univ. of Stanford. 76 percent of the team played or will play collegiate sports.
The oldest U.S. athlete is 57-year-old Phillip Dalton, equestrian, and the youngest is 15-year-old Katie Grimes, swimming. Canada sent 386 athletes – it’s largest group since the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
Reach George Eichorn at geichorn@yahoo.com
