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Current and former Tigers represent U.S., Greece, Peru

Although Soren Thompson '05 and the armada or Princeton rowers got the most attention, a handful of other Princeton athletes also competed in Athens.

Fencing — Women

Thompson wasn't the only Princetonian epée fencer in Athens. Kamara James '07 represented the United States on the women's side as the No. 24 seed.

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After receiving a first-round bye, she bowed out in the Round of 32, losing 15-11 to Russian Tatiana Logounova, the No. 9 seed.

James, who has not fenced for Princeton, did not compete again during the games because the U.S. women did not qualify for the team epée competition.

Born in Jamaica, James moved to New York City at age nine. A year later, she began training at the Peter Westbrook Fencing Foundation.

Westbrook, a former Olympic fencer, has received attention for his efforts to recruit inner city and minority youths to the sport. He has produced several Olympic fencers.

Track and field

High jumper Tora Harris '02 was the lone Princetonian to compete in the Olympic Stadium.

The former Penn Relays and Heptagonals high jump champion took the field Aug. 20. After clearing the bar at 2.15 meters, he missed all three attempts at 2.20 and did not advance to the finals.

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Harris was the third and final American to qualify for the high jump in Athens, thanks to a leap of 7 feet, 5 inches at Olympic trials in July.

Swimming and soccer

Athletes on the Peruvian and Greek teams also represented the Orange and Black.

Although Juan Valdivieso '04, a Maryland resident, swam the 200 meter butterfly for Peru, he didn't have to fib to get to Athens. His parents are Peruvian natives, which makes him eligible to represent the country.

Valdivieso failed to advance past the preliminary round, finishing last in his heat. Ultimately, it was another Maryland resident — teen prodigy Michael Phelps — who won gold for the United States in the 200m fly.

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New Jersey native Tanya Kalivas '01 took a similar route to Athens as Valdivieso, qualifying for the Greek soccer team because of her family's heritage.

Greece finished 0-3 in pool play, suffering shutout losses to the United States, Australia, and Brazil. They did not move on to the quarterfinals.