The U.S. women’s field hockey team pulled off its second straight upset on Monday, this time beating world No.
Following a one-day delay due to weather conditions, Kate Bertko ’06 of team USA’s lightweight double sculls and Lauren Wilkinson ’11 of team Canada’s women’s eight failed to advance during preliminary heat competition on Monday.
Glenn Ochal ’08 was not ready to call it quits, even after winning a bronze medal in the men’s coxless four at the 2012 London Games.
The Men’s Lightweight Four got underway on Day 1 at the 2016 Rio Olympics, with two Princetonians, Robin Prendes ’11 and Tyler Nase '13 in action.
Just before exiting 63 minutes into the Canadian women's soccer team’s group match against Zimbabwe this past Saturday, Princetonian Diana Matheson ’08 almost scored from a lofty cross by forward Janine Beckie. Earlier in the game, the 32-year-old contributed to Canada’s second goal after being fouled by the Zimbabwean goalie in the 18-yard box, allowing captain Christine Sinclair to swiftly finish the resulting penalty kick. Though two skillful passes by Matheson in the 21st and 40th minutes went unfinished, Canada won the match 3-1, adding a second win to their tournament after their 2-0 finish over Australia on Wednesday.
After receiving a bye in the round of 64, Katharine Holmes '17 fell to Erika Kirpu of Estonia by a score of 5-4.
The U.S. women’s field hockey team upset Argentina 2-1 on the first full day of Olympic competition. The matchup on Saturday evening marked the beginning of hockey pool play in Rio 2016.
Eight Princeton Olympians competed in soccer, hockey, fencing and rowing on the first day of the Games. Soccer player Diana Matheson ’08, who is competing for Canada in her third Olympic Games, contributed to her team’s 3-1 win over Zimbabwe.
In a brilliant performance rooted in the country’s heritage and natural wonders, Brazil welcomed the world to the 2016 Summer Olympics on Friday night. For a few hours, Brazil put aside the controversies and concerns leading up to the Games and celebrated its culture.
University students and alumni who competed in the Olympic Games through the years have advice for future Olympians, withmost centering around making the most of the Olympic experience without getting distracted. “From one athlete to another: You've done all of the work, you've done all the training and you've done everything you could to prepare you for this moment—now just let it all hang out,” American rower Tom Welsh ’99 said. Fellow American rower Kevin Cotter ’96 said that Olympians should know that the Olympic Games are not the peak of their career. “There is more to do.
Students and alumni who have represented various nations in several sports shared favorite moments from their University and Olympic experiences. Olympic Silver Medalist Peter Raymond ’68 said that his favorite moment at the University was sitting atop the old Palmer stadium with Don Marsh '68 after a fall workout running the steps “on one of those soft pastel afternoons”. At the Olympics, one of his favorite moments was the afternoon before the finals when his team had lightly rowed up and down the course “in perfect quiet and calm." "As we turned to head back up, suddenly the sound system opened with Joan Baez's The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down.
While most Olympians from the University said that writing their thesis was the most challenging experience of their lives, several others recalled specific moments in their sporting and University careers that had challenged them immensely. Olympic silver medalist Peter Raymond ’68 said that the nadir of his University athletic experience was the final rowing race during his freshman year when, in intense heat and humidity in a two-mile race, he “got into serious trouble” within the first half-mile, possibly due to dehydration. “It was a perfect horror show… After getting thoroughly clobbered and giving away my racing shirt to Navy's #6, I walked slowly toward the finish line to watch the JV and varsity race, carrying my tee shirt because of the heat.
KatieReinprecht ’13 is all set to play field hockey for the US Women’s National Team alongside her sister, Julia Reinprecht ’14, this summer at their second Olympic Games.
Since the 2008 Games, there have been anaverage of fourteen University Olympians participating in the Games,an increasefrom the three to four Olympians participating a quadrennial within the past decade. 2008: Better Colored Hardware Puerto Rican swimmer Douglas Lennox ’09 said that Beijing was a veryexcitingcity of really kindhearted and enthusiastic citizens. “Their appreciation and admiration of the Olympic athletes, coaches and spectators was apparent in their hospitality, curiosity and support not just when we arrived but throughout the entire month of August when the Games were occurring,” Lennox said. Lennox added that he met a lot of people from the University community while at the Games, in addition to the fifteen Olympians from the University competing at the Games. “There was a Friends of Princeton dinner in Beijing where they gave us each a fancy Chinese stamp-making kit with our initials,” Lennox added. American rower Lia Pernell ’03 said that one of her favorite parts of the Games was the Olympic Village, which she and her teammates arrived inafter their races ended. “Everyone there [at the Village] had worked so hard on their sport and just got to the Olympic level.
1990s: Fulfilled Dreams and Missing Olympians Swiss swimmer Nathalie Kirkwood ’93 said that the Olympic Village for the 1992 Games in Barcelona was amazing.
A United States-led boycott of the 1980 Games in Moscow sparked some controversy before the 1984 Games were hosted by the United States.1980: The BoycottThe 1980 Games were scheduled to take place in Moscow, but in December 1979, the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan.This caused then U.S.
Following the “black power” protests that occurred at the 1968 Games in Mexico City, the Games in the 1970s continued toserve asaplaceforpolitical statements.1972: Terrorism at the GamesAmerican rower Peter Raymond ’68 said thatWest Germany was making its first bid to rejoin the world community after World War II by hostingthe Games.Thorsteinn Thorstensson Gislason ’69, a runner for Iceland and one of the first few Olympians from the University to represent a nation other than the United States at the Games, said that the 1972 Munich Games were very festive when they began.“This was the face of New Germany that they were presenting in Munich.
The 1940 Olympic Games were originally scheduled to take place in Tokyo, Japan, but were reassigned to Helsinki, Finland after Japan invaded China.
