Determination is a word commonly used in the context of Princeton fencer Katharine Holmes '17. After taking two years off from school, she came into these Olympics with a chance to fulfill a lifelong dream.
Early Thursday morning, Ashleigh Johnson ’17 and the U.S. women’s water polo team routed China by a score of 12-4.
Due to poor weather conditions, all rowing events were cancelled on Day 5 for the second time in four days.
The U.S. women’s field hockey team clinched its third straight win in Rio by defeating Japan in a convincing 6-1 victory on Wednesday evening.
Day 4 of the Games saw some powerful performances from six Tigers in rowing, water polo and soccer. American rower Gevvie Stone ’07 finished her single sculls quarterfinals in first place with a time of 7:27.04.
Though defeated in all the twelve previous international matches against the German women’s soccer team and outscored 38-13 combined, Team Canada pulled out an upset victory earlier on Tuesday at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. Clad in head-to-toe red, the team finished at the top of their qualifying group after a competitive 2-1 game against the second-ranked team in the world.
Six Princeton Olympians competed in rowing and field hockey on Day 3 of the Games. American rower Kate Bertko ’06 failed to advance during the women’s lightweight double sculls event after placing third in her heat with a timing of 7:07.37.
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.
