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Iowa ties to Paris: Athletes to watch in the 2024 Olympics

Local 5 is tracking all of the Iowa athletes for you ahead of the competition.

PARIS, France — The 2024 Paris Olympics are Friday, July 26 through Sunday, Aug. 11 and Local 5 is tracking all of the Iowa athletes for you ahead of the competition.

Below is a list of Iowa athletes — those born in the state or those who competed collegiately here — that are vying for an Olympic medal.

Want a full schedule of when certain sports are being played and how to watch them? Click this link and be sure to toggle on the "My time" button in the upper right.

Tyrese Haliburton

USA, men's basketball

Before playing for the Indiana Pacers, Haliburton was in Ames playing for the Cyclones. 

Haliburton played at Iowa State for two seasons before forgoing his final two seasons of eligibility to enter the 2020 NBA Draft. Despite ending his final season at Iowa State early due to a wrist fracture, he still boasted some impressive stats: Haliburton led the team in assists in every game he played and reached double-figure points in 18 games during his final season. 

The 2024 Paris Olympics marks the fourth time Haliburton has appeared on a USA Basketball roster. Previously, he competed as a member of the FIBA World Cup team last year, the U.S. Select Team in 2021 and the U19 World Cup team in 2019. 

RELATED: Paris Olympics: When is the Opening Ceremony?

Megan Gustafson

Spain, women's basketball

Gustafson, currently a center for the Las Vegas Aces, earned a roster spot on Spain's Olympic Women's Basketball team for the upcoming 2024 Olympics, the WNBA announced in a press release. Gustafson becomes the first Iowa women's basketball alumna to be named to at least one of the Olympic basketball teams. 

She is a naturalized Spanish citizen and made her Team Spain debut earlier this year during the 2024 Olympic Qualifying Tournament. She averaged a team-high 14.3 points and 3.3 rebounds as Spain finished 2-1 combined versus Canada, Japan and Hungary in February and earned a bid to the Olympics.

OLYMPIC RESULTS: Spain lost to Belgium in the quarterfinals.

RELATED: Iowa women's basketball transfer Lucy Olsen named to USA 3x3 Nations League team

Bridget Carleton

Canada, women's basketball

Carleton was a four-year starter at Iowa State from 2015-2019. While in college, Carleton earned multiple All-America nods, and became Iowa State's first Big 12 Player of the Year.

The 6'1" forward and Chatham, Ontario native capped off her time in Ames with an impressive season, averaging 21.7 points, 8.6 rebounds and 4 assists. 

OLYMPIC RESULTS: Canada went 0-3 in group play and failed to advance to the quarterfinals.

Kenny Bednarek

USA, track & field

Bednarek has qualified for two races in Paris: the men's 200 and 100 meters.

The 25-year-old who previously competed at Indian Hills Community College is affectionately known as "Kung Fu Kenny."

Credit: AP
Kenneth Bednarek, of the United States, reacts following his men's 200-meter semifinal at the 2024 Summer Olympics. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

RELATED: US Olympic track and field roster revealed: One of the biggest names in track left off list

Mariyal Shayok

South Sudan, men's basketball

Shayok only played at Iowa State for one year, but he certainly made an impact. During the 2018-2019 season, Shayok started every game he played for the Cyclones and led the team with 18.7 points per game. He finished his college career with 1,221 points, 376 rebounds and 174 assists. 

More recently, Shayok made waves with South Sudan as he led all scorers against Team USA, scoring 25 points and leading the team for most of the game. South Sudan will face the United States in group play on July 31. 

OLYMPIC RESULTS: South Sudan notched a win against Puerto Rico in the group round, but failed to advance to the quarterfinals.

George Conditt IV

Puerto Rico, men's basketball

Conditt concluded his time at Iowa State in 2022, raking in 507 points, 408 rebounds and 128 blocks throughout his college career. 

Recently, Conditt and Puerto Rico's national team won the San Juan Qualifier for the final spot at the Paris Olympics. Puerto Rico went 4-0, advancing to the Olympics for the first time in 20 years. In those four games, Conditt IV averaged 10.8 points on 61.3% shooting.

Puerto Rico will face South Sudan on July 28, Serbia on July 31 and the U.S. on Aug. 3 in the first round of the tournament. 

OLYMPIC RESULTS: Conditt IV and Puerto Rico were eliminated from the Olympics during pool play.

Nick Weiler-Babb

Germany, men's basketball

Weiler-Babb transferred to Iowa State and began playing for the Cyclones in 2016. The 6'5" guard ended his collegiate career with 723 points, 457 rebounds and 358 assists. 

Later, Weiler-Babb played in the NBA Summer League with the Miami Heat. Weiler-Babb currently plays overseas in Germany for FC Bayern Munich

Weiler-Babb was born in the United States, but he obtained German citizenship in 2022, giving him the ability to compete with Germany's national team. He was officially named to the team on Friday, July 12. 

Melvin Ejim

Canada, men's basketball

Hailing from Toronto, Ontario, Ejim played at Iowa State from 2010-2014. In his final season with the Cyclones, Ejim became the fourth player in Big 12 history to record 1,500 points and 1,000 in a career. 

The 6'6" forward also became the fifth Academic All-American in Iowa State history and was named Big 12 Player of the Year. Ejim was even inducted into Iowa State's Hall of Fame earlier this year. 

Since graduating, Ejim has played for teams in Italy, Russia and Spain. He was officially named to Canada's national team on July 10. Canada will face Greece on July 27, Australia on July 30 and Spain on Aug. 2 in the first round.

OLYMPIC RESULTS: Ejim and Canda lost to France 82-73 in the quarterfinals.

Peter Jok

South Sudan, men's basketball

Jok played in Iowa City from 2013 through 2017. The 6'6" wing finished his collegiate career ranked 15th in Iowa career scoring and fourth in 3-point shots made, according to his bio. In 125 games, Jok averaged 12.1 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.5 assists a game. 

Born in the Sudan, Jok played high school basketball at Des Moines Roosevelt for two years before playing his final two seasons at Valley. 

OLYMPIC RESULTS: South Sudan notched a win against Puerto Rico in the group round, but failed to advance to the quarterfinals.

Lauren Mansfield

Australia, women's 3x3 basketball

Mansfield played for the Cyclones for two seasons (2010-2012). She was co-captain for the Cyclones during her senior year and averaged 8.2 points, 3.3 assists and 3.1 rebounds per game. 

She moved back to Australia to start her professional career in 2012, joining the Adelaide Lightning, according to her bio.

Spencer Lee

USA, men's wrestling

Lee was an Iowa Hawkeye and three-time NCAA Champion. The 25-year-old will be wrestling in the 57 kg Men's Freestyle.

Kayla Miracle

USA, women's wrestling

Miracle formerly trained at the Hawkeye Wrestling Club and will be competing in her second Olympics. She will be wrestling in the 62 kg Women's Freestyle.

Karissa Schweizer

USA, track & field

Schweizer grew up in Urbandale, Iowa and attended Dowling Catholic High School. From there, Schweizer went on to attend the University of Missouri, where she won three national titles. 

She finished the 5,000-meter final at the USA Track & Field Qualifiers with a time of 14:45:12, sealing her third-place finish and a second Olympics berth.

In the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Schweizer placed 11th in the 5,000 meters and 12th in the 10,000 meters.

Matt Stutzman

USA, Paralympics archery

Stutzman "grew up in a family of hunters in Iowa" and has competed in three Paralympic Games previously: 2012, 2016 and 2020. He won a silver medal in London in 2012.

Cloé Lacasse

Canada, women's soccer

Lacasse graduated from the University of Iowa in 2014.

"Growing up, the only way I would ever see women’s soccer players was the Olympic Games," Lacasse told the U of I. "That is what makes it so special. It is kind of a full circle."

OLYMPIC RESULTS: Canada lost to Germany in penalty kicks in the quarterfinals.

Emily Delleman

USA, rowing

Delleman is a Davenport native that later attended Stanford University.

OLYMPIC RESULTS: Delleman and Team USA did not medal in the Women's Quadruple Sculls with a final time of 6:31.71.

Edwin Kurgat

Kenya, track & field

Kurgat, who ran cross country at Iowa State, qualified for Kenya in the 5,000 meters. The qualifying event was done at an elevation around 5,000 feet, according to ISU Director of Track and Field/Cross Country Jeremy Sudbury.

AJ Fitzpatrick

USA, wheelchair basketball

Fitzpatrick is a Cedar Rapids native and competed with Team USA in the 2023 ParaPan American Games.

Jeromie Meyer II

USA, wheelchair basketball

Meyer is from Woodbine, Iowa and also competed in the 2023 ParaPan American Games alongside A.J. Fitzpatrick.

Brittany Brown

USA, track & field

Brown, a former Hawkeye, clinched her spot in the women's 200 meters with a qualifying time of 21.90 seconds. The former Hawkeye ran a personal best in the race.

OLYMPIC RESULTS: Brown won bronze in the women's 200 meters.

Credit: AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall
Brittany Brown wins a heat in the women's 200-meter run during the U.S. Track and Field Olympic Team Trials Thursday, June 27, 2024, in Eugene, Ore.

Olivia Chambers

USA, Paralympic swimming

Chambers is currently a biology major at the University of Northern Iowa. She won two gold medals at the 2022 Paralympics Swimming National Championships in the 400-meter freestyle and 200-meter individual medley.

Eve Stewart

Great Britain, rowing

Stewart is part of Leander Club and will be part of Great Britain's Olympic rowing team. She attended the University of Iowa.

OLYMPIC RESULTS: Stewart and Great Britain won a bronze medal in the women's eight competition.

Aurélie Tran

Canada, women's gymnastics

Tran qualified for the Olympics in June after taking home a silver medal at the Canadian Gymnastics Championships. The Repentigny, Quebec native and incoming freshman at the University of Iowa scored 108.131 in the all-around, a 26.7 on vault, 27.366 on bars, 27.199 on beam and 26.866 on floor. 

OLYMPIC RESULTS: Tran and Canada finished fifth in the Women's Team All-Around Final.

Cassie Lee

Canada, women's gymnastics

Lee, hailing from Toronto, Ontario is another incoming Hawkeye. She placed fifth on beam and 11th in all-around at the Canadian National Championships. 

Previously, Lee competed with Team Canada at the 2023 Pan American Games, 2023 Pan American Championships and the 2023 World Gymnastics Championships. 

OLYMPIC RESULTS: Lee and Canada finished fifth in the Women's Team All-Around Final.

Jessica Heims

USA, Paralympic track & field

Hailing from Swisher, Heims was born with amniotic band syndrome and had her left leg amputated below the knee. She began track and field when she was just 10 years old. 

Heims graduated from University of Northern Iowa in 2021. 

Erin Kerkhoff

USA, Paralympic track & field

23-year-old Kerkhoff previously competed in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The Coralville native graduated from the University of Northern Iowa this past May.

Justin Phongsavanh

USA, Paralympic track & field

Phongsavanh, who is from Des Moines, set a world record in the men's javelin throwing F54/F57 wheelchair division with a distance of 33.29 meters back in 2021. In Paris, Phongsavanh is hoping to set the bar even higher. 

“This time I’m coming out with a vengeance,” he said in his Team USA profile. “I’m training harder, sacrificing more, and doing everything I can to be a Paralympic champion.”

Josh Cinnamo

USA, Paralympic track & field

This shotputter and California native is headed to the Olympics for a second time. Previously, Cinnamo won bronze in the 2020 Paralympics. 

Cinnamo was a dual sport athlete when he attended Luther College in Decorah, playing on the football and track and field teams. 

Kennedy Blades

USA, women's wrestling (women's 76kg freestyle)

Blades signed a national letter of intent with the Iowa Hawkeyes in July.

Tomi Taiwo

Nigeria, women's basketball

Taiwo studied medicine at the University of Iowa, according to her Olympics bio.

OLYMPIC RESULTS: Nigeria lost to USA in the women's basketball quarterfinals.

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