Hey Huntsville! Remember when the summer Olympics were postponed last year until 2021 due to the pandemic? Well, I can’t believe it’s now August 2021 and the Olympics have already come and gone! HOWEVER, I am here to keep you up to date! Maybe you weren’t able to watch the Olympics this year, and you’re wondering “What athletes represented our great state of Alabama?”
Let’s get down to the nitty gritty… There were 622 athletes from the United States of America and of this large group, nine athletes hail from the Yellowhammer state of Alabama. Huntsville’s very own, JuVaughn Harrison, stunned onlookers while making history at the Olympic trials. He proved himself to all by winning the high jump and long jump to qualify for the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. Due to this amazing feat, Harrison was the first American man since 1912 to compete in both events at the same Olympic Games (www.usatoday.com). I know this won’t be the last time we see Harrison’s name in the headlines! Who else agrees?
Below I listed the nine Alabama athletes who competed in the 2021 Tokyo Summer Olympics.
Baseball
- Brandon Dickson ( Louis Cardinals AAA)
- Hometown: Montgomery, AL
- Age: 36
- Tokyo Medals: 1 Silver
- Career Medals: 1 Silver
- David Robertson
- Hometown: Birmingham, AL
- Age: 36
- Tokyo Medals: 1 Silver
- Career Medals: 1 Silver
Shooting
- James Hall (Jacksonville State)
- Hometown: Anniston, AL
- Birthplace: Alabaster, AL
- Age: 37
- Sandra Uptagrafft (Troy State)
- Hometown: Phenix City, AL
- Birthplace: Singapore
- Age: 50
Softball
- Haylie McCleney (Alabama)
- Hometown: Morris, AL
- Age: 27
- Tokyo Medals: 1 Silver
- Career Medals: 1 Silver
Swimming
- Zach Harting (Louisville)
- Hometown: Madison, AL
- Age: 23
- Page Madden (University of Virginia)
- Hometown: Mobile, AL
- Age: 22
- Tokyo Medals: 1 Silver
- Career Medals: 1 Silver
Track and Field / Athletics
- Quanesha Burks (University of Alabama)
- Hometown: Hartselle, AL
- Birthplace: Ozark, AL
- Age: 26
- JuVaughn Harrison (LSU)
- Hometown: Huntsville, AL
- Birthplace: Huntsville, AL
- Age: 22
We are proud of these athletes who represented Alabama in the 2021 Tokyo Summer Olympics! Who knows where we will see them next!
Maybe you have not had enough of the Olympics? Lucky for us Olympic fans, the Winter Games will commence on Friday, February 4, 2022 in Beijing, China (I know I’m looking forward to watching the figure-skating competitions!) I personally love the Olympics, both summer and winter. I look forward to the opening and closing ceremonies in addition to the games every time! Did you watch the Tokyo Opening Ceremony? What did you think? Are you looking forward to the winter Olympics in Beijing? Let me know in the comments or on Instagram – @mandypandadreams. I know I cannot wait to see what Alabama athletes will be competing in 2022!
