The Summer Olympics in Tokyo are in full swing, and the games have already spotlighted lots of faces that are familiar to Marylanders—from the athletes all the way to the commentators (one of them being Baltimore swimming legend Michael Phelps.)
So far this year, Maryland has seen triathlon bronze-medalist Katie Zaferes, swimming silver-medalist Kate Ledecky, swimmer Andrew Wilson, tennis player Frances Tiafoe, and sailor Farrah Hall represent for the state. And, of course, we can’t forget Bel Air native Chase Kalisz, who won not only his first gold medal as a swimmer, but the first gold medal for Team USA at the Olympics this year during the 400-meter medley.
GOLD FOR TEAM USA 🥇@chasekalisz and @j_litherland go 1-2 in the men's 400m IM! #TokyoOlympics
📺 NBC
💻 https://t.co/5UYl3veBXr
📱 NBC Sports App pic.twitter.com/MIK1RnH3OI — #TokyoOlympics (@NBCOlympics) July 25, 2021
We’d also be remiss without mentioning Becca Meyers, a Paralympic swimmer from Baltimore who won three gold medals and one silver in the Rio games in 2016. After being forced to pull out of the games this year because she could not bring her own personal care assistant, Meyers was honored by Gov. Larry Hogan with a Governor’s Citation earlier this week. Hogan also signed an executive order to make July “Disability Culture and Achievement Month” in honor of Meyers’ achievements.
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law thirty-one years ago today by President George H. W. Bush.
Thank you @GovLarryHogan for inviting me to celebrate the ADA at the Maryland State House. Thank you for speaking with me on how we can effect change for 1/2 pic.twitter.com/qtFam8Lbw4 — Becca Meyers (@becca_meyers) July 26, 2021
It seems like so much has happened since the opening ceremonies, but there’s still plenty more competitions to look forward to—plus the Summer Paralympics kicking off on August 24. To celebrate our local athletes, we’ve curated a list of Marylanders to watch in upcoming events:
Swimming
McClain Hermes
McClain Hermes, a swimmer for Loyola University, is competing at her second Paralympics Games this summer. During the World Championships in 2017, Hermes placed gold in the 400-meter freestyle, silver in the 100-meter freestyle and backstroke, and bronze in the 50-meter freestyle and breaststroke.
When to watch:
Women’s 400 Freestyle, Aug. 26, 8 p.m.
Women’s 50m Freestyle: Aug. 27, 8 p.m.
Women’s 100m Backstroke: Aug. 28, 8 p.m.
Women’s 200m Individual Medley: Aug. 30, 8 p.m.
Women’s 100m Breastroke: Sept. 1, 8 p.m
Women’s 100m Freestyle: Sept. 3, 8 p.m.
*Check your listings*
Jessica Long
Representing Charm City, Long has won over 60 world championship medals and 13 gold medals across four Paralympic Games. But that’s not all—she’s also broken 18 world records in swimming. This summer, she’ll be competing in Tokyo in women’s freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly, and individual medley events.
When to watch:
Women’s 100m Backstroke: Aug. 27, 8 p.m.
Women’s 200m Individual Medley: Aug. 28, 8 p.m.
Women’s 400m Freestyle: Aug. 31, 8 p.m.
Women’s 50m Freestyle: Sept. 1, 8 p.m.
Women’s 100m Breaststroke: Sept. 1, 8 p.m.
Women’s 100m Butterfly: Sept. 3, 8 p.m.
Lawrence Sapp
Hailing from Waldorf, Sapp has set his eyes on winning a gold medal during his first Paralympics Games. At the Paralympic Trials, he set three American records for his times in the 100-meter butterfly and the 200-meter individual medley events.
When to watch:
Men’s 100m Butterfly: Aug. 25, 8 p.m.
Men’s 50m Freestyle: Aug. 27, 8 p.m.
Men’s 200m Individual Medley: Aug. 31, 8 p.m.
Zachary Shattuck
Another swimmer making a Paralympics debut, Shattuck grew up in Mt. Airy and swam for four years at Frostburg State University. And he’s also a record-setter, with a 1 minute, 23 second time in 100-meter breaststroke, as well as a 33-second time in the 50-meter butterfly.
When to watch:
Men’s 200 Individual Medley: Aug. 26, 8 p.m.
Wrestling
Helen Maroulis
Born in Rockville, Maroulis was the first female wrestler to place at the Maryland State Wrestling Championships, which she competed in when she was a freshman at Magruder High School. Currently, this is her second Olympic run after she won a gold medal after beating Saori Yoshida at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
When to watch:
53 kg freestyle competition: Aug. 4 at 10 p.m.
Kyle Snyder
Wrestling star and Woodbine-native Kyle Snyder holds many accolades. He’s the youngest Olympic gold medalist and youngest wrestler to win the World, NCAA, and Olympic championships in the same year. Snyder, who goes by the nickname “Captain America,” will compete in the 97 kilogram freestyle competition this summer.
When to watch:
97 kg freestyle competition: Aug. 5, 10 p.m.
Track and Field
Matthew Centrowitz Jr.
The Tokyo Games will be the third Summer Olympics Centrowitz competes in. A seasoned athlete from Arnold, he’ll defend the gold medal in the 1,500-meter run.
When to watch:
Individual 1,500m heat: Aug. 2, 8:05 a.m.
Semifinals: Aug. 5, 7 a.m.
Finals: Aug. 7, 7:40 a.m.
Christina Clemons
In the 100-meter hurdles, look out for Christina Clemons. From Landover, Clemons is an 11-time All-American and 10-time Big Ten Champion at Ohio State University. Despite an injury to her achilles that was potentially career-ending, Clemons went on to victories at the World Championships in 2018 and 2019.
When to watch:
100m hurdles heat: July 30, 9:45 p.m.
Semifinals: Aug. 1, 6:45 a.m.
Finals: 10:50 p.m.
Tatyana McFadden
Six-time Paralympian and 17-time Paralympic medalist, McFadden (a former Baltimore cover model) returns to the track in Tokyo to compete in six events. Born in Russia and raised in Clarksville, she was the first woman to earn six titles at a single International Paralympic Committee Athletics World Championship.
When to watch:
Women’s 5,000m: Aug. 27, 8:30 p.m.
Women’s 800m: Aug. 29, 8:30 p.m.
Women’s 1,500m: Aug. 30, 6 a.m.
Women’s 100m: Sept 1, 8:30 p.m.
Women’s 400m: Sept. 2, 8:30 p.m.
Women’s 4×400 relay and marathon: Sept. 5, 5:30 a.m.
Daniel Romanchuk
On his second trip to the Paralympic Games, Romanchuk will be competing in five track and field events. At the World Championships in 2019, Romanchuk, from Mt. Airy, won two gold medals in the 800-meter and 1,500-meter races.
When to watch:
Men’s 5,000m: Aug. 27, 6 a.m.
Men’s 400m: Aug. 29, 8:30 p.m.
Men’s 1,500m: Aug. 30, 6 a.m.
Men’s 800m: Sept. 2, 8:30 p.m.
Men’s Marathon: Sept. 5, 5:30 a.m.
Markeith Price
Another Baltimore local, Markeith Price is a three-time Paralympian who competed in Rio and London. He’s also the president and founder of the I C You Foundation, which provides financial support to students across the country with visual impairments.
When to watch:
Men’s 100m: Aug. 29, 8:30 p.m.
Men’s 400m: Sept. 1, 6 a.m.
Men’s Long Jump: Sept. 4, 8:30 p.m.
Basketball
Jerami Grant
After attending DeMatha Catholic High School in Hyattsville, Grant went on to be a professional basketball player for the Detroit Pistons. He plays forward, and this year he’s making his Olympic debut in Tokyo.
When to watch:
Preliminary match: July 31, 8 a.m.
Quarterfinals: Aug. 2, 9 p.m.
Semifinals: Aug. 5, 12:15 a.m.
Gold medal game: Aug. 6, 10:30 p.m.
Rugby
Abby Gustaitis
From White Hall, Gustaitis started playing rugby when she was 19 at the University of Maryland for the club team. Now, she’s in Tokyo as co-captain of the women’s rugby team.
When to watch:
Pool Round: July 29
Quarterfinals: July 30, 3:30 a.m.
Semifinals and finals: July 31, 12 a.m.