After an unexpected year of waiting, the 2021 Tokyo Olympic Games are finally about to begin! Indy is home to some of the most passionate sports fans in the world. And we’re especially proud of all of the Hoosier athletes competing for Team USA this year.

The Indy region alone is home to some of the world’s most talented athletes—from Carmel resident Rajeev Ram, to Fishers teen Tyler Downs, to Bloomington swimmer Annie Lazor. Our community offers world-class facilities to help our athletes compete on a whole other level.  

In fact, many of our U.S. Olympians were once Indiana Hoosiers! Some discovered their passion while growing up here in Indiana. Some came to Indiana for college, and some still live here, training in their own backyard. But no matter how long they lived here, they are always Hoosiers at heart!

As the games begin, keep an eye out for these Hoosier athletes and cheer them on to victory!

BASKETBALL

Skylar Diggins-Smith

Event: Women’s 5×5 Basketball

Hoosier Connection: Hometown is South Bend; Graduated Notre Dame

Age: 30

Skylar Diggins-Smith was born and raised in South Bend, Indiana, and then she graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a degree in Business Management. During her time there, she contributed to four NCAA tournament appearances, including three Final Fours. Now, she plays guard for the Phoenix Mercury.

She is a four-time WNBA All-Star and a two-time All-WNBA First Team member. She also won gold at the first FIBA 3×3 World Cup in 2012. Skylar will join Team USA in Tokyo for her first Olympics, aiming for the team’s seventh consecutive gold medal in her event.  

Jackie Young

Event: Women’s 3×3 Basketball

Hoosier Connection: Hometown is Princeton; Attended Notre Dame

Age: 23

Jackie Young grew up in Princeton, Indiana, where she set the record as the leading scorer in Indiana high school history. Then, at the University of Notre Dame, she helped her team capture the NCAA Championship in 2018, before she went on to compete for the Las Vegas Aces. Jackie was selected to replace Katie Lou Samuelson on Team USA, after Katie tested positive for COVID-19 while training.

Jewell Loyd

Event: Women’s 5×5 Basketball

Hoosier Connection: Graduated Notre Dame

Age: 27

Jewell Loyd plays guard for the Seattle Storm. But before she found her WNBA success, she played for the University of Notre Dame! During her time in Indiana, she competed in three NCAA Final Fours and was named the Regional Most Valuable Player in 2014. Since then, she’s become a two-time WNBA Champion and a two-time WNBA All-Star. Jewell will play with fellow Notre Dame athlete, Skylar Diggins-Smith, on the Team USA roster.

CYCLING

Felicia Stancil

Event: BMX

Hoosier Connection: Indianapolis Resident; Graduated Marian University

Age: 26

Felicia Stancil moved to Indianapolis to attend Marian University, where she earned her degree in Exercise Science. Now, she’s both an Indy resident and first-time Olympian! Felicia is a six-time participant in the World Championship, and she finished both the USABMX and World Cup series 2nd in the world overall.  

Chloé Dygert

Event: Team Pursuit, Individual Pursuit, Individual Time Trial, Road Race

Hoosier Connection: Hometown is Brownsburg; Graduated Marian University

Age: 24 

Chloé Dygert grew up in Brownsburg, Indiana, where she first fell in love with sports—especially basketball and track. Unfortunately, she quickly developed injuries that forced her to retire from her original passions. While recovering, Chloé turned to cycling and discovered her new calling.

Now, Chloé is a two-time Olympian with eight World Championship gold medals. In Rio, she won silver in the Team Pursuit, and she helped win the Team Pursuit at the World Championship in 2016—a first in USA Cycling history. In the Road Race, Chloé will be competing alongside fellow Marian University graduate Coryn Rivera.

DIVING

Tyler Downs

Event: 3-Meter Springboard

Hoosier Connection: Fishers Resident; Incoming Purdue University Student

Age: 17

Tyler Downs is a 17-year-old resident of Fishers, an incoming Purdue student, and the youngest member of the U.S. Olympic Diving Team. He started diving when he was five years old, and he won two gold medals at the 2019 Junior Pan American Championships. In the Olympic trials, Tyler secured his ticket to Tokyo by beating David Boudia—the three-time Olympian and gold medalist from Noblesville.

Jessica Parratto

Event: 10-Meter Synchronized Platform

Hoosier Connection: Bloomington Resident; Graduated Indiana University

Age: 27

Jessica Parratto and her family moved to Indianapolis for better access to top-tier diving facilities. Now, she’s a two-time Olympian and one of the top 10-meter divers in the country! In the 2016 Olympics, she placed 7th in Synchronized Platform, and she was a member of the World Cup team in 2014, 2016, and 2018. She was also the NCAA Champion on Platform in 2015, during her time at Indiana University.

Andrew Capobianco

Event: 3-Meter Springboard, Synchronized Springboard

Hoosier Connection: Indiana University Student

Age: 21

Andrew Capobianco is a current student at Indiana University who started diving about 10 years ago. He was a member of the 2019 Pan American Games as well as the NCAA 3-Meter Springboard Champion in 2019 and 2021. He also placed 8th in the Synchronized Springboard at the 2019 World Championship.

This year, Andrew will be competing in Synchronized Springboard with Michael Hixon, a 2018 Indiana University graduate. Michael earned a silver medal in the event at the 2016 Olympics, so he will bring that Olympic experience with them to Tokyo.

Brandon Loschiavo

Event: 10-Meter Platform

Hoosier Connection: Purdue University Student 

Age: 24 

Brandon Loschiavo is a current student at Purdue University, following in the footsteps of Olympians like David Boudia. Brandon is a five-time national champion who won the 2021 NCAA title in 10-Meter Platform. He missed the 2016 trials while recovering from an injury but made up for it by winning this year’s Olympic trials for the Tokyo games.

FENCING

Nick Itkin

Event: Men’s Individual Foil, Men’s Team Foil

Hoosier Connection: Notre Dame Student 

Age: 21

Nick Itkin is currently studying finance at the University of Notre Dame. He won two back-to-back NCAA Men’s Individual Foil Fencing Championship titles, and he became the first U.S. fencer to win the Individual Junior World, USA Fencing Division I, and the NCAA title in the same season.

He is joining a prestigious team of fencers who graduated from the University of Notre Dame, including Mariel Zagunis, Gerek Meinhardt, Lee Kiefer, and Kelley and Courtney Hurley. These five returning Olympians are some of the most decorated names in fencing—and athletes that once called Indiana home.  

GYMNASTICS

Alec Yoder

Event: Individual, Pommel Horse, Team

Hoosier Connection: Hometown is Indianapolis

Age: 24

Alec Yoder is an Indy native who grew up in Indianapolis and began his gymnastic training in Fishers. He is one of five male gymnasts who are going to the Tokyo Olympics, serving as the team’s “plus-one.” Alec was selected as an individual specialist, thanks to his particular skill in the pommel horse.

RUGBY 

Joe Schroeder

Event: Sevens

Hoosier Connection: Hometown is Westfield; Graduated Trine University

Age: 28

Joe Schroeder grew up in Westfield, Indiana, where he started playing rugby at the age of 15. He attended Cathedral High School and then went on to attend Trine University in northern Indiana. Now, he’s one of the 12 starters on the U.S. Olympic rugby team, after competing in just 12 games in the World Rugby Sevens Series.

SWIMMING

Drew Kibler

Event: 4×200 Freestyle Relay

Hoosier Connection: Hometown is Carmel 

Age: 21

Drew Kibler is one of two swimmers from Carmel, Indiana, to reach the Olympics this year—a first for the Carmel Swim Club! He is a three-time All-American and a three-time Big 12 Champion. He also won the 2019 NCAA Championship in the 800-Meter Freestyle Relay. During the Olympic trials, Drew was third in the Men’s 200-Meter Freestyle, securing his spot on the relay team.

Jake Mitchell

Event: 400-Meter Freestyle

Hoosier Connection: Hometown is Carmel

Age: 20

Jake Mitchell is the second Carmel High School swimmer going to the Tokyo Olympics. He’s studying at the University of Michigan, but he came home to Indiana to train over the summer. Jake was inspired by Drew’s success and pushed himself to beat the Olympic standard time, earning his spot on the team. In 2019, Jake represented the U.S. in the FINA World Junior Championships and won gold on the 4×200 Freestyle Relay.

Lilly King

Event: 100-Meter Breaststroke, 200-Meter Breaststroke

Hoosier Connection: Hometown is Evansville; Graduated Indiana University

Age: 24

Lilly King is an Evansville native who graduated from Indiana University in 2019. She earned two Olympic gold medals at Rio in both the 4×100 Medley and the 100-Meter Breaststroke. Now, she’s going back to the Olympics to defend her gold medal. Lilly also holds the world record in the 100-Meter Breaststroke as well as 11 World Championship gold medals.  

Michael Brinegar

Event: 800-Meter Freestyle, 1,500-Meter Freestyle

Hoosier Connection: Hometown is Columbus; Indiana University Student

Age: 21

Michael Brinegar grew up in Columbus, Indiana, and he’s now a student at Indiana University. His mother competed in the 1976 Olympics and also swam at IU. Now, he’s following in her footsteps by going to Tokyo—his first Olympics. During the Olympic trials, he qualified by placing second in both of his events.

Annie Lazor

Event: 200-Meter Breaststroke

Hoosier Connection: Bloomington Resident

Age: 26 

Annie Lazor is a Bloomington resident who trains at Indiana University’s facilities, and she’s the oldest first-time U.S. Olympian in swimming in 17 years. Annie is a three-time Pan American gold medalist and won the 200-Meter Breaststroke at the 2018 World Championship. At the Olympic trials, she placed second to Lilly King, her close friend and training partner.  

Blake Pieroni

Event: 4×100 Freestyle Relay

Hoosier Connection: Hometown is Chesterton; Graduated Indiana University

Age: 25

Blake Pieroni grew up in Chesterton Indiana and graduated from Indiana University in 2018. While he was at IU, he earned a gold medal at the 2016 Summer Olympics in the 4×100 Freestyle Relay. Now, he will return to the Olympics to defend his title. Over the years, Blake has also won 11 medals at the World Championships, including 7 golds.

Zach Apple

Event: 100-Meter Freestyle, 4×100 Freestyle Relay, 4×200 Freestyle Relay

Hoosier Connection: Graduated Indiana University

Age: 24

Zach Apple transferred to Indiana University to take advantage of their world-class swimming program. Tokyo will be his first Olympic games, but Zach is already an experienced competitor. He’s a four-time U.S. National Team member and five-time World Championship swimmer with three gold medals. During the Olympic trials, he placed second in the 100-Meter Breaststroke, earning him a spot on the relay teams.

TENNIS

Rajeev Ram

Event: Men’s Doubles

Hoosier Connection: Carmel Resident; Hometown is Carmel

Age: 37

Rajeev Ram graduated from Carmel High School back in 2002 and still lives in Carmel today! Rajeev won the Mixed Doubles at the Australian Open in both 2019 and 2021, and he’s now a two-time Olympian. At the 2016 Summer Olympics, he won a silver medal in Mixed Doubles with Venus Williams as his partner. This year, he will be competing in Men’s Doubles with Frances Tiafoe. 

TRACK & FIELD

Cole Hocker

Event: Men’s 1,500 Meter

Hoosier Connection: Hometown is Indianapolis

Age: 20 

Cole Hocker is an Indianapolis native, a graduate of Cathedral High School, and the youngest member of the U.S. Olympic track team since 1968! This three-time NCAA Champion is a finalist for the Bowerman Award in honor of his remarkable collegiate performance. Cole placed first in the 1,500 Meter Olympic trials, winning the event and securing his spot on Team USA.

Lynna Irby

Event: 4×400 Relay

Hoosier Connection: Hometown is Indianapolis

Age: 22

Lynna Irby is a Hoosier through and through! She was born up north in Merrillville, graduated from Pike High School, and grew up in Indianapolis. This will be her first Olympics, but it’s hardly her first competition. She won gold in the 4×400 Relay at the 2019 Pan Am Games and the 2016 IAAF World Under-20 Championships.

Rachel Dincoff

Event: Discus Throw

Hoosier Connection: Hometown is Waterloo

Age: 27 

Rachel Dincoff was born and raised a Hoosier. She grew up in Waterloo, Indiana, where she first fell in love with track and field. In 2014, she was a Summit League Champion in shot put, but she discovered her true skill in discus. Rachel qualified for her first Olympic games with a third-place finish in the Olympic trials.

Yared Nuguse

Event: Men’s 1,500 Meter

Hoosier Connection: Notre Dame Student

Age: 22

Yared Nuguse is currently a senior at the University of Notre Dame who placed third in the Olympic trials for the 1,500 Meter Run. He will be competing against Cole Hocker, continuing their NCAA rivalry on the global stage. He placed second to Cole at the 2021 NCAA Championships, but then, Yared broke the NCAA record for the fastest 1,500 Meter time yet.

Kara Winger

Event: Javelin Throw

Hoosier Connection: Graduated Purdue University

Age: 35

Kara Winger is a four-time Olympian and a graduate from Purdue University! Back in 2016, she became the first female athlete from Purdue to qualify for a third Olympic games. Now, she’s ready to compete in the javelin throw once again. Kara has participated in five World Championships and left Purdue as a three-time Big Ten Champion.

Molly Seidel

Event: Marathon

Hoosier Connection: Graduated Notre Dame

Age: 27

Molly Seidel graduated from the University of Notre Dame, where she competed as a long-distance runner. After recovering from anxiety, depression, and disordered eating, she ran her first ever marathon at the Olympic trials—and finished second! So, Molly qualified for her first Olympics and has been training for her next big marathon ever since.

VOLLEYBALL

Annie Drews

Event: Women’s Volleyball

Hoosier Connection: Hometown is Elkhart; Graduated Purdue University

Age: 27

Annie Drews was born and raised in Elkhart, Indiana, before she went to study at Purdue University. She’s been on Team USA since 2017, and she’ll be the first Indiana native to compete in Women’s Volleyball at the Olympics. Annie won the 2017 Pan American Cup and the 2019 FIVB Volleyball Nations League, where she was named Most Valuable Player for leading her team to gold.

WRESTLING

Sarah Hildebrandt

Event: Women’s Freestyle (50 kg/110 lbs)

Hoosier Connection: Hometown is Granger

Age: 27

Sarah Hildebrandt grew up in Granger, Indiana, a township just north of South Bend. She’s a four-time Pan American Championships winner and a two-time Final X Champion. She’s participated on the U.S. World Championship team three times, but this will be her first Olympic experience.

Kayla Miracle

Event: Women’s Freestyle (62 kg/136.5 lbs)

Hoosier Connection: Hometown is Culver

Age: 25

Kayla Miracle attended Culver Academies in her small hometown of Culver, Indiana. She’s a three-time U.S. Open Champion, a three-time University Nationals Champion, and the 2019 Pan American Games Champion. She won the Olympic team trials in 2021 and will go on to participate in her first Olympics in Tokyo.