Editor's note: This story is being highlighted in ASU Now's year in review. To read more top stories from 2016, click here.
As the 2016 Summer Olympics kick off in Rio de Janeiro on Friday night, Arizona State University will be well represented.
There are 27 Sun Devils going to Rio, representing 15 countries in nine sports. That’s the most since 1996, when there were 30 athletes and coaches with ASU ties.
Four of the Rio-bound Sun Devils are current students:
class="glide image-carousel aligned-carousel slider-start glide--ltr glide--slider glide--swipeable"
id="glide-470952" data-remove-side-background="false"
data-image-auto-size="true" data-has-shadow="true" data-current-index="0">
style="max-width:1168px;width:1168px;">
class="uds-img figure-img img-fluid"
alt="Water polo player Vivianne Bahia"
title="Water polo player Vivianne Bahia">
data-testid="image-content-container">
Here's a sampling of some of the current and former Sun Devils who will be at the Rio Olympics (see complete list at the bottom of this story). Water polo player Vivianne Bahia will represent Brazil.
style="max-width:1168px;width:1168px;">
class="uds-img figure-img img-fluid"
alt="Track and field athlete Chris Benard"
title="Track and field athlete Chris Benard">
data-testid="image-content-container">
Track and field athlete Chris Benard will represent the U.S. in the triple jump.
style="max-width:1168px;width:1168px;">
class="uds-img figure-img img-fluid"
alt="Diver Constantin Blaha"
title="Diver Constantin Blaha">
data-testid="image-content-container">
Diver Constantin Blaha (right) will compete for Austria in the 3-meter springboard.
style="max-width:1168px;width:1168px;">
class="uds-img figure-img img-fluid"
alt="Swimmer Richard Bohus"
title="Swimmer Richard Bohus">
data-testid="image-content-container">
Richard Bohus will swim for Hungary in the 100-meter freestyle.
style="max-width:1168px;width:1168px;">
class="uds-img figure-img img-fluid"
alt="Swim coach Bob Bowman"
title="Swim coach Bob Bowman">
data-testid="image-content-container">
ASU head swimming coach Bob Bowman is the U.S. men’s swimming coach and also the personal coach of Michael Phelps, competing in his fifth Olympics after training at ASU last year.
style="max-width:1168px;width:1168px;">
class="uds-img figure-img img-fluid"
alt="Basketball player Ike Diogu"
title="Basketball player Ike Diogu">
data-testid="image-content-container">
Basketball player Ike Diogu will be competing on the court for Nigeria.
style="max-width:1168px;width:1168px;">
class="uds-img figure-img img-fluid"
alt="Track and field athlete Marcus Duncan"
title="Track and field athlete Marcus Duncan">
data-testid="image-content-container">
Track and field athlete Marcus Duncan (left) will represent Trinidad and Tobago in the 4x100 relay.
style="max-width:1168px;width:1168px;">
class="uds-img figure-img img-fluid"
alt="Triathlete coach Cliff English"
title="Triathlete coach Cliff English">
data-testid="image-content-container">
Cliff English is the coach of the new women’s triathlon team, which he will leave for a few days to be the personal coach for two Olympic triathletes in Rio.
style="max-width:1168px;width:1168px;">
class="uds-img figure-img img-fluid"
alt="Track and field athlete Shelby Houlihan"
title="Track and field athlete Shelby Houlihan">
data-testid="image-content-container">
Track and field athlete Shelby Houlihan will run the 5,000-meter for the U.S.
style="max-width:1168px;width:1168px;">
class="uds-img figure-img img-fluid"
alt="Golfer Giulia Molinaro"
title="Golfer Giulia Molinaro">
data-testid="image-content-container">
Golfer Giulia Molinaro will play for Italy.
style="max-width:1168px;width:1168px;">
class="uds-img figure-img img-fluid"
alt="Golfer Azahara Munoz"
title="Golfer Azahara Munoz">
data-testid="image-content-container">
Golfer Azahara Munoz will tee up for Spain.
style="max-width:1168px;width:1168px;">
class="uds-img figure-img img-fluid"
alt="Golfer Miriam Nagl"
title="Golfer Miriam Nagl">
data-testid="image-content-container">
Golfer Miriam Nagl will represent Olympic host Brazil.
style="max-width:1168px;width:1168px;">
class="uds-img figure-img img-fluid"
alt="Long jumper Christabel Nettey"
title="Long jumper Christabel Nettey">
data-testid="image-content-container">
Long jumper Christabel Nettey will compete for Canada.
style="max-width:1168px;width:1168px;">
class="uds-img figure-img img-fluid"
alt="Golfer Anna Nordqvist"
title="Golfer Anna Nordqvist">
data-testid="image-content-container">
Golfer Anna Nordqvist will hit the links for Sweden.
style="max-width:1168px;width:1168px;">
class="uds-img figure-img img-fluid"
alt="Track and field athlete Donald Sanford"
title="Track and field athlete Donald Sanford">
data-testid="image-content-container">
Track and field athlete Donald Sanford will run the 400-meter for Israel.
style="max-width:1168px;width:1168px;">
class="uds-img figure-img img-fluid"
alt="Swimmer Katarina Simonovic"
title="Swimmer Katarina Simonovic">
data-testid="image-content-container">
Swimmer Katarina Simonovic (also pictured at the top of this story) will represent Serbia in the 200-meter freestyle.
Photo by Deanna Dent/ASU Now
style="transition: transform 400ms cubic-bezier(0.165, 0.84, 0.44, 1) 0s; transform: translate3d(48px, 0px, 0px);">
data-testid="arrows-container">
- Richard Bohus, a swimmer, will be a senior in digital culture in the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts.
- Izabella Chiappini, a water polo player, will be a senior in design at the Herberger Institute.
- Anna Olasz, a swimmer, will be a senior in business communications the W. P. Carey School of Business.
- Katarina Simonovic, a swimmer, will be a senior in the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication.
Olasz, representing Hungary, didn’t find out she was going to the Olympics until July 25, when a Russian swimmer was disqualified from competing and Olasz was awarded the spot just three weeks before the open-swim event.
Two of the Rio-bound Sun Devils are current coaches. Bob Bowman, the ASU head swimming coach, is the U.S. men’s swimming coach and also the personal coach of Michael Phelps, who is competing in his fifth Olympics after training at ASU the past year. Cliff English is the coach of the new women’s triathlon team, which he will leave for a few days to be the personal coach for two Olympic triathletes in Rio.
Also, Keenan Robinson will be the head trainer for the U.S. swim team. At ASU, he is the head of high-performance services for aquatic sports.
There are 20 former ASU student-athletes competing, including five women’s golfers.
Here’s the rundown:
| Name | Country represented | Sport (*athlete was at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London) | About the athlete |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vivianne Bahia | Brazil | Women’s water polo | ASU water polo, 2014-2015 |
| Chris Benard | USA | Track and field triple jump | ASU track and field, 2010- 2012 |
| Mickey Benedetti | Italy | Diving 3-meter springboard * | ASU diving, 2006-2009 |
| Constantin Blaha | Austria | Diving 3-meter springboard | ASU diving, 2009-2012, and 2012 ASU graduate |
| Richard Bohus | Hungary | Swimming 100m free * | Current student, will be a senior in digital culture with a concentration in art at the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts; ASU swimming past 3 seasons |
| Bob Bowman | USA | Men’s swimming head coach | Current ASU head swimming coach |
| Izabella Chiappini | Brazil | Women’s water polo | Current student, will be a senior in design at the Herberger Institute, ASU water polo, 2013-2014, 2014-2015 |
| Carolota Ciganda | Spain | Women’s golf | ASU Women’s golf, 2009, 2010 |
| Amy Cragg Hastings | USA | Women’s marathon | ASU cross country, 2002-2005 |
| Ike Diogu | Nigeria | Men’s basketball * | ASU men’s basketball, 2003, 2004 |
| Marcus Duncan | Trinidad and Tobago | Track and field 4x100 relay | ASU track and field, 2008 |
| Cliff English | Costa Rica/Australia | Individual coach for 2 triathletes | Current head coach for ASU women’s triathlon |
| Ariana Hilborn | Latvia | Women’s marathon | 2003 ASU graduate |
| Shelby Houlihan | USA | Track and field 5000m | ASU track and field, 2012-2015, and 2015 ASU graduate |
| Desiree Davila Linden | USA | Women’s marathon * | ASU cross country and track and field, 2001-2004, and 2006 ASU graduate |
| Giulia Molinaro | Italy | Women’s golf | ASU women’s golf, 2007-2012, and 2012 ASU graduate |
| Azahara Munoz | Spain | Women’s golf | ASU women’s golf 2005-2009, and 2009 ASU graduate |
| Miriam Nagl | Brazil | Women’s golf | ASU women’s golf, 2000 |
| Christabel Nettey | Canada | Track and field long jump | ASU long jump, 2010-2013 |
| Gal Nevo | Israel | Men’s swimming 200m IM * | ASU men’s swimming, 2005-2007 |
| Anna Nordqvist | Sweden | Women’s golf | ASU women’s golf, 2006-2008 |
| Anna Olasz | Hungary | Open-water swimming | Current student, will be a senior in the W. P. Carey School of Business, ASU swimming the past 3 seasons |
| Keenan Robinson | USA | Head trainer for swimming | |
| Donald Sanford | Israel | Track and field 400m * | ASU track and field, 2010 |
| Katarina Simonovic | Serbia | Women’s swimming 200m freestyle | Current student, will be a senior in the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication, ASU swimming the past 3 seasons |
| Jay Shi | USA | Men’s shooting 50m pistol | 2004 ASU graduate |
| Rowie Webster | Australia | Women’s water polo * | ASU water polo, 2006 |
More Sun Devil community
ASU students receive $25,000 scholarships from NBA legend Magic Johnson
By Henry Smardo Serenity Reynolds Cronkite student Serenity Reynolds balances classes, homework, clubs, internships and jobs, and tuition is always top of mind. She…
ASU Accessibility Awareness Day advocates for a more inclusive digital future
By Jonathan CrowellAs technology continues to drive learning and research innovations, so do efforts to ensure digital products and environments are accessible by all.Last week, Arizona State…
ASU student, Navy vet pursues greener future in sustainability
As Arizona State University holds its annual Salute to Service celebration, honoring individuals who serve the nation and their communities, Shana Harly stands out for her commitment to both her…