Fifteen Duke athletes recently competed in Tokyo representing seven nations. The Blue Zone takes a look at how they performed in the 2020 Olympic Games:
Quinn, midfielder, Canada women’s soccer
In their second Olympics for Canada, the Toronto native became the first openly transgender athlete to ever win an Olympic gold medal. Canada notably defeated the U.S. team en route to a gold medal-clinching victory over Sweden. Though they did not score, Quinn was a crucial part of the midfield unit that propelled the Canadian team to its first Olympic gold at Nissan Stadium in Yokohama after settling for bronze in 2012 and 2016.
Chelsea Gray, forward, United States women’s basketball
Gray contributed 7.3 points, 3.2 assists and 1.7 rebounds per game for the American team destined to win gold from the opening tip of the Olympic tournament. The former Blue Devil dropped 14 points in the semifinal win against Serbia August 6, and she tallied six more in the 90-75 win over host country Japan in the final the next day in Saitama. The 2014 11th-overall WNBA draft pick now has a gold medal on her resume as the Las Vegas Aces star saw considerable playing time on a stacked U.S. roster.
Kara Lawson, head coach, United States women’s 3x3 basketball
Former Boston Celtics’ assistant and second-year women’s basketball coach at Duke, Lawson coached a star-studded U.S. 3x3 team to gold in the event’s Olympic debut. With the top WNBA talent left off the U.S. women’s basketball team, Lawson’s squad, which included the NCAA’s all-time scoring leader, Kelsey Plum, breezed by the preliminary round and took down the Russian Olympic Committee in the final match. Her role in the country’s success in the inaugural tournament may have secured the former Tennessee Lady Vols star a summer gig every four years.
Jayson Tatum, forward, United States men’s basketball
In Team USA Basketball’s first Olympics appearance without Coach K since 2004, Kevin Durant, Tatum and Jrue Holiday paced the scoring for the gold medalists. Though this year’s team got off to a rocky start, losing games to Nigeria in an exhibition and France in the preliminary round, the squad quickly proved that it deserved gold. Tatum, who averaged 15.2 points and 3.3 rebounds over six appearances off the bench, notably wore number 10, which formerly belonged to the late Kobe Bryant. He added his tournament-high 27 points in a game against the Czech Republic and 19 more in a hard-fought gold medal and redemption game against France.
Jessica Springsteen, United States equestrian team jumping
After failing to qualify in the individual jumping event by one spot, Springsteen and Team USA were stellar in the team event, placing fifth in qualifying and matching Sweden’s leading eight penalties in the medal event. The daughter of singer Bruce Springsteen and 14th-ranked equestrian jumper in the world helped Team USA into the tie breaking jump-off, through which Sweden would ultimately take gold and the 29-year-old former Blue Devil would bring home silver.
Maddy Price, Canada 4x400 track relay
The former All-American sprinter and second leg of the Canadian relay team kept Canada in the race with the U.S., Poland and Jamaica and ultimately finished fourth. Price and company missed the podium by 0.60 seconds after the Jamaican anchor bolted past Canada’s Sage Watson on the final straightaway. Canada hasn’t won a medal in the event since 1984.
Other Duke athletes’ results:
Kate Van Buskirk, Canada women’s 5000 m - 14th in qualifying heat
Ashley Twichell, U.S. women’s 10 km swimming - 7th in final
Jahlil Okafor, Nigeria men’s basketball - did not advance past preliminary round
Oderah Chidom, Nigeria women’s basketball - did not advance past preliminary round
Elizabeth Balogun, Nigeria women’s basketball - did not advance past preliminary round
Steven Solomon, Australia men’s 400 m - 3rd in semifinal
Leona Maguire, Ireland women’s golf - 23rd
Celine Boutier, France women’s golf - 34th
Danielle Waldman, Israel equestrian - eliminated in qualifying
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Micah Hurewitz is a Trinity senior and was previously a sports managing editor of The Chronicle's 118th volume.