The Paris Olympics begin July 27 with the eyes of the world focused on the best athletes from each country.
Among those will be a trio with former or current Aurora ties, who will represent two different countries when the games get underway. Two of them are among Colorado’s contingent of 29 Olympic and Paralympic representatives, which is tied for the sixth-largest contingent from any of the United States.
Here’s a brief bio of one of the athletes with local ties, their past international experience and what earned them a chance to go after a medal on the biggest stage:
EMMA WEBER, WOMEN’S SWIMMING
Weber’s hometown is Boulder, but the now 20-year-old spent her last two high school seasons swimming for Regis Jesuit High School in Aurora. Inspired by Regis Jesuit alum Missy Franklin, Weber won three Colorado Class 5A state championships in four seasons in the 100 yard breaststroke (one for Fairview and two for Regis Jesuit), she earned a crown in the 200 yard individual medley, and she was a multiple-time All-American between her time at Fairview and Regis Jesuit. Weber moved on to compete at the University of Virginia, while she kept an eye on the U.S. Olympic Trials in Omaha. It was there in June that she stamped herself on the national swimming map with a runner-up performance in the 100 meter breaststroke. She finished behind only Lilly King (the current world record holder in the event) and unseated Tokyo gold medalist Lydia Jacoby by a fraction of a second. The Paris Games will not be her first international competition, however, as she also swam to represent her country at the 2023 Pan Am Games in Santiago, Chile. Weber will have company at the Olympics from her college program, as Virginia head coach Todd DeSorbo is the U.S. women’s head coach, while Kate Douglass, Alex Walsh and Gretchen Walsh will also be there.
PERSONAL: Weber’s parents are Kurt and Deidre Weber, and she has a brother, Reid. Deidre Weber ran track at the University of Richmond.
WATCH: The women’s swimming competition gets started on July 27 at the Paris La Defense Arena, but Weber’s event (the 100 meter breaststroke) is scheduled for preliminary heats at 3 a.m. MT July 28, with semifinals later in the day at 1:10 p.m. MT. The championship final of the event is set for 1:25 p.m. July 29.
— Sports Editor Courtney Oakes
