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:
MCKENNA DEBEVER, WOMEN’S SWIMMING, PERU
The 27-year-old DeBever was part of the girls swim program at Regis Jesuit High School at the same time as Missy Franklin, and she still shares a Colorado state record with Franklin along with Hillary Thomas and Alex Todd (nee Martinez), as the quartet set the Class 5A girls state record in the 400 yard freestyle relay in 2011. DeBever — who was born in Los Angeles — moved across the country and finished her prep career at Bishop Kenny H.S. in Jacksonville, Florida, and then went on to swim in college at Auburn (2014-16) and Texas A&M (2017-19). She said she has tri-citizenship in Italy, Peru and America and has represented Peru at a variety of international competitions over the past decade-plus, with a best finish of seventh in the 200 meter individual medley at the 2018 Pan Pacific Championships in Tokyo. The Peruvian Swim Federation selected DeBever to represent Peru in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics in the 100 meter backstroke and 200 meter individual medley, but did not advance out of the initial heat stage. She has been picked to compete for Peru again in the same two events in the Paris Games.
PERSONAL: DeBever’s parents are Steve and Sandra DeBever, while she has siblings Taylor, Riley and Alexis.
WATCH: The women’s swimming competition gets started on July 27 at the Paris La Defense Arena and she will first get in the water for competition in the 100 backstroke at 3 a.m. MT July 29 with semifinals later at 12:57 p.m. The backstroke championship final is at 12:56 p.m. July 30. On Aug. 2, the 200 individual medley preliminary heats take place at 3 a.m. MT, followed by semifinals at 1:22 p.m. MT. The championship final in the 200 IM is at 1:01 p.m. Aug. 3.
— Sports Editor Courtney Oakes
