The 2023 Summer Olympics are set to begin on July 23 in Tokyo, Japan. Among the thousands of athletes who will compete for glory and honor, there are some who have a connection to the state of Arkansas. Here are some of the Arkansas athletes to watch at the Olympics.
Sandi Morris: Pole Vault
Sandi Morris is a pole vaulter who was born in Downers Grove, Illinois, but grew up in Greenville, South Carolina. She attended the University of Arkansas, where she won the NCAA indoor and outdoor titles in 2015. She also set the collegiate indoor record of 4.90 meters (16 feet, 0.75 inches) that year.
Morris made her Olympic debut in 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, where she won the silver medal after a thrilling duel with Greece’s Ekaterini Stefanidi. Both vaulters cleared 4.85 meters, but Stefanidi won on countback. Morris later became the second woman in history to clear 5 meters (16 feet, 4.75 inches) in 2016.
Morris qualified for her second Olympics at the U.S. trials in June, where she finished second behind Katie Nageotte. She will aim to improve on her silver medal and challenge Stefanidi again for the gold.
Kevin Kopps: Baseball
Kevin Kopps is a baseball pitcher who was born in Sugar Land, Texas. He attended the University of Arkansas, where he had a stellar senior season in 2023. He posted a 12-1 record with a 0.90 ERA and 131 strikeouts in 89.2 innings. He also recorded 11 saves and threw four complete games.
Kopps won several awards for his performance, including the Golden Spikes Award, the Dick Howser Trophy, and the SEC Pitcher of the Year. He also became the first relief pitcher to be named a consensus All-American.
Kopps was drafted by the San Diego Padres in the third round of the MLB draft in July. He signed a contract with the Padres and reported to their minor league affiliate in Arizona. However, he was also selected to represent Team USA at the Olympics, where he will join former Razorbacks teammates Heston Kjerstad and Casey Martin.
Kopps will be part of a pitching staff that includes veterans like Scott Kazmir, Edwin Jackson, and David Robertson. He will try to help Team USA win its first gold medal in baseball since 2000.
Taylor Werner: Track and Field
Taylor Werner is a distance runner who was born in Ste. Genevieve, Missouri. She attended the University of Arkansas, where she became one of the most decorated runners in school history. She won four SEC titles and earned 10 All-American honors. She also helped the Razorbacks win four NCAA team titles (two cross country, two indoor track).
Werner qualified for her first Olympics at the U.S. trials in June, where she finished third in the 10,000 meters behind Emily Sisson and Karissa Schweizer. She ran a personal best of 31:19.46, which ranks her as the seventh-fastest American woman ever in that event.
Werner will face a tough challenge at the Olympics, where she will compete against world-class runners like Ethiopia’s Letesenbet Gidey, who holds the world record of 29:01.03, and Kenya’s Hellen Obiri, who is the reigning world champion. Werner will also run in the 5,000 meters, where she qualified as a replacement for Shelby Houlihan, who was banned for doping.
Other Arkansas Athletes
There are other athletes with ties to Arkansas who will compete at the Olympics in various sports. Some of them are:
- Jarrion Lawson: Long jump (born in Texarkana, attended University of Arkansas)
- Lexi Jacobus: Pole vault (born in Cabot, attended University of Arkansas)
- Tori Hoggard: Pole vault (born in Cabot, attended University of Arkansas)
- Payton Chadwick: Hurdles (born in Springdale, attended University of Arkansas)
- Hunter Woodhall: Paralympic sprinter (born in Ogden, Utah, attended University of Arkansas)
- Kayle Browning: Shooting (born in Wooster, lives in Greenbrier)
- Gaby Lopez: Golf (born in Mexico City, attended University of Arkansas)
- Maria Fassi: Golf (born in Pachuca, Mexico, attended University of Arkansas)
These athletes will represent their countries and their state with pride and passion at the Olympics. They will also inspire many young Arkansans to pursue their dreams and achieve their goals.
