Swimmer Alex Walsh

When to watch: The 200-meter individual medley heats and semifinals will take place Aug. 2, with the final set for Aug. 3. 

One of two returning medalists with Nashville connections, Walsh will once again be taking on the 200-meter individual medley after her silver-winning performance in the event in Tokyo. Walsh will be among the favorites to reach the podium in an event she won by more than two full seconds at the 2024 NCAA Swimming Championships in March. She’ll be competing alongside fellow American and her former University of Virginia teammate Kate Douglass, who earned bronze in the 200-meter IM in Tokyo.  

Swimmer Gretchen Walsh

When to watch: The 100-meter butterfly heats and semifinals will take place July 27, with the final taking place July 28. The 4 x 100-meter freestyle heats and final will also take place July 27. The 50-meter freestyle heats and semifinals will take place Aug. 3, with the final on Aug. 4.

Gretchen Walsh — Alex’s younger sister — has the potential to be one of Team USA’s stars of the pool for the 2024 Games. The first-time Olympian will be competing in three events: the 50-meter freestyle, the 100-meter butterfly and the 4 x 100-meter freestyle relay, the last of which the U.S. has medaled in at 23 of the 25 Olympics featuring the race. (No pressure!) Walsh set a new world record in the 100-meter butterfly semifinals at the U.S. Olympic trials, putting her in a good position to bring some hardware home from Paris.

Update: On July 12, U.S. trials champion Kate Douglass dropped out of the 100-meter freestyle, which means Walsh, as the next best finisher, will take her spot. The 100-meter heats and semifinals will take place on July 30, with the final on July 31.

Cyclist Lily Williams

When to watch: The team pursuit competition will take place Aug. 6-7. 

The other returning medalist with a connection to Nashville, Williams has had the most interesting journey to becoming an Olympian of anyone in this group. Following four years as a track-and-field competitor and cross-country runner at Vanderbilt University, Williams decided to try her hand at track cycling. Three years later she became not only the first female Vanderbilt graduate to compete at the Olympics, but she won a bronze medal in the team pursuit event in Tokyo. The Florida native will be competing in the same event in Paris.  

Discus Thrower Veronica Fraley

When to watch: The discus qualification round will take place Aug. 2, and the final will be on Aug. 5.

Speaking of Vanderbilt women excelling, to call Veronica Fraley’s June memorable would be a major understatement. The graduate student began the month by becoming just the third student-athlete in Vanderbilt history to earn an individual NCAA championship and ended June by qualifying for the Paris Olympics. Fraley qualified with a third-place finish in the discus throw at the U.S. Olympic trials. She’ll be competing in Paris against Valarie Allman, the reigning gold medalist in the event. 

Footballer Walker Zimmerman

When to watch: The men’s soccer competition will take place July 24 through Aug. 9. 

Unlike the women’s competition, men’s soccer rosters at the Olympics are limited to players ages 23 and younger. However, countries are allotted up to three roster slots for over-age players, and the United States decided to bring Nashville SC defender Walker Zimmerman as one of its over-age representatives. The four-time MLS all-star’s inclusion can be attributed to two factors: He brings high-level international experience — Zimmerman played in all four of the USMNT’s matches at the 2022 World Cup, starting three — and plays a needed position for the young roster. 

Sprinter John Sherman

When to watch: The 4 x 100-meter relay competition will take place Aug. 8-9. 

Middle Tennessee State University freshman John Sherman is headed to Paris as part of the Liberian men’s 4 x 100-meter relay team. The former LaVergne High School star was part of the Liberian squad that set a national record in the event at the 2023 African Games, earning the group a spot in one of the marquee competitions of the track-and-field schedule. 

Olympic Fever: Nashville’s Many Connections to the Olympic Games

Profiling the Walsh sisters and others heading to Paris, chatting with past Olympian Shawn Johnson East and much more