Greenwich locals turn heads at 2024 Paris Olympics

Connecticut is well-represented in Paris at the 2024 Olympic Games, with a lengthy list of athletes set to compete in a range of events on the global stage. Greenwich is no exception, as several Team USA members grew up in the area; further proving the caliber of schools, strength of the community, and range of opportunity afforded to its residents. With competitors in field hockey, swimming, and equestrian, Greenwich athletes are turning heads around the world.

Beth Yeager’s path to becoming a member of the Team USA women's field hockey team began at Sacred Heart Greenwich where she was a five-year starter. 

“Beth had been on our campus recently this spring and Alex (Sacred Heart co-head coach/director of field hockey Alexandru Gheorghe) and I both were able to speak with her,” Sarah Hill, varsity associate co-coach at SHG, said. “It is definitely such an incredible achievement, she is truly an exceptional student-athlete.”

Yeager continued her field hockey career at Princeton, earning First Team All-American honors as both a freshman and sophomore. She was named Ivy League Offensive Player of the Year and Ivy League Rookie of the Year and then recognized as Ivy League Player of the Year during her second year.

The next women's field hockey games take place July 31, August 1, and August 3.

Greenwich sisters Gretchen and Alex Walsh are nothing short of spectacular as they break records for Team USA. They spent a large portion of their childhood swimming for the Rocky Point Club Team where they broke Fairfield County Swim League Championship Records year after year. Although they moved to Tennessee, they returned to Connecticut each summer to compete with Rocky Point and the Chelsea Piers Aquatic Club (CP-AC). Currently, the Walshes swim for the University of Virginia, where they have collectively secured 24 NCAA Championships, earned 24 All-American honors, and set 14 NCAA records.

“(The Walshes) were jaw-dropping,” said Jamie Barone, who coached both sisters at Chelsea Piers. “They are all over the record boards at CP-AC with record times that are staggering for their ages. From the first time I saw them, I knew they were next-level talents. I feel so lucky to have had so many incredible athletes come through into orbit with me.” 

Not only did Gretchen win silver on Saturday in the 4x100 free relay, but she also set a world record in the 100 meter butterfly during semifinals. Alex qualified for the Paris games with a 2:07.86 in the 200 individual medley. At the Tokyo 2021 Summer Games, she won a silver medal in the 200 IM, finishing just 0.13 seconds behind gold medalist Yui Ohashi of Japan. 

Barone also coached their Olympic teammate Kate Douglass at CP-AC. Douglass is a native of Pelham, NY, and earned a bronze medal in the IM at the Tokyo Games with a time of 2:09.04.

Gretchen will be featured in the 50 free August 3-4, Alex will swim in the 200 individual medley August 2, and Douglass will compete in the 100 freestyle July 30-31, 200 breaststroke July 31-August 1, and 200 individual medley August  2-3.

Last but not least, four-time equestrian medalist and former Greenwich resident McLain Ward returns for his 6th olympic games. He grew up in Brewster, NY and graduated with the class of 1993 from Greenwich Country Day School. Ward became the youngest rider ever to win both the United States Equestrian Team (USET) Medal Finals and the USET Talent Derby at age 14. Just last year, Ward faced off against other renowned riders at the Greenwich Polo Club at the 2nd annual CSI Greenwich event. 

The first horse inspection is scheduled for July 31, with competition starting on August 3 and running through August 6 at the Versailles grounds.