{"id":142289,"date":"2024-07-19T09:00:23","date_gmt":"2024-07-19T13:00:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/news\/?p=142289"},"modified":"2025-04-14T16:15:38","modified_gmt":"2025-04-14T20:15:38","slug":"ucf-knights-to-represent-at-2024-paris-summer-olympics-paralympics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/news\/ucf-knights-to-represent-at-2024-paris-summer-olympics-paralympics\/","title":{"rendered":"UCF Knights to Represent at 2024 Paris Summer Olympics, Paralympics"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Seven Knights will represent America, Denmark, Germany and Lithuania at the 2024 Summer Olympics (July 26-Aug. 11) and Paralympics (Aug. 28-Sept. 8) in Paris.<\/p>\n<p>These athletes exemplify the spirit and dedication of Knight Nation. Watch the events on NBC or stream via Peacock as you cheer them on.<\/p>\n<div class=\"mceTemp\"><\/div>\n<figure id=\"attachment_144217\" style=\"max-width: 450px;\" class=\"figure mx-auto d-block\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" class=\"figure-img img-fluid w-100 wp-image-144217\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2024\/07\/Samantha-Bosco-UCF.jpg\" alt srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2024\/07\/Samantha-Bosco-UCF.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2024\/07\/Samantha-Bosco-UCF-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2024\/07\/Samantha-Bosco-UCF-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2024\/07\/Samantha-Bosco-UCF-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2024\/07\/Samantha-Bosco-UCF-360x240.jpg 360w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\"><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" class=\"figure-img img-fluid w-100 wp-image-144217 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%201200%20800%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%201200%20800%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2024\/07\/Samantha-Bosco-UCF.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2024\/07\/Samantha-Bosco-UCF-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2024\/07\/Samantha-Bosco-UCF-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2024\/07\/Samantha-Bosco-UCF-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2024\/07\/Samantha-Bosco-UCF-360x240.jpg 360w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2024\/07\/Samantha-Bosco-UCF.jpg\"><figcaption class=\"figure-caption\">(Photo by Jamie Schwaberow\/Clarkson Creative Photography)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>Samantha Bosco<\/h2>\n<p>Event dates: Sept. 4<\/p>\n<p>Born with a born with a bowed tibia in her right leg, Samantha Bosco, began cycling with her dad at 7 years old. At 11, she underwent three years of surgeries to fix her leg-length discrepancy from the bowed tibia. The surgery to lengthen her right leg two and a half inches didn\u2019t go as planned, eventually leaving her with permanent damage to her leg.<\/p>\n<p>Unable to ride a bike after the surgeries, Bosco switched sports, going on to receive a full athletic scholarship with the Knights. From 2005-07, she rowed for two seasons in the V8, V4 and JV8 boats. However, the damage to her leg led to her retiring from the sport after her sophomore season.<\/p>\n<p>An adapted bike allowed her to participate in road races. Two years after her return to her bike, she discovered paracycling. She found success in the sport, reaching her first world championship in 2013 before earning a pair of bronze medals at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Paralympic Games. In 2019, after discovering nerve damage and still competing at a high level, she was nominated for the Best Female Athlete with a Disability award at the ESPYs. Three days after being named to the Team USA roster for the 2021 Tokyo Games, Bosco suffered a traumatic brain injury and two skull fractures, forcing her out of the competition. In her return, she won every paracycling road race she entered in 2022, becoming a double world champion in Baie-Comeau, Canada in August of that year.<\/p>\n<p><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"238\" height=\"456\" class=\"img-fluid wp-image-142293 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2024\/07\/Kyle-Coon.jpg\" alt=\"Person in center with glasses and medal\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2024\/07\/Kyle-Coon.jpg 238w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2024\/07\/Kyle-Coon-157x300.jpg 157w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2024\/07\/Kyle-Coon-209x400.jpg 209w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2024\/07\/Kyle-Coon-188x360.jpg 188w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 238px) 100vw, 238px\"><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"238\" height=\"456\" class=\"img-fluid wp-image-142293 aligncenter lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20238%20456%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"Person in center with glasses and medal\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20238%20456%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 238w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 238px) 100vw, 238px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2024\/07\/Kyle-Coon.jpg 238w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2024\/07\/Kyle-Coon-157x300.jpg 157w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2024\/07\/Kyle-Coon-209x400.jpg 209w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2024\/07\/Kyle-Coon-188x360.jpg 188w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2024\/07\/Kyle-Coon.jpg\"><\/p>\n<h2><strong>Kyle Coon \u201913<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Event dates: Sept. 1-2<\/p>\n<p>Coon, a communication alum, will compete in the Paralympic triathlon after secured his place by finishing third in the World Triathlon Para Series Montreal. His impressive performance in the race, which included a 760-meter swim, 20.2-kilometer bike, and 5-kilometer run, earning him the honor of representing Team USA in Paris.<\/p>\n<p>He also represented <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/pegasus\/life-without-limits\/\">Team USA in the 2020 Summer Paralympics<\/a> in Tokyo, where he made his first Olympic appearance and placed fifth. A lifelong competitive athlete, Coon was a member of UCF\u2019s Wrestling Club and a group exercise instructor for UCF\u2019s Recreation and Wellness Center during his studies.<\/p>\n<p>At 10 months old, Coon was diagnosed with bilateral sporadic retinoblastoma, the most common form of eye cancer for children. By the time he turned 7, both of his eyes had been surgically removed. Shortly after, Coon\u2019s father introduced him to Erik Weihenmayer, a blind extreme athlete who inspired the young boy to continue to stay active.<\/p>\n<p><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" class=\"img-fluid wp-image-142294 size-medium aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2024\/07\/Malacchi-Esdale-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"Man standing in front of white background\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2024\/07\/Malacchi-Esdale-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2024\/07\/Malacchi-Esdale-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2024\/07\/Malacchi-Esdale-512x512.jpg 512w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2024\/07\/Malacchi-Esdale-400x400.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2024\/07\/Malacchi-Esdale-360x360.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2024\/07\/Malacchi-Esdale-767x767.jpg 767w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2024\/07\/Malacchi-Esdale.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\"><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" class=\"img-fluid wp-image-142294 size-medium aligncenter lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20300%20300%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"Man standing in front of white background\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20300%20300%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2024\/07\/Malacchi-Esdale-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2024\/07\/Malacchi-Esdale-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2024\/07\/Malacchi-Esdale-512x512.jpg 512w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2024\/07\/Malacchi-Esdale-400x400.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2024\/07\/Malacchi-Esdale-360x360.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2024\/07\/Malacchi-Esdale-767x767.jpg 767w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2024\/07\/Malacchi-Esdale.jpg 800w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2024\/07\/Malacchi-Esdale-300x300.jpg\"><\/p>\n<h2><strong>Malacchi Esdale<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Event dates: July 24, 25 and 27<\/p>\n<p>Esdale, a former UCF student, will compete in rugby for Team USA. After becoming a professional rugby player in 2017, he was appointed as a travel reserve for the 2020 Summer Olympics.<\/p>\n<p>Esdale discovered rugby in by playing for the Naples Bears in Florida. After attending ASA College in New York and the University of Miami, he transferred to UCF, where he joined the Rugby Club \u2013 Men\u2019s Team and honed his skills.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_142301\" style=\"max-width: 300px;\" class=\"figure mx-auto d-block\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"figure-img img-fluid w-100 wp-image-142301\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2024\/07\/Sarai-Linder.png\" alt=\"Sarai Linder\"><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"figure-img img-fluid w-100 wp-image-142301 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" alt=\"Sarai Linder\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2024\/07\/Sarai-Linder.png\"><figcaption class=\"figure-caption\">(Photo courtesy of UCF Athletics)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2><strong>Sarai Linder<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Event dates: July 25, 28 and 31; Aug. 3, 6, 9 and 10<\/p>\n<p>Former UCF women\u2019s soccer defender Sarai Linder will represent her nation of Germany. She is one of three UCF women\u2019s soccer alums to compete at the Olympics, joining USA\u2019s <strong>Michelle Akers \u201989<\/strong> (1996 Atlanta) and Brazil\u2019s <strong>Aline Reis \u201911<\/strong> (2016 Rio).<\/p>\n<p>Linder, spent the COVID-shortened 2020-21 campaign with the Knights, playing seven matches. She capped her season by earning First Team All-American Athletic Conference honors, All-AAC Rookie Team accolades, and 2020-21 AAC All-Academic Team honors.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_142302\" style=\"max-width: 300px;\" class=\"figure mx-auto d-block\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"400\" height=\"500\" class=\"figure-img img-fluid w-100 wp-image-142302\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2024\/07\/Julie-Poulsen.png\" alt=\"Julie Poulsen\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2024\/07\/Julie-Poulsen.png 400w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2024\/07\/Julie-Poulsen-240x300.png 240w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2024\/07\/Julie-Poulsen-320x400.png 320w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2024\/07\/Julie-Poulsen-288x360.png 288w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\"><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"400\" height=\"500\" class=\"figure-img img-fluid w-100 wp-image-142302 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20400%20500%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"Julie Poulsen\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20400%20500%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 400w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2024\/07\/Julie-Poulsen.png 400w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2024\/07\/Julie-Poulsen-240x300.png 240w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2024\/07\/Julie-Poulsen-320x400.png 320w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2024\/07\/Julie-Poulsen-288x360.png 288w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2024\/07\/Julie-Poulsen.png\"><figcaption class=\"figure-caption\">(Photo courtesy of UCF Athletics)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2><strong>Julie Poulsen \u201920<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Event dates: July 28 and 30; Aug. 1<\/p>\n<p>Poulsen will represent her home county of Denmark in the women\u2019s four portion of rowing.<\/p>\n<p>The UCF communication alum began rowing at 10 when her mother took her to a local club. Poulsen is one of the most decorated UCF rowers in program history. She is one of three Knights to be named a Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association (CRCA) All-American. She was named First Team All-American Athletic Conference three times (2018, 2019, 2021) and earned CRCA National Scholar Athlete and American Athletic Conference All-Academic honors in four straight years from 2018-21.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMy days at UCF has taught me a lot of lessons, which has played a big part of who I am today,\u201d Poulsen says. \u201cAn important lesson I learned at UCF was to be less timid of challenges. We were often thrown big challenges we didn\u2019t think we could overcome, but we always would. This has made me believe that there is no challenge that is too big, and it has made me so much more tough than I was before.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_142303\" style=\"max-width: 300px;\" class=\"figure mx-auto d-block\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"400\" height=\"496\" class=\"figure-img img-fluid w-100 wp-image-142303\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2024\/07\/Viktorija-Senkute-e1721397379904.png\" alt=\"Viktorija Senkute\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2024\/07\/Viktorija-Senkute-e1721397379904.png 400w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2024\/07\/Viktorija-Senkute-e1721397379904-242x300.png 242w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2024\/07\/Viktorija-Senkute-e1721397379904-323x400.png 323w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2024\/07\/Viktorija-Senkute-e1721397379904-290x360.png 290w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\"><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"400\" height=\"496\" class=\"figure-img img-fluid w-100 wp-image-142303 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20400%20496%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"Viktorija Senkute\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20400%20496%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 400w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2024\/07\/Viktorija-Senkute-e1721397379904.png 400w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2024\/07\/Viktorija-Senkute-e1721397379904-242x300.png 242w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2024\/07\/Viktorija-Senkute-e1721397379904-323x400.png 323w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2024\/07\/Viktorija-Senkute-e1721397379904-290x360.png 290w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2024\/07\/Viktorija-Senkute-e1721397379904.png\"><figcaption class=\"figure-caption\">(Photo courtesy of UCF Athletics)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2><strong>Viktorija Senkute \u201918<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Event dates: July 27-Aug. 3<\/p>\n<p>Senkute will compete for Team Lithuania in women\u2019s single sculls for rowing.UCF\u2019s rowing team won four American Athletic Conference championships while the interdisciplinary studies student-athlete attended the university (2015-18). She earned a CRCA All-Region nod in 2018 as well as First Team All-American Athletic Conference first team honors in 2017 and 2018 and second team recognitions in 2015 and 2016.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBefore coming to UCF I didn&#8217;t know how to be a teammate; I didn\u2019t know how to fight as one. UCF taught me so many things about what it&#8217;s like to be on a team,\u201d she says. \u201cIn Lithuania, you have to choose one path in college \u2014 sports or education. UCF allowed me to combine both and experience a culture and life I would have never dreamed about.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" class=\"img-fluid wp-image-142296 size-medium aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2024\/07\/Kristen-Thomas-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"Person smiling\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2024\/07\/Kristen-Thomas-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2024\/07\/Kristen-Thomas-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2024\/07\/Kristen-Thomas-360x360.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2024\/07\/Kristen-Thomas.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\"><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" class=\"img-fluid wp-image-142296 size-medium aligncenter lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20300%20300%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"Person smiling\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20300%20300%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2024\/07\/Kristen-Thomas-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2024\/07\/Kristen-Thomas-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2024\/07\/Kristen-Thomas-360x360.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2024\/07\/Kristen-Thomas.jpg 400w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2024\/07\/Kristen-Thomas-300x300.jpg\"><\/p>\n<h2><strong>Kristen Thomas \u20191<\/strong><strong>6<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Event dates: July 28-30<\/p>\n<p>Thomas, a theatre studies alum, is a rugby traveling reserve for the Team USA. She previously represented Team USA as co-captain in the 2020 Summer Olympics, helping the team achieve a top 10 finish.<\/p>\n<p>Thomas began her rugby career at UCF in 2011, joining the Rugby Club \u2013 Women\u2019s Team. Her exceptional talent was quickly recognized, leading to a call-up to the national team just two years later.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cUCF was pretty instrumental in developing me as a player,\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/news\/knights-heading-to-tokyos-summer-olympics-paralympics\/\">Thomas said in a 2021 article<\/a>. \u201cOur coach, Raoul Besse, really harped on our skills. The physicality of the game I think I get a lot from him because you need to be physical in a contact sport. He was the first one to nominate me for the under-20 national team and if he hadn\u2019t done that, I don\u2019t know if I would be where I am today.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Five Knights will be present at the Olympics, which take place July 26-Aug. 1, and two will compete in the Paralympics, which happen Aug. 28-Sept. 8.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8692,"featured_media":142291,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"lazy_load_responsive_images_disabled":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":"","_wp_rev_ctl_limit":""},"categories":[15992,5,26],"tags":[372,17023,982,1018,3393,15761,4089,6185,5995,202,4857],"tu_author":[],"class_list":["post-142289","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-alumni","category-colleges","category-sports","tag-athletics","tag-college-of-arts-and-humanities","tag-college-of-sciences","tag-communications","tag-nicholson-school-of-communication-and-media","tag-pegasus-briefs","tag-rowing","tag-rugby","tag-theatre","tag-alumni","tag-ucf-athletics"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v22.3 (Yoast SEO v27.1.1) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ 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