LINCOLN, Neb. (KMTV) — Seven athletes from the University of Nebraska will represent four countries at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, including a pair of current Nebraska student-athletes and five former Huskers.
Four Huskers will represent the U.S., including Jordan Larson, Kelsey Robinson and Justine Wong-Orantes, who will make up one-quarter of the women's volleyball team. Additionally, former Husker runner Amber (Parkinson) Neben is a member of the road cycling team.
Sarah Pavan, a four-time All-American, will compete in beach volleyball for her home country of Canada.
Beatriz Padron, an incoming freshman, will compete in the 200-meter freestyle for Costa Rica. Padron is the country's lone female swimmer who will compete in Tokyo.
Keisei Tominaga, an incoming sophomore guard for the Nebraska men's basketball team, is set to represent the host country Japan in 3-on-3 basketball.
Neben, Larson, Pavan and Robinson are all repeat Olympians. Padron, Tominaga and Wong-Orantes will compete in the Olympics for the first time.
Neben and Larson are competing in their third Olympics while Pavan and Robinson are making their second Olympic appearances. Former Husker Taylor Edwards was also named as an alternate for the U.S. softball team while incoming freshman gymnast Emma Spence was named as an alternate for Team Canada.
A press release from Husker Athletics said several Huskers have strong chances of earning medals in Tokyo.
See more information from the release below.
"Several Huskers have strong shots at earning medals in Tokyo. The United States women’s volleyball team won its third straight FIVB Volleyball Nations League title last month and is the No. 1-ranked team in the world. The Americans have medaled in each of the past three Olympics but have never won a gold medal in women’s volleyball. On the beach, Pavan and her teammate Melissa Humana-Paredes were the 2019 world champions and are No. 1 in the FIVB Olympic Ranking for women’s beach volleyball.
The Huskers’ Olympic schedule begins with women’s beach volleyball on July 23. Team USA volleyball begins play on July 24, the same day that the 3-on-3 men’s basketball competition begins and the women’s road cycling race is held. The heats of the women’s 200-meter freestyle swim are on Monday, July 26. Fans can follow the progress of the Huskers in Tokyo by visiting huskers.com/olympics."
Huskers at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics
United States
Jordan Larson (Women’s Volleyball, July 24-Aug. 8)
Kelsey Robinson (Women’s Volleyball, July 24-Aug. 8)
Justine Wong-Orantes (Women’s Volleyball, July 24-Aug. 8)
Amber (Parkinson) Neben (Women’s Road Cycling, July 24)
Canada
Sarah Pavan (Women’s Beach Volleyball, July 23-Aug. 6)
Costa Rica
Beatriz Padron (Women’s Swimming: 200-Meter Freestyle, July 26-28)
Japan
Keisei Tominaga (3x3 Men’s Basketball, July 24-28)
Dates above reflect U.S. Central Time
Nebraska’s 2020 Tokyo Olympians
- The 2020 Tokyo Olympics mark the 10th consecutive Summer Olympics with at least seven Husker Olympians.
- At 46 years old, Amber Neben is the oldest Husker to ever compete in the Olympics.
- At 18 years old, Beatriz Padron is the fifth-youngest Husker to compete in the Olympics and the youngest since Helene Muller swam for South Africa in the 1996 Olympics.
- Jordan Larson and Kelsey Robinson are the only Huskers competing in Tokyo who have previously won an Olympic medal. Larson and Robinson were both on the Team USA volleyball team that won a Bronze Medal in 2016, while Larson was on the 2012 U.S. Olympic team that won a Silver Medal.
- Along with teammate Foluke Akinradewo Gunderson, Jordan Larson is looking to become the first United States female indoor volleyball player to be a three-time Olympic medalist.
- Jordan Larson is also looking to become just the sixth Husker to be a three-time Olympic medalist, while her teammate Kelsey Robinson is seeking to become the ninth Husker to be a two-time medalist.
- Beatriz Padron and Keisei Tominaga are the first Huskers to participate in the Olympics while still enrolled at Nebraska since Robin Mackin pitched for Canada in the 2008 Olympics prior to her junior season.
- Beatriz Padron is the first Husker to compete for Costa Rica in the Olympics, while Keisei Tominaga is the first Husker to represent Japan at the Olympics. Huskers have now represented a total of 32 countries at the Olympics.
Nebraska’s Olympic History
- A total of 110 Huskers have been Olympians (not including three alternates), combining for spots in a total of 164 Olympic Games, including the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. At the Summer Olympics, 108 Huskers have combined for 161 appearances.
- Huskers have combined to win 50 Olympic medals, including 12 Gold Medals, 13 Silver Medals and 25 Bronze Medals. At the Summer Olympics, Huskers have won 47 medals, including 11 Gold Medals, 11 Silver Medals and 25 Bronze Medals.
- At least one Husker has competed in 17 consecutive Summer Olympics, dating back to 1956.
- At least one Husker has won a medal in 11 consecutive Summer Olympics, dating back to 1976.
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