Record 28 Aggies will compete in 2016 Rio Summer Olympics

When the Summer Olympics begin in Rio de Janeiro on Friday, Aug. 5, a school-record 28 Aggies will be there, competing in five different sports representing 14 different countries. The previous record was set in London in 2012, when 23 Aggies qualified for the Olympics.

Track and Field leads the pack, with 18 Aggies making the trip to Rio, followed by Swimming (6), Basketball (1), Diving (1) and Soccer (1). The 18 Track and Field qualifiers for Texas A&M is more than any other school in the country.

No matter what country’s colors they wear next month, be sure to root for these athletes as they represent the maroon and white:

• Camille Adams, Swimming (200m Butterfly), USA
• Alia Atkinson, Swimming (100m Breaststroke), Jamaica
• Kanika Becles, Track & Field (400m), Grenada
• Janeil Bellille, Track & Field (400m Hurdles), Trinidad and Tobago
• Latario Collie, Track & Field (Triple Jump), Bahamas
• Olivia Ekpone, Track & Field (4x100m), Nigeria
• Simone Facey, Track & Field (200m, 4x100m), Jamaica
• Amini Fonua, Swimming, Tonga
• Beryl Gastaldello, Swimming (100m Freestyle, 100m Butterfly, 4x100m Freestyle, 4x100m Medley), France
• Shavez Hart, Track & Field (100m, 200m), Bahamas
• Liliana Ibanez, Swimming (50m Freestyle), Mexico
• DeAndre Jordan, Basketball, USA
• Antanas Kavaliauska, Basketball, Lithuania
• Fabrice Lapierre, Track & Field (Long Jump), Australia
• Deon Lendore, Track & Field (400m, 4x400m), Trinidad and Tobago
• Jennifer Madu, Track & Field (4x100), Nigeria
• Stephanie Malherbe, Soccer, South Africa
• Maggie Malone, Track & Field (Javelin), USA
• Ibukun Mayungbe, Track & Field (4x400), Nigeria
• Grant Nel, Diving (3m Springboard), Australia
• Gerald Phiri, Track & Field (100m), Zambia
• Sydney Pickrem, Swimming (200m Individual Medley, 400m Individual Medley), Canada
• Demetrius Pinder, Track & Field (4x400), Bahamas
• Bralon Taplin, Track & Field (400m), Grenada
• Brenessa Thompson, Track & Field (100m, 200m), Guyana
• Shelbi Vaughan, Track & Field (Discus), USA
• Lindon Victor, Track & Field (Decathlon), Grenada
• Ameer Webb, Track & Field (200m), USA

In addition to these athletes, four Texas A&M staff members will be in Rio as coaches:

• Alleyne Francique – Grenada – Head Track & Field Coach (Texas A&M Assistant Coach)
• Kris Grimes – Grenada – Assistant Track & Field Coach (Texas A&M Assistant Coach)
• Steve Bultman—Mexico—Assistant Swimming Coach (Texas A&M Women's Swimming Head Coach)
• Shawn Price, Texas A&M Track & Field Media Relations will be working his sixth Olympic Games.