Virginia Olympians take the podium in Rio.
Townley Haas
Photo courtesy of UT Athletics
It’s been a busy few days for our Virginia athletes in Rio. Springfield native Ginny Thrasher won the first gold medal of the Olympics Saturday morning, when she beat Chinese silver medalist Du Li in the women’s 10m air rifle event. Ali Krieger from Woodbridge and UVA graduate Morgan Brian helped carry the women’s soccer team to victories over New Zealand and France, and UVA swimmer Leah Smith earned a bronze in the women’s 400m freestyle. Stefanie Fee from Virginia Beach and her women’s field hockey teammates beat Australia, Fairfax’s Lucas Kozeniesky ranked 21 out of 50 in the men’s 10m air rifle event, and Gabby Douglas, born in Hampton Roads, ranked 7 out of 82 on the women’s balance beam. Tune in TONIGHT at 9:21 p.m. to watch Richmond swimmer Townley Haas compete in the men’s 200m freestyle final! Keep an eye out over the next week as more Virginia Olympians make their home state proud. Swimming: Townley Haas Richmond native Townley Haas won the 500m freestyle at the 2016 Men’s NCAA Swimming Championships when he was only a freshman at the University of Texas.
Townley Haas
Photo courtesy of UT Athletics
When to watch: 9:21 p.m. Monday, Aug. 8 - 200m freestyle final Field Hockey: Stefanie Fee Stefanie Fee from Virginia Beach earned All-American and All-ACC recognition for her success on the field hockey team at Duke University, and she joined the national team shortly after graduating in 2012.
Stefanie Fee
Photo courtesy of USA Field Hockey/Mark Palczewski
When to watch: 4:00 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 10 - USA versus Japan 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 11 - USA versus India 5:00 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 13 - USA versus Great Britain Track and Field: Francena McCorory Sprinter Francena McCorory from Hampton won the gold as a member of the 4x400m relay at the 2012 Olympics, and she’s since won silver at the 2013 World Indoor Championships and gold at the 2014 USA Indoor Championships.
Francena McCorory
Photo courtesy of USATF
When to watch: 7:40 p.m. Friday, Aug. 19 - 4x400m relay Track and Field: LaShawn Merritt Born in Portsmouth, sprinter LaShawn Merritt became the ninth man in history to break 44 seconds in the 400m event in 2007. In 2008 he took home gold medals for the 400m and 4x400m races.
LaShawn Merritt
Photo courtesy of USATF
When to watch: 8:05 p.m. Friday, Aug. 12 - 400m 10:50 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 16 - 200m 8:10 p.m. Friday, Aug. 19 - 4x400m relay Track and Field: Byron Robinson Byron Robinson from Chesapeake qualified for the Olympics with a time of 50.26 seconds in the 400m hurdles last month. The sprinter finished first in the same event at the Big 12 Championships earlier this year. When to watch: 10:35 a.m. Monday, Aug. 15 - 400m hurdles Track and Field: David Verburg Lynchburg native and George Mason University alum David Verburg was named CAA Male Athlete of the Year in 2013, and at his first Olympics he’ll compete in the 400m and 4x400m relay.
David Verburg
Photo courtesy of USATF
When to watch: 8:05 p.m. Friday, Aug. 12 - 400m 8:10 p.m. Friday, Aug 19 - 4x400m relay Indoor Volleyball: Reid Priddy Reid Priddy from Richmond finished fourth of all male indoor volleyball scorers at the 2008 Olympics, where he also helped the USA men’s team take home the gold. When to watch: 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 9 - USA versus Italy 9:35 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 11 - USA versus Brazil 4:05 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 13 - USA versus France 10:35 a.m. Monday, Aug. 15 - USA versus Mexico
