Say hello to the Chicago-area’s Olympic athletes as they embark on the adventure of a lifetime. Be sure to cheer them on with the start of the 2012 Olympic Games on Friday, July 27th!
Conor Dwyer
This Winnetka native and Loyola Academy graduate is a four-time medalist at the Pan American Games and was a member of the winning U.S. 4×200-meter freestyle relay team at the 2011 World Championships. Dwyer plans on competing in the 400-meter freestyle and the 4×200-meter freestyle relay in London. Check out usaswimming.org for more info.
Matt Grevers
A standout in the 2008 Olympic Games, this Lake Forest native swam for Northwestern before receiving thirteen medals spanning the Olympics, World Championships and Universiade. Placing first in the Olympic trials 100-meter backstroke race, Grevers is perhaps most famous for what came next: proposing to his girlfriend Annie Chandler on the medal stand itself! For more career stats, check out usaswimming.org.
Bob Willis
Hailing from the windy city itself, Willis began sailing at the Columbia Yacht Club in Chicago at the age of eight. Willis qualified for the 2011 Pan American Games and the top spot on the U.S. sailing team after placing third in the 2008 Olympic trials (only one goes). He has dedicated the past two years towards making the 2012 Olympic team, and is the only U.S. Olympic Windsurfing representative in history that has not been from Florida or California! Visit his website at bobsails.com.
Sarah Zelenka
Born in Park Ridge and raised in Itasca, this Chicago native discovered rowing a mere 7 years ago while attending Grand Valley State University. Since then, this 25-year-old has racked up medals and awards from rowing competitions all over the world and has been training in Princeton, NJ for her first Olympic experience! For more info, visit usrowing.org.
Allison Springer
This Barrington High School graduate has been riding horses since the age of six and has dreamed about making the Olympic team for about as long! Despite being named alternate to the five-member U.S. Olympic team, Springer has a vast array of accomplishments to boast of, including being the top U.S. finisher at the Rolex Kentucky Event in April. To find out more, visit allisonspringer.com.
