More than 550 athletes were officially announced as members of the 2016 U.S. Olympic team at a fan event at Venice Beach.
Beach volleyball player Kerri Walsh Jennings and basketball player Tamika Catchings, who will both be seeking their fourth gold medals at the Rio de Janeiro games, Tony Azevedo, the captain of the U.S. men’s water polo team, and four-time gold-medal winning swimmer Janet Evans officially announced the 555 team members Saturday.
Evans is vice chair of the committee trying to bring the 2024 Olympics to Los Angeles.
This year’s U.S. team comprises 263 men and 292 women — the most women on any nation’s team in the history of the Summer Olympics, beating the old record of 289 set by China in 2008.
U.S. athletes will compete in 27 sports, and in 244 of 306 medal events at the games, which will take place from August 5-21 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Swimmer Michael Phelps is the most decorated member of the team, with 22 medals in his illustrious Olympic career — 18 of them golds.
At age 52, equestrian Phillip Dutton is the team’s oldest member, while 16-year-old tennis player Kanak Jha is the youngest.
More information can be found at www.teamusa.org.
The Road to Rio fan celebration takes place from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. today and Sunday at the Venice Beach Boardwalk at 1600 Ocean Front Walk.
It is free and open to the public and features interactive events including the long jump, high jump, high dive, zip line, virtual reality experiences, giveaways, live musical performances and opportunities to meet Team USA athletes.
—City News Service