Current and former TCU student-athletes compete at 2024 Paris Olympics

Women’s basketball star Hailey Van Lith helped the United States win bronze in 3-on-3 hoops.

A school-record nine former and current TCU Horned Frog student-athletes were selected to compete in the 2024 Olympic Games that concluded earlier this month. The most notable student-athlete representing the United States was women’s basketball star Hailey Van Lith, who earned a bronze medal with the U.S. women’s 3×3 basketball team. Van Lith and her American teammates overcame an 0-3 start in the pool rounds, collecting wins over Spain, France and Canada before eliminating China in the play-in round to reach the semifinals. After a tough loss in their rematch against Spain, Van Lith and the U.S. team won its rematch against Canada 16-13 in the bronze medal game to finish in third place.

Former TCU women’s basketball players Amy Okonkwo (‘19) and Tomi Taiwo (‘23) represented Nigeria in the women’s 5×5 basketball competition. Okonkwo scored 13 points and added three rebounds in Nigeria’s 75-62 win over Australia on July 29. Okonkwo followed with six points and seven rebounds in a 75-54 loss to France on Aug. 1 before adding eight points and two rebounds in a 79-70 victory against Canada on Aug. 4. Nigeria faced the United States in the quarterfinals, falling 88-74 despite a team-high 17 points and seven rebounds from the former Horned Frog student-athlete Okonkwo.

TCU’s talented beach volleyball tandem of Daniela Alvarez (‘24) and Tania Moreno united to represent Spain in the women’s beach volleyball competition. The two Horned Frogs finished in fifth and came within one match of qualifying for the medal matches. Alvarez and Moreno showcased their chemistry in the pool rounds, defeating France and Germany to reach the Round of 16, where they beat the Netherlands to reach the quarterfinals. Needing one more win to make the semifinals and clinch a top-4 finish, Alvarez and Moreno battled Canada and fell in straight sets. Regardless, it was a strong performance for the two TCU standouts, who were making their first-ever appearance at the Olympic Games.

Two TCU swimmers including Rhanishka Gibbs and Jadon Wuilliez raced at the Olympic Games. Gibbs, TCU’s first female swimmer at the Olympics since 2008, represented the Bahamas in the 50-meter freestyle. Wuilliez, TCU’s first male swimmer at the Olympics since 2016, represented Antigua in the 100-meter breaststroke. Wuilliez finished second in his heat with a time of 1:02.70, while Gibbs placed sixth in her heat with a time of 26.74.

Rounding out the TCU athletes at the 2024 Paris Olympics was rifle shooter Stephanie Grundsoe, who represented Denmark and became the second TCU rifle member to compete at the Olympics. Grundsoe finished eighth out of 32 shooters in the 50-meter smallbore rifle competition with a final score of 406.4 points. The TCU standout also took 27th in the 10-meter air rifle competition with a final score of 626.2 points.

Former TCU tennis star Cam Norrie was tabbed to represented Great Britain in the men’s singles competition, but he was forced to withdraw before the contest started.