Top 5 Kentucky athletes in the Paris Olympics 2024 ft. Lee Kiefer, Garek Meinhardt, and more — Lee Kiefer, Masai Russell, Avery Skinner, Gerek Meinhardt (L-R) [Instagram/@leetothekiefer, @masai_russell, @averyskinnerr, @gerekmeinhardt]

Top 5 Kentucky athletes at the Paris Olympics 2024 ft. Lee Kiefer, Gerek Meinhardt, and more

Modified Jul 27, 2024 22:43 GMT

The NCAA's impact on the Paris Olympics 2024 is massive, with over 1,200 athletes from 251 schools competing at the Summer Games. The University of Kentucky stands out, contributing several top-tier athletes to Team USA's roster.

Competing in various sports, these Wildcats exemplify the school's commitment to excellence and its robust training programs. Let's dive into the top five Kentucky athletes representing the United States at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Top 5 Olympic athletes from Kentucky Wildcats

1. Lee Kiefer

Top-tier talent from the University of Kentucky – School of Medicine, Lee Kiefer is a right-handed foil fencer. Kiefer is a four-time NCAA champion and a 2020 Olympic gold medalist.

This will be her fourth Olympic appearance, and she's aiming to add more medals to her impressive resume. Catch Kiefer in action on July 28 for individual foil fencing and on August 1 for team events. Don't miss this Kentucky star shining on the global stage!

2. Gerek Meinhardt

Among the top Wildcats athletes heading to the Paris Olympics 2024 is Gerek Meinhardt. Born on July 27, 1990, Meinhardt is a right-handed foil fencer. He’s a two-time individual NCAA champion and has secured 12 team Pan American titles.

Meinhardt is also a two-time Olympic bronze medalist. He is married to the above mentioned Lee Keifer; the couple tied the knot in 2019. As a student at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Meinhardt will compete in men’s foil on July 29. Watch for this four-time Olympian as he aims for more glory in Paris.

3. Bam Adebayo

The Miami Heat center and a former Wildcat is a two-time Olympian. In Paris, he’ll be aiming for his second gold medal after winning in Tokyo 2020 where he averaged 6.3 points and a team-leading 5.7 rebounds per game.

Adebayo's Olympic journey will take center stage as Team USA faces Serbia in their opening game of the Paris Olympics on Sunday. Bam is set to be a key player for Team USA in their quest for another gold.

4. Avery Skinner

Avery Skinner, the daughter of former NBA star Brian Skinner, has written her own story in the volleyball world. Having played for the Kentucky Wildcats from 2017-2020, she racked up an impressive 362 kills as a freshman.Now, Skinner is ready to help Team USA defend their gold medal in women's volleyball at the Paris Olympics. Team USA, which won gold in Tokyo by defeating Brazil, will start their quest on Monday, competing in Group A against the likes of China, Serbia, and France.

5. Masai Russell

A Wildcat from the class of 2022, Masai Russell is ready to take the Paris Olympics by storm. Russell, an exceptional sprinter and hurdler, holds the U.S. NCAA record in the 100m hurdles with a personal best of 12.25 seconds.

She also boasts times of 7.75 seconds in the 60m hurdles and 54.66 seconds in the 400m hurdles. Russell's Olympic journey begins on August 7, when she will aim to bring home gold in the 100m hurdles after finishing first at the U.S. Olympic Trials.

List of the Kentucky Wildcats who are at the Paris Olympics

Anthony Davis - USA Basketball
Andrew Evans - USA Track and Field
Wenyen Gabriel - South Sudan Basketball
Bam Adebayo - USA Basketball
Adebola Adeyeye - Nigeria Basketball (UK 2023)
Devin Booker - USA Basketball
Jasmine Camacho-Quinn - Puerto Rico Track and Field
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander - Canada Basketball
Trey Lyles - Canada Basketball
Sydney McLaughlin-Levronen - USA Track and Field
Jamal Murray - Canada Basketball
Daniel Roberts - USA Track and Field
Alexis Holmes - USA Track and Field
Rhyne Howard - USA Basketball 3 on 3
Ashley Kovacs - Team USA Track and Field women’s throws coach
Masai Russell - USA Track and Field
Avery Skinner - USA Volleyball
Lee Kiefer - USA Fencing
Gerek Meinhardt - USA Fencing