Texas Athletes Coming to Paris—Is It to Apologize?

The Paris Olympics opening ceremony is this Friday, and among the sea of athletes, a contingent of Texans will be representing their state and country, standing against the repressive, fascist regimes that use these Games as a symbol of their power.

Team USA includes 592 athletes, with a strong showing from those hailing from Texas, a state with a rich history of sporting excellence and a complex, diverse cultural landscape. Despite Texas's regressive political leanings, these athletes are a testament to the potential for progress and change.

Sha'Carri Richardson: Women’s 100m, women’s 4 x 100m relay, and women’s 200m

Richardson, a Dallas native, takes to the Olympic stage for the first time at 24. After a controversial disqualification from the US Olympic Trials in 2021 due to a positive THC test, which resulted in a one-month suspension, she is back and ready to take on Jamaica's dominance in the 100m. Richardson's use of marijuana was a coping mechanism after learning of her biological mother's death, and she is owning her truth and demanding systemic reform for an unjust rule.

"I want to take responsibility for my actions," she said. "I know what I did. I know what I'm supposed to do. I know what I'm allowed not to do, and I still made that decision."

Simone Biles: Gymnastics

Spring, Texas-born Biles is a veteran of two Olympic teams, Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 (2021), and has already earned seven medals, including four gold. Biles is a powerful voice for mental health awareness and an advocate for survivors of sexual assault, using her platform to demand change.

Brittney Griner: Women’s 5x5 Basketball

Houston-born Griner makes her third Olympic appearance, and her first since being detained in Russia for drug charges in 2022, for nearly 10 months. Her resilience and strength in the face of adversity are an inspiration, and she is ready to represent her country with pride and gratitude.

“BG is locked in and ready to go,” Griner told NBC. “I’m happy, I’m in a great place. I’m representing my country, the country that fought for me to come back. I’m gonna represent it well.”

Jeffrey Louis: Breaking

Alief's own B-Boy Jeffro is ready to introduce the world to the art and culture of breakdancing. As one of the first competitors in this new Olympic event, Louis recognizes the importance of education and representation on a global stage.

“There’s little to no education, globally, about breaking," he said. “So, I feel like this is an opportunity to educate everybody about what breaking is exactly and the life skills it brings, instills, in people.”

The full list of Texans includes a diverse range of athletes, from archers to swimmers, cyclists to boxers, and rugby players to weightlifters. Each of them has a story to tell and a unique perspective to share.

Archery: Casey Kaufhold, women’s team and individual — Texas A&M University.

Basketball: Kevin Durant, men’s 5x5 — UT Austin

Hailey Van Lith, women’s 3x3 — Texas Christian University

Boxing: Roscoe Hill, men’s 51kg — Spring

Jennifer Lozano, women’s 50kg — Laredo

Joshua Timothy Edwards, men’s +92kg — Houston

Cycling: Grant Koontz, men’s omnium — Houston

Diving: Kassidy Cook, women’s synchronized 3m — The Woodlands

Alison Gibson, women’s 3m — UT Austin

Field Hockey: Kelsey Bing — Houston

Golf: Scottie Scheffler, Dallas — UT Austin

Gymnastics: Jordan Chiles, women’s team — Conroe

Asher Hong, men’s team — Tomball

Hezly Rivera, women’s team — Plano

Rowing

Teal Cohen, women’s quadruple sculls — Dallas

Kate Knifton, women’s four — Austin

Kara Kohler, women’s single sculls — Austin

Rugby: Orrin Bizer — Houston

Kevon Williams — Houston

Shooting: Vincent Hancock, men’s skeet — Argyle

Ryann Phillips, women’s trap — Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi

Conner Prince, men’s skeet — Burleson

Keith Sanderson, 25m rapid-fire pistol men — San Antonio

Austen Smith, women’s skeet — Keller

Soccer: Jaedyn Shaw, women's team — Frisco

Sport Climbing: Sam Watson, men’s speed — Southlake

Swimming: Shaine Casas, men’s 200m individual medley — McAllen,

Carson Foster, men’s 200m and 400m individual medleys — UT Austin

Erin Gemmell, women’s 200m freestyle — UT Austin

Chase Kalisz, men’s 400m individual medley pool athlete — UT Austin

Luke Johnson, men’s 200m freestyle — UT Austin

David Johnston, men’s 1500m freestyle and men’s 10km (open water) — Dallas

Matt King, men’s 4x100 relay — Frisco

Simone Manuel, women’s 50m freestyle — Sugar Land

Aaron Shackell, men’s 400m freestyle — UT Austin

Regan Smith, women’s 200m backstroke, women’s 100m backstroke, women’s 200m butterfly — UT Austin

Taekwondo: Jonathan Healy, men’s +80kg — Houston

Tennis: Austin Krajicek, men’s doubles — Allen

Track and Field: Valarie Allman, women’s discus throw — Austin

Taliyah Brooks, women’s heptathlon — Wichita Falls

Joseph Brown, men’s discus throw — Mansfield

Ryan Crouser, men’s shot put — UT Austin

Tara Davis-Woodhall, women’s long jump — UT Austin

Bryce Deadmon, 4x400m relay mixed — Houston

Bryce Hoppel, men’s 800m — Midland

Alaysha Johnson, women’s 100m hurdles — Spring

Fred Kerley, men’s 100m and men’s 4x100m relay — San Antonio

Brynn King, women’s pole vault — Houston

Jarrion Lawson, men’s long jump — Texarkana

Courtney Lindsey, men’s relay pool — Texas Tech

Shamier Little, women’s relay pool — Texas A&M

Maggie Malone-Hardin, women’s javelin throw — Texas A&M

Brandon Miller, men’s 800m — Texas A&M

Jasmine Moore, women’s long jump and triple jump — Grand Prairie

Monae' Nichols, women’s long jump — Texas Tech

Sha’Carri Richardson, women’s 100m, women’s 4 x 100m relay, and women’s 200m — Dallas

Gabby Thomas, women’s 200m — UT Austin

Jacob Wooten, men’s pole vault, Tomball — Texas A&M

Volleyball: Chiaka Ogbogu, women’s team — Coppell

Avery Skinner, women’s team — Katy

Weightlifting: Jourdan Delacruz, women’s 49kg — Wylie

Texas proud and ready to take on the world, these athletes are a force to be reckoned with. Let the Games begin!