Area athletes ready to represent at Rio Olympics
A month before Charles Jock would represent the U.S. men’s track and field team at the Olympic Games in Brazil, the former UC Irvine runner received a check.
It was not in the form of payment. It was a check mark next to his name on his Twitter account, @CharlesJock, verifying the 800-meter runner.
“Never thought a check mark would mean so much,” Jock tweeted on July 14, with the hashtag “WeMadeIt” at the end.
Jock is one of several athletes with local ties who have made it to Rio de Janeiro to compete in the Olympics this month.
For some athletes like Maddie Musselman, a Corona del Mar High graduate, and Kaleigh Gilchrist, a Newport Harbor graduate, they are on the same U.S. women’s water polo team. John Mann, a CdM product, and Luca Cupido, a Newport Harbor product, are also members of the U.S. men’s water polo team.
The most well-known athlete from the local contingent is women’s beach volleyball player April Ross, a Costa Mesa resident and former star at Newport Harbor. ESPN The Magazine recently featured Ross as part of its Body Issue, the one where athletes show off their physiques.
“The first time I saw ESPN’s Body Issue I knew I wanted to be in it. At the same time, I REALLY thought I’d never get the chance,” Ross wrote on her Facebook page on July 6. “Like most, I’ve struggled with my body image. It’s been years of cultivating a positive attitude, feeding the ‘good wolf’, learning to fully accept my body despite any imperfections I might see, that has gotten me to this point.
“Our bodies are AMAZING. I love how sports helps us realize this. Thank you ESPN for recognizing it and choosing me to be apart of the celebration.”
Ross is looking to celebrate in the sand in Rio, too. She is making her second Olympics appearance after earning a silver medal with U.S. teammate Jennifer Kessy at the 2012 Olympics in London.
Four years later, Ross has teamed up with Kerri Walsh Jennings. Fans most likely know who Ross’ partner is, she won three gold medals with another former Newport Harbor legend, Misty May-Treanor.
Ross and Walsh Jennings are the favorites to win gold. The duo’s first match is against Australia’s Nicole Laird and Mariafe Artacho del Solar on Saturday at 5 p.m.
The men’s indoor volleyball competition begins on Saturday as well. Two former UCI standouts — David Smith and Kevin Tillie — will represent their respective countries. Smith is on the U.S. team and Tillie is playing for France. The U.S. team opens against Canada on Saturday at 10:05 a.m., while France faces Italy on Sunday at 2:30 a.m.
Another local participating on Saturday is CdM graduate Sam Mikulak, a U.S. men’s gymnast. Mikulak is the reigning national champion and a 2012 Olympian.
A week and a half ago, Mikulak posted a photo on his Twitter account (@SamuelMikulak) of his new hairdo.
“My barber hooked me up with a patriotic haircut,” Mikulak tweeted a photo of the U.S. flag carved into the right side of his head.
Other area athletes who are hoping to medal for the U.S. include Huntington Beach resident Maggie Hogan, a women’s kayaker, UCI student Phillip Chew, a men’s badminton doubles player, UCI graduate Eva Lee, a women’s badminton doubles player and Newport Harbor product Charlie Buckingham, a men’s sailor.
The youngest out of locals at the Olympics is Persis William-Mensah, a former Estancia standout. The 20-year-old is competing for Ghana, her native country, in the women’s 4x100-meter relay event.
William-Mensah’s old high school coach is Charlie Appell. Whenever he sees a story about William-Mensah, Appell posts it on his Facebook page.
William-Mensah doesn’t have a check mark on her Twitter account, but you can bet Appell will be checking on her throughout the Olympics.
