The 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris (from July 26 to Aug. 11) will be hosting more than a dozen local athletes Marylanders may already be familiar with on the court, field or ring.
Every year, athletes across the nation train hard for Olympic dreams, many of them starting young, like Jahmal Harvey (21), who has been in the boxing ring since he was just 13 years old, when his football coach encouraged him to try boxing in the off season.
After his first session, he says he was hooked on the sport. Now he’s training two to three times a day, six days a week to prepare for the games.
The Oxen Hill, Maryland, athlete qualified for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games by winning gold at the Pan American Games Santiago 2023.
“I’m excited. I got my family behind me all supporting me, teammates excited, we’re all pushing each other in the gym, so I’m just excited. I’m ready and working hard,” Harvey says.
Harvey also has advice for kids with Olympic-sized dreams.
“Always work on your game. Don’t get discouraged by bad days or losses, just try to learn from them,” Harvey says. “Just keep working hard.”
For young boxers, Harvey urges them to take it slow and not try to go at a fast pace all the time.
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The following other local athletes from Maryland, Washington, D.C. and Northern Virginia have qualified for the 2024 Summer Olympics:
MD
Aaron Brooks (24), wrestling (Hagerstown)
Trevon Jenifer (35), wheelchair basketball (Huntingtown)
Katie Ledecky (27), swimming (Bethesda)
Helen Maroulis (32), wrestling (Rockville)
Tatyana McFadden (35), para track and field (Baltimore)
Tatiana Nazlymov (19), fencing (Bethesda)
Daniel Romanchuk (25), para track and field (Mount Airy)
Aaron Russell (31), volleyball (Ellicott City)
Kyle Snyder (28), wrestling (Silver Spring)
D.C.
Kevin Durant (35), basketball (D.C.)
Taylor Knibb (26), triathlon (D.C.)
VA
Claire Collins (27), rowing, (McLean, VA)
Hadley Husisian (20), fencing (Oakton, VA)
More athletes may qualify. Stay up to date on Team USA, learn more about these Maryland, D.C. and Nothern Virginia athletes and count down to watch them on the world’s stage at teamusa.com.
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