The 2021 Tokyo Olympic Games are underway, and Northwestern students and alumni can expect to see some familiar faces among the world’s top athletes. Three Weinberg graduates are competing in this year’s games, and they are prepared to give Tokyo their all.
Jordan Wilimovsky ’17
Jordan Wilimovsky
Jordan Wilimovsky swam for Northwestern and graduated in 2017 with a degree in Political Science. He is representing the United States in open water swimming, where he is set to compete in the men’s 10-kilometer on Aug. 4.
Wilimovsky grew up in Malibu, California, and began swimming at age 9 when he decided he wanted to pass the Junior Lifeguard swim test. During his time at Northwestern, Wilimovsky won a gold medal at the 2015 World Championships and qualified for the 2016 Olympics in Rio, placing in the top five of both the 1,500-meter and 10-kilometer events.
He told The Daily Northwestern in April that he is excited for the opportunity to represent the U.S. and put up some fast times.
“I don’t really know what to expect this time around — it’s going to be different from any kind of World Championships or Olympic Games just because of limited spectators and social distancing. I’m trying to go in with it with an open mind and be prepared for whatever they throw at us,” Wilimovsky said.
Leah Thomas ’11
Leah Thomas
Leah Thomas graduated from Northwestern in 2011 with a degree in Spanish. She represented the United States and competed in women’s road cycling on July 24, where she finished in 29th place.
Thomas grew up in the Bay Area and discovered her passion for athletics while competing as a gymnast. She dabbled in running during her time at Northwestern, but it was not until 2013 that she competed in — and won — her first cycling race. By 2016, Thomas was racing with her first professional team.
She told USA Cycling that “The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost has been her favorite quote and piece of advice to live by.
“Two roads diverged in a wood and I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference,” Thomas said.
Krystal Lara ’20
Krystal Lara
Krystal Lara is representing the Dominican Republic in swimming, where she will compete in the women’s 200-meter backstroke on July 29. She also competed in the women’s 100-meter backstroke on July 25, placing fourth in her heat.
Lara swam for Northwestern from 2016 through 2020 and graduated with a degree in sociology in 2020. She grew up in Staten Island, New York, where her high school swim team named her “Krystal the Pistol.”
Though she is thrilled about the opportunity to compete in this year’s games, Lara told the Staten Island Advance on July 6 that she is also trying to be realistic about her chances.
“I’m here for the experience,” Lara said. “I would love to post the best time, but I’m honored to be at such a competitive meet after putting in so much hard work.”
This is not the first year Weinberg has had students and alumni participate in the Olympics. Richard “Dick” Howell (’26) and Robert “Bob” Skelton (’26) both won gold medals for swimming in the 1924 Paris games, William “Droegie” Droegemueller (’28) won a silver medal for pole vaulting in the 1928 Amsterdam games, Bill Porter (’47) won a gold medal and set an Olympic record in track in London in 1948, and Nancy Simons Peterson (’59) won a silver medal for swimming in Melbourne in 1956.
Read more about this year’s Olympic athletes here. Read more about Wilimovsky in The Daily Northwestern. Read more about past Olympic medalists here.