Jesuit Students, Alumni Compete in 2012 Olympics

Students and alumni from several U.S. Jesuit colleges, universities and high schools are competing in the 2012 Olympics in London, and some have already won medals.

One of the biggest names of these games is Regis Jesuit High School student Missy Franklin, the swimming sensation who qualified for seven events. So far, Franklin has won two gold medals (100-meter backstroke and 4×200 meter relay) and a bronze medal (4×100 freestyle relay).

Loyola Academy graduate Conor Dwyer also brought home a gold medal for swimming in the 4×200 freestyle relay; Bellarmine College Prep alum Scott Weltz is also swimming for the U.S. Another swimmer with a Jesuit connection is Katie Ledecky. Her godfather is Jesuit Father Jim Shea, the provincial of the Maryland Province Jesuits. “He’s always been there for me and always saying he will pray for me,” Ledecky said.

Loyola Marymount University alum Reid Priddy is making his third Olympic appearance as part of the U.S. men’s volleyball team; in 2008, he helped his team win gold. Sergeant First Class Jason Parker, a Xavier University graduate, will compete in a rifle event, and London marks his fourth trip to the Olympics.

Other Jesuit Olympians include Fairfield University student Michael O’Keeffe, who is the starting goalkeeper for the New Zealand soccer team; Georgetown Law graduate Samyr Laine, who will represent Haiti in the triple jump; and Fairfield Prep alum Craig Kinsley, who qualified for the U.S. javelin event.

In this video from the Ignatian News Network, Jesuit Vincent Marchionni introduces the three Olympic swimmers from Jesuit high schools—Franklin, Dwyer and Weltz.