Aztecs at the Paris 2024 Olympics

San Diego State student Nevin Harrison, alum and professional golfer Xander Schauffele and SDSU Hall of Famer Shanieka Thomas competed at this year's games.

By Mario Sevilla
Sunday, September 1, 2024
Nevin Harrison is all smiles on the podium while holding her Olympic silver medal.
Silver medalist Nevin Harrison of Team United States celebrates on the podium during the Women's Canoe Single 200m medal ceremony after the Women's Canoe Single 200m Final on day fifteen of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Vaires-Sur-Marne Nautical Stadium on August 10, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Charles McQuillan/Getty Images)

NEVIN HARRISON

In a nail-biting finale that came down to a mere one-hundredth of a second, San Diego State University student Nevin Harrison claimed the silver medal in the C-1 200 meters canoe sprint at the 2024 Olympic Games in France. 

Harrison, a third-year biology student at SDSU, captured gold at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics (held in 2021) and was seeking to become the first woman in U.S. history to win consecutive gold medals. Despite a series of physical setbacks --- including a back injury that sidelined her for a month, a hamstring injury and coaching change --- she beat her time of 45.9 seconds recorded at the last Olympics.  

"This medal comes with so much emotion and gratitude for everyone who has been a part of this journey. This year has been so hard but I couldn’t be more proud of myself and my team for pushing through," Harrison posted on her verified Instagram account. READ MORE

SHANIEKA RICKETTS

Gold medalist Thea Lafond of Team Dominica and Silver medalist Shanieka Ricketts (right) of Team Jamaica celebrates following the Women's Triple Jump Final on day eight of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Stade de France on August 03, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)Open the image full screen.
Gold medalist Thea Lafond of Team Dominica and Silver medalist Shanieka Ricketts (right) of Team Jamaica celebrates following the Women's Triple Jump Final on day eight of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Stade de France on August 03, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)

Shanieka Ricketts (Thomas) won silver in triple jump at the 2024 Paris Olympics on Saturday afternoon. It is the first Olympic Games medal for the SDSU Hall of Famer.

She is the second Aztec women’s track and field alumni to medal at the Olympic Games – Lynn Kanuka won bronze in the 3,000m run in 1984.

An Aztec from 2011-14, Thomas was a three-time triple jump national champion, two-time NCAA runner-up, and seven-time All-American. A three-time USTFCCCA West Region Field Athlete of the Year, she won nine conference titles and holds SDSU's indoor and outdoor records.

A native of St. Andrew, Jamaica, this was her third Olympic appearance with the Jamaican National Team also qualifying in 2016 (Rio de Janeiro) and 2021 (Tokyo). In 2021, she just missed out on the podium finishing fourth place at 48-8.25 (14.84m).  READ MORE

XANDER SCHAUFFELE

Xander Schauffele (Credit: GoAztecs)Open the image full screen.
Xander Schauffele (Credit: GoAztecs)

Former San Diego State men's golfer and 2020 Olympic champion Xander Schauffele finished ninth in men's golf at this year's Olympic Games in Paris. Schauffele, winner of two majors in 2024 (PGA Championship and the Open Championship), finished his three-year Aztec career with two individual titles, 16 top-five finishes and 21 top-10 showings.

The San Diego native from Scripps Ranch High School was a third-team All-American in 2015 from both Golfweek and GCAA at SDSU, while also finishing as a three-time all-Mountain West selection and seven-time MW Golfer of the Week. READ MORE

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