Long Islanders competing in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics
Sue Bird of the USA Women's National Team brings the ball up the court against Team WNBA during the 2021 WNBA All-Star Game at Michelob ULTRA Arena on Wednesday, July 14, 2021 in Las Vegas. Credit: Getty Images/Ethan Miller
A look at the Long Islanders headed to Tokyo for the Summer Olympics this year.
Sue Bird
Hometown: Syosset
Age: 40
Long Island connections:
Sport: Women’s basketball
Olympic experience: Bird is a four-time Olympic gold medalist, helping guide Team USA to the top spot in the 2004, 2008, 2012 and 2016 Olympic Games. She is second with 30 games played in the Olympics, trailing 2020 teammate Diana Taurasi and three others tied at 32. Her 89 career assists in the Olympics is second all-time (behind Teresa Edwards’ 143).
At the Tokyo Games: Bird will be a flagbearer for Team USA in Friday's Opening Ceremonies.
Schedule
Group B Prelims
Tuesday, July 27, 12:40 a.m. ET: USA vs. Nigeria (on USA Network)
Friday, July 30, 12:40 a.m.: USA vs. Japan (on USA Network)
Monday, Aug. 2, 12:40 a.m.: USA vs. France (on USA Network)
Quarterfinals are on Wednesday, Aug. 4 (on USA Network), followed by the semifinals on Aug. 6 (on USA Network) and the medal games on Aug. 7.
Quotable: "People often ask who inspires me. Usually, that’s a question where you talk about someone who came before you," Bird told Newsday. "To be honest, it’s the younger generation that inspires me. They come in here and question everything."
Andrew Capobianco
Andrew Capobianco competes in the men's 3-meter springboard final during Day 8 of the 2021 U.S. Olympic Diving Trials at Indiana University Natatorium on June 13 in Indianapolis. Credit: Getty Images/Dylan Buell
Hometown: Wantagh
Age: 21
Long Island connections: Won the Nassau County diving title as a seventh-grader while competing for Wantagh High School.
Sport: Men’s diving
Events: 3-meter synchronized diving, 3-meter individual springboard diving
Olympic experience: None.
Schedule: Wednesday, July 28 for synchronized diving event (2 a.m. ET on USA). Monday, Aug. 2 for individual diving prelims (2 a.m. on CNBC) and semifinals (9 p.m. on USA). Tuesday, Aug. 3 for diving finals (2 a.m. on CNBC)
Quotable: "For me, it’s just a dream come true," Capobianco told Newsday. "I’ve been dreaming about this for really about as long as I can remember, when I started gymnastics when I was 9. … It’s crazy. I’m excited for the experience."
Crystal Dunn
Crystal Dunn of United States against Ireland at the Rose Bowl on August 3, 2019. Credit: Getty Images/Harry How
Hometown: Rockville Centre
Age: 29
Long Island connections: Starred at South Side High School
Sport: Women’s soccer
Olympic experience: Scored a goal in the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Schedule
Group stage
Tuesday, July 21: 3-0 loss to Sweden
Saturday, July 24, 7:30 a.m.: USA vs. New Zealand (Telemundo)
Tuesday, July 27, 4:30 a.m.: USA vs. Australia (USA Network)
Semifinals are on Monday, Aug. 2. The bronze-medal match is scheduled for Aug. 5 at 4 a.m., and the gold-medal match at 10 p.m.
Quotable: "So getting the phone call from [coach] Vlatko [Andonovski] was amazing, hearing he trusts me and believes that I can be impactful and help the team win gold," Dunn told Newsday. "It’s obviously a really great opportunity for me to take on."
Alex Katz
Team Israel pitcher Alex Katz against the New York Finest Baseball Club during the seventh inning at Fairfield Properties Ballpark in Central Islip on July 19, 2021. Credit: Brad Penner
Hometown: New Hyde Park
Age: 26
Long Island connections: Pitched for Herricks High School
Sport: Baseball, for Team Israel
Olympic experience: None
Schedule
Opening round
Thursday, July 29, 6 a.m.: Israel vs. South Korea
Friday, July 30, 6 a.m.: Israel vs. USA
Knockout stage games are scheduled for July 31 through Aug. 5, with medal games on Aug. 6 (bronze) and Aug. 7 (gold)
Quotable: "It’s always cool to represent something bigger than yourself," Katz told Newsday. "To me, it’s representing my heritage and where my family comes from."
Kristine O’Brien
Kristine O'Brien, who's from Massapequa Park and graduated from St. John the Baptist in West Islip, will compete in the women's eight rowing event at the Tokyo Olympics. Credit: USRowing
Hometown: Massapequa Park
Age: 29
Long Island connections: Attended St. John the Baptist High School
Sport: Rowing
Events: Women’s eight
Olympic experience: None
Schedule: Heats on Saturday, July 24, approx 10:20 p.m., with the finals on Thursday, July 29 at 8 p.m.
Quotable: "It’s just like something you dream of for so long, and now it’s finally happening, and it’s like, ‘Oh my God.’ It’s just so exciting," O’Brien told Newsday. "I had tears in my eyes all day long."
Matt Soren
Matt Soren outside Cove Sports Academy in Glen Cove on Aug. 1, 2019. Credit: James Escher
Hometown: Roslyn
Age: 30
Long Island connections: Pitched for Roslyn High School and the Long Island Ducks.
Sport: Baseball, for Team Israel
Olympic experience: None
Schedule
Opening round
Thursday, July 29, 6 a.m.: Israel vs. South Korea
Friday, July 30, 6 a.m.: Israel vs. USA
Knockout stage games are scheduled for July 31 through Aug. 5, with medal games on Aug. 6 (bronze) and Aug. 7 (gold)
Quotable: "There was a disconnect after my Bar Mitzvah," Soren told Newsday, "and then this team brought me back to feeling very Jewish and connected to the religion and the people again."
(All times listed are Eastern. TV stations subject to change. See NBC's Olympic schedule for replays and live streaming plans.)
Mark La Monica is a deputy sports editor at Newsday. He also covers mixed martial arts.
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