Seven Knights will represent America, Denmark, Germany and Lithuania at the 2024 Summer Olympics (July 26-Aug. 11) and Paralympics (Aug. 28-Sept. 8) in Paris.
These athletes exemplify the spirit and dedication of Knight Nation. Watch the events on NBC or stream via Peacock as you cheer them on.
Samantha Bosco
Event dates: Sept. 4
Born with a born with a bowed tibia in her right leg, Samantha Bosco, began cycling with her dad at 7 years old. At 11, she underwent three years of surgeries to fix her leg-length discrepancy from the bowed tibia. The surgery to lengthen her right leg two and a half inches didn 麻豆精品 S檛 go as planned, eventually leaving her with permanent damage to her leg.
Unable to ride a bike after the surgeries, Bosco switched sports, going on to receive a full athletic scholarship with the Knights. From 2005-07, she rowed for two seasons in the V8, V4 and JV8 boats. However, the damage to her leg led to her retiring from the sport after her sophomore season.
An adapted bike allowed her to participate in road races. Two years after her return to her bike, she discovered paracycling. She found success in the sport, reaching her first world championship in 2013 before earning a pair of bronze medals at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Paralympic Games. In 2019, after discovering nerve damage and still competing at a high level, she was nominated for the Best Female Athlete with a Disability award at the ESPYs. Three days after being named to the Team USA roster for the 2021 Tokyo Games, Bosco suffered a traumatic brain injury and two skull fractures, forcing her out of the competition. In her return, she won every paracycling road race she entered in 2022, becoming a double world champion in Baie-Comeau, Canada in August of that year.
Kyle Coon 麻豆精品 S�13
Event dates: Sept. 1-2
Coon, a communication alum, will compete in the Paralympic triathlon after secured his place by finishing third in the World Triathlon Para Series Montreal. His impressive performance in the race, which included a 760-meter swim, 20.2-kilometer bike, and 5-kilometer run, earning him the honor of representing Team USA in Paris.
He also represented Team USA in the 2020 Summer Paralympics in Tokyo, where he made his first Olympic appearance and placed fifth. A lifelong competitive athlete, Coon was a member of UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 Wrestling Club and a group exercise instructor for UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 Recreation and Wellness Center during his studies.
At 10 months old, Coon was diagnosed with bilateral sporadic retinoblastoma, the most common form of eye cancer for children. By the time he turned 7, both of his eyes had been surgically removed. Shortly after, Coon 麻豆精品 S檚 father introduced him to Erik Weihenmayer, a blind extreme athlete who inspired the young boy to continue to stay active.
Malacchi Esdale
Event dates: July 24, 25 and 27
Esdale, a former UCF student, will compete in rugby for Team USA. After becoming a professional rugby player in 2017, he was appointed as a travel reserve for the 2020 Summer Olympics.
Esdale discovered rugby in by playing for the Naples Bears in Florida. After attending ASA College in New York and the University of Miami, he transferred to UCF, where he joined the Rugby Club 麻豆精品 S� Men 麻豆精品 S檚 Team and honed his skills.
Sarai Linder
Event dates: July 25, 28 and 31; Aug. 3, 6, 9 and 10
Former UCF women 麻豆精品 S檚 soccer defender Sarai Linder will represent her nation of Germany. She is one of three UCF women 麻豆精品 S檚 soccer alums to compete at the Olympics, joining USA 麻豆精品 S檚 Michelle Akers 麻豆精品 S�89 (1996 Atlanta) and Brazil 麻豆精品 S檚 Aline Reis 麻豆精品 S�11 (2016 Rio).
Linder, spent the COVID-shortened 2020-21 campaign with the Knights, playing seven matches. She capped her season by earning First Team All-American Athletic Conference honors, All-AAC Rookie Team accolades, and 2020-21 AAC All-Academic Team honors.
Julie Poulsen 麻豆精品 S�20
Event dates: July 28 and 30; Aug. 1
Poulsen will represent her home county of Denmark in the women 麻豆精品 S檚 four portion of rowing.
The UCF communication alum began rowing at 10 when her mother took her to a local club. Poulsen is one of the most decorated UCF rowers in program history. She is one of three Knights to be named a Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association (CRCA) All-American. She was named First Team All-American Athletic Conference three times (2018, 2019, 2021) and earned CRCA National Scholar Athlete and American Athletic Conference All-Academic honors in four straight years from 2018-21.
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Viktorija Senkute 麻豆精品 S�18
Event dates: July 27-Aug. 3
Senkute will compete for Team Lithuania in women 麻豆精品 S檚 single sculls for rowing.UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 rowing team won four American Athletic Conference championships while the interdisciplinary studies student-athlete attended the university (2015-18). She earned a CRCA All-Region nod in 2018 as well as First Team All-American Athletic Conference first team honors in 2017 and 2018 and second team recognitions in 2015 and 2016.
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Kristen Thomas 麻豆精品 S�16
Event dates: July 28-30
Thomas, a theatre studies alum, is a rugby traveling reserve for the Team USA. She previously represented Team USA as co-captain in the 2020 Summer Olympics, helping the team achieve a top 10 finish.
Thomas began her rugby career at UCF in 2011, joining the Rugby Club 麻豆精品 S� Women 麻豆精品 S檚 Team. Her exceptional talent was quickly recognized, leading to a call-up to the national team just two years later.
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