Six Olympic medals and one Super Bowl ring are just some of what the Olympic athletes from New England bring to the table.
Needham’s Aly Raisman is returning to Rio for her second Olympic Games as the captain of the U.S. gymnastics team.
She and the Fierce Five were a force to be reckoned with in London. Now, with a new team, she said she’s looking to do it again.
“There’s nothing like competing at the Olympics and having the whole world come together and watch,” Raisman said.
Kayla Harrison, who trains in Wakefield, made history at the 2012 games when she became the first American to win gold in judo.
She is ready to defend her title, but she admitted she still gets nervous.
“When you care this much, you’re going to be nervous about what the result is going to be,” Harrison said. “But I know that ultimately, I’m prepared and I’ve done everything in my power to be ready.”
Saunderstown, Rhode Island native Elizabeth Beisel is looking to make a splash.
Rio will be the third Olympic appearance for the captain of the U.S. swim team and she’s ready to make the most of it.
“I’m just excited to swim the first day, and then literally have seven days of just watching the Olympics – watching the best sporting event, ever,” Beisel said. “And I get to do it in person, so it’s going to be a really really exciting meet. I’m so excited.”
The 2016 Olympic Games are a first for New England Patriots safety Nate Ebner.
Earlier this year, he announced he was taking a leave of absence from the Pats to try out for the Olympic rugby men’s sevens team–a risk that paid off.
“It’s part of one of the biggest sporting competitions in the world,” Ebner said. “How do you not want to be a part of that? Really those thoughts were kind of what flooded through my mind along with, you know, what type of regret I would feel if I didn’t try to do it.”
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