The Olympic Games began today in Rio de Janeiro, and five athletes competing for the United States have ties to Rhode Island.
Elizabeth Beisel from Saunderstown will swim the 400 meter individual medley. She already won silver in the event four years ago in London, and took home a bronze medal in backstroke.
Runner Molly Huddle trains in Providence. She failed to medal in London, but she won the New York City half marathon earlier this year.
Two olympic rowers have spent time in Rhode Island: Barrington native Anders Weiss, and Michael DiSanto, who summers in Narragansett, according to the Providence Journal.
Finally, Louisa Chafee, the daughter of former Governor Lincoln Chafee, will compete in her first Olympics for the U.S. Sailing Team. Chafee was a three-time All American at Brown, something she said has left her well prepared for the Olympic Games.
“I’ve worked really hard over the past two years to gain that mental toughness and that confidence in my abilities,” said Chafee. “I can, kind of, enter a world championship and be like, you know what? I’m just going to go out there and do my job.”
Chafee said her training regimen includes plenty of fruit, pasta and sweet potatoes plus a lot of time in the gym.
