By Peter Melahn, Staff Writer
The 2024 Olympics were one for the books, and a number of athletes hailing from the Queen City were living the dream of competing at the Games. Piper Kelly, Maxwell Holt and Rose Lavelle had the honor of representing Cincinnati (and the United States) in Paris just a few weeks ago.
As the perennial gold medal leader, there are always high expectations for Team U.S.A. going into the Olympic Games. This year Team U.S.A. brought home a whopping 125 medals – the most of any country participating in the Games. Even for those who did not receive a medal, the Olympics are an opportunity to showcase their skills in front of a global audience. For Cincinnatians especially, three Team U.S.A athletes made watching the Olympics this year more of a spectacle.
Rose Lavelle, born and raised in Cincinnati, currently plays for NJ/NY Gotham Football Club in the National Women’s Soccer League and shined as a midfielder for the U.S. Women’s National Team in the Olympic Games. In this year’s Olympics, Team U.S.A. won over Brazil with a score of 1-0 in the gold medal match. This U.S. Women’s National Team is regarded as the greatest in the history of women’s soccer, so for Lavelle to represent her home with a spot on the roster puts Cincinnati in the history books.
Lavelle has been a part of the U.S. women’s national team since 2019 and was on the team for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, where they earned the bronze medal.
Maxwell Holt, who attended the local Purcell Marian High School, led the U.S. Men’s Indoor Volleyball Team to the podium this year in Paris. Holt currently plays professionally in China , but got the opportunity to return to compete for his home country. Holt and his teammates managed to defeat Italy in three sets for the bronze medal this year.
Holt was a member of the U.S. Men’s Indoor Volleyball Team this year in Paris. Holt helped them to earn the bronze medal, his second Olympic bronze in his career.
Finally, recent Xavier graduate Piper Kelly represented the Musketeers in speed climbing, being one of just a few athletes to compete in the sport on the Olympic stage as this year was the second time it has ever been included in the Olympic Games. Kelly, who graduated in 2023, visited campus in the spring to greet students before heading to Paris this summer. Now, Xavier can say that an Olympian has probably walked the halls of Alter and eaten at the Caf. Although she didn’t receive a medal she now has her eyes on the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
Kelly was a 2023 graduate of Xavier and qualified for the Olympics in October of 2023. She now has her eyes set on being a part of the team for Los Angeles in 2028.