5 Westchester Athletes Ready to Dominate the 2024 Olympics
The Olympics start this week, and these Westchester athletes will go for gold in Paris this year! We’re always excited to root for our countries during the Olympics, but having someone from your hometown represent the nation is extra special. They will undoubtedly be inspiring the next generation of Westchester athletes.
Be sure to check out… Soccer Fields in Westchester: Indoor and Outdoor Spaces for Summer Play.
Rai Benjamin, twenty-six, son of Winston Benjamin and Jeanette Mason, is a Mount Vernon native who will be competing in the Olympics for the second time this year. He’s already got 2 Olympic medals (one gold and one silver) under his belt and is aiming for another. He achieved gold in the Tokyo Olympic Games in the 4 x 400m Relay Men’s race and secured a silver in the 400m Hurdles for men.
Also, at the most recent World Championships last year, in 2023, he earned a gold in the 4 x 400m men’s relay and a bronze medal in the 400m Hurdles, adding to his total of 5 World Championship medals. He’s solidified himself as one of the world’s best, and we look forward to seeing him compete this year.
Samantha Coffey, twenty-five, was raised in Sleepy Hollow and will now represent her hometown while at the Paris Olympics on the United States Women’s Soccer team. Coffey was part of the soccer team at The Master’s School in Dobbs Ferry and played collegiate soccer for Boston College and Penn State. She is the daughter of sportswriter Wayne Coffey and Denise Willi and has a sister, Alex, who is also a sportswriter.
Her career highlights include being drafted 12th overall by the Portland Thorns FC and was named the 2022 NWSL Rookie of the Month for June. She also made it to the 2022 NWSL Best XI of the Month for June and September/October and was part of the NWSL Best XI in 2023 and 2022
Kate Douglass, twenty-two, is a Pelham native who will also be competing for the second time this year. Douglass graduated from Pelham High School and moved on to study at the University of Virginia. Douglass has several accolades and even competed locally for the Westchester Aquatic Club (woo!). Douglass is an accomplished swimmer, having been a member of the U.S. National Junior Team in 2018-19 and qualifying for the 2016 U.S. Olympic Team Trials in several events.
She went on to become an Olympian and won a bronze medal in the 200m Individual Medley at the Tokyo Olympic Games. In addition to her Olympic success, she has had an impressive World Championships experience, earning 21 medals, including nine gold, seven silver, and five bronze. Her most recent achievements include winning gold in the 200m Individual Medley and the 4 x 100m Medley Relay and silver and bronze medals in various events.
McLain Ward, forty-eight, is a highly accomplished equestrian with a tremendous history. He has participated in multiple Olympic Games and achieved numerous victories and podium finishes with various horses. Ward will be competing alongside a new horse this year, Ilex, alongside his veteran horse, Callas. With an impressive performance in European competitions, Ward and Ilex have earned a spot to represent the United States at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. Ward lives in upstate New York with his wife, Lauren, and their two daughters, Lilly and Madison.
Claire Weinstein, seventeen, will be competing on the USA Swimming National Team. She previously swam for the Lake Isle Swim Club of Eastchester, the Westchester Aquatic Club, and White Plains High School, showcasing dedication and talent from a young age. She finished second at the Olympic Trials in the 200-meter freestyle, and now, living in Nevada, she competes for the Las Vegas-based club team Sandpipers of Nevada.
Weinstein is expected to compete in the 200 free and 4×200 free relay at the Olympics in Paris. At the remarkable age of 15, she was part of the gold medal-winning U.S. 4×200 team at the 2022 World Championships, setting a shining example for aspiring young athletes everywhere.
Olympics Schedule
If you need help keeping track of the Olympic schedule and events, visit the NBCOlympics.com schedule page. You can filter the schedule by sport, event, top athletes, access scores, stats, standings, and more.
Where To Watch
While the opening ceremony is happening on Friday, July 26th, the games are already fully underway. Competitions began on the 24th and will continue until the closing ceremony on August 11th.
This year’s opening ceremony will be the first of its kind. Paris is breaking traditions this year and has an incredible lineup of events that families won’t want to miss. Instead of a stadium, this year’s opening ceremony will be happening on the Seine River, and the parade will traverse through the heart of the city. Athletes will parade on boats representing their nations, and these boats will have cameras that will deliver a close-up view for families. The ceremony will conclude at the Trocadéro.
Be sure to tune in to the opening ceremony, which will start at 1:30 p.m. ET and last about four hours. NBC and USA will air the event, which will also be available to stream on Peacock.
These Westchester athletes will give it all they’ve got in Paris, and our families will definitely be rooting for them.
