A total of 11 current and former West Virginia University student-athletes will participate in the 2016 Summer Olympic games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from August 5-21.

 

Five individuals will represent the WVU rifle program in shooting events including Italy’s Nicco Campriani, a 2012 Gold and Silver medalist, and Petra Zublasing, Slovenia’s Ziva Dvorsak and the United States’ Ginny Thrasher. Thrasher, a sophomore at WVU, won NCAA titles in smallbore and air rifle in 2016 and helped the Mountaineers capture their fourth consecutive rifle national championship. 2016 WVU Sports Hall of Fame inductee David Johnson will coach the USA shooting team.

 

WVU women’s soccer standouts, seniors Kadeisha Buchanan and Ashley Lawrence, will represent Team Canada. In track and field, Sarah-Anne Brault and Jessica O’Connell will compete with Team Canada. Brault is participating in the women’s triathlon, while O’Connell will partake in the 5,000-meter run.

 

In women’s basketball, Natalie Burton will play for the Australian Opals and Yelena Leuchanka is slated for a second Olympic appearance with Belarus.

 

WVU has launched a comprehensive website for fans to keep up with the 2016 Summer Olympics. Fans can visit WVUsports.com/Olympics for bios, schedule of events, photos and more.

 

WVU Participants in the 2016 Summer Olympics

Women’s Basketball
Natalie Burton - Australia
Yelena Leuchanka – Belarus

Women’s Soccer
Kadeisha Buchanan* – Canada
Ashley Lawrence* – Canada

 

Shooting
Nicco Campriani – Italy
Ziva Dvorsak – Slovenia
David Johnson (coach) – United States
Ginny Thrasher* – United States
Petra Zublasing – Italy

 

Women’s Triathlon
Sarah Anne-Brault – Canada

 

Women’s 5,000-Meter Run/Track
Jessica O’Connell – Canada

 

* - current WVU student-athlete

 

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