Local athletes with an Olympic dream are golden.
By Hannah Nunez
As the 2024 Paris Olympics approach, it’s important to highlight Austinites that have paved the way for legacies to come. Generation after generation the Olympic Games have acted as an “I’ve made it moment” for many Austin and UT athletes in pursuit of their dreams. This level of excellence is nothing new for our city as we prepare for our hometown heroes to compete in the 2024 Summer Olympics. While the city is buzzing with excitement, Austin Woman looks at the backstories and journeys that landed these local athletes in the global spotlight.
Players like three-time Olympic medalist Cat Osterman are a perfect representation of hard work and determination directly correlating to victory. When Osterman was introduced to softball in the first grade, she immediately fell in love with the sport. Her career took off during her time at UT Austin, where her performance began to receive recognition at the national level. During this period, Osterman became a four-time All-American champion and led her team to the Women’s College World Series three times. Osterman also made sports history when she was named USA Softball college player of the year three times—the only person ever to hold this honor.
In 2004, Osterman participated in her first Olympic Games, where Team USA earned gold. “It seemed like a dream with how well we played, how everything unfolded,” says Osterman. “Being the youngest on the USA team, I just tried to soak everything in.” She was also a member of the team in 2008 and 2020, earning two silver medals. “The biggest thing I didn’t expect was seeing famous athletes from other countries. Watching Federer and Nadal just walk by me was jaw-dropping,” says Osterman. Osterman now serves as a color analyst for ESPN. She is also devoted to coaching, running her new business and motherhood. Having lived the Olympic dream inspires Osterman’s ongoing pursuit of excellence and living life to its fullest.
Players to Look Out For in Paris Olympics 2024
For Austin native Kaitlin Knifton, the Olympic Games symbolize generations striving for greatness. The family’s Olympic dream started with her grandfather, a national Team Racer Walker, and was passed down through her father. She adopted her love for rowing at her father’s club in high school and was determined to make her family proud continuing the legacy. “My dad tried to make the 1992 Olympics for rowing but didn’t end up making the team, so it has always been a family goal to race to the Olympics,” says Knifton. While on the women’s varsity rowing team at UT Austin, her group won the 2021 and 2022 NCAA National Championships. She is a four-time All-American and was named the 2022 Under 23 Female Athlete of the Year as well as the 2023 Big 12 Athlete of theYear. This year Knifton will be attending her first Olympics with the support of her entire family.
Knifton stands alongside a growing list of Austin athletes attending the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics such as Ariel Atkins, Carson Foster and Daisy Mazzio-Manson. Make sure to keep an eye out for Austin’s hometown athletes this Olympic season as they continue their pursuit of excellence and dreams of bringing home the gold.
Osterman Shares Who She’ll be Looking Out for this Olympic Season
“I believe both women’s basketball teams deserve eyes. The traditional team has 12 amazing athletes who have been at the top of their game for a longtime. I don’t think a lot of people realize what it takes for women to stay on the top of their game, especially when they don’t have the income of male athletes. The three-on-three team is new, but it’s an exciting element in the Olympics and has some of the younger stars on their roster where they can grow and develop.”
Wondering where you should watch the 2024 Olympics? We know just where you can experience the Paris Olympics in Austin.
