The Tokyo 2020 Olympics came to a close a Sunday, with the United States just edging our China for gold medals, 39-38 to take the top spot atop the country standings. On a much more micro scale, it was a strong Olympics for Ohio State as well, with two athletes claiming gold medals, one winning silver and one taking bronze of the 26 former, current and future Buckeyes that competed in Tokyo.
Leading the way for the Ohio State contingent was Nichelle Prince, who won gold on Canada’s women’s soccer team, which knocked off Sweeden in the finals in a shootout, 1(3)-1(2). Prince started every match of the event for Canada and helped to facilitate a strong attack, though she did not record a goal herself. This is her second medal with Team Canada, earning bronze in Rio in 2016.
The second gold went to swimmer Hunter Armstrong, who swam in the preliminary for the USA 4×100-meter men’s medley relay team to help secure its spot in the finals. Armstrong did not swim in the finals but will still earn a medal.
“We could not be more proud of the United States and Hunter Armstrong,” Ohio State director of swimming and diving Bill Dorenkott said. “This is the stuff of dreams. And to think Hunter Armstrong from Dover, Ohio is making his dreams come true on the world stage is pretty amazing
“Tomorrow morning there will be a young man waking up somewhere in Ohio dreaming of being the next Hunter Armstrong, and that is pretty special. The best part is that Hunter and Ohio State are just getting started. Look out Paris, because the Buckeyes are coming in strong.”
In one of the final events of the Olympics, Ohio State wrestling legend Kyle Snyder came up just short of his second straight gold medal at 97kg, falling to Abdulrashid Sadulaev of ROC in the gold medal bout, 6-3. The two have long held a rivalry, trading world finals in 2017 and 2018, with Snyder claiming the former but falling in the later matchup.
To round out Buckeyes on the podium, former Ohio State women’s rower Ilse Paulis and the Netherlands’ Women’s Lightweight Double earned a bronze medal, putting up a 6:48.03 in the lightweight women’s double sculls, just a half-second away from Italy’s top spot. France earned the silver medal in the event.
