With the 2024 Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games just around the corner, excitement is building as athletes from across the country prepare to compete on the world stage. The U.S. Olympic team roster for the 2024 Paris Games will ultimately include more than 500 athletes, making it one of the largest delegations at the Games. The event kicks off with the opening ceremonies on July 26 in Paris, France, although some competitions such as archery, rugby, and handball will start as early as July 24. Featuring 329 medal events, this global spectacle promises to be thrilling.
While many athletes began their quest to make the team via Olympic Trials, international results, rankings, and discretionary selections, the journey started years ago as a dream for most when they were just kids. The notable team selection events included the swimming trials in Indianapolis (June 15-23), the diving trials in Knoxville, Tennessee (June 16-23), the track and field trials in Eugene, Oregon (June 21-30), and the gymnastics trials in Minneapolis (June 27-30).
Among the 79 athletes hailing from California, two local stars have secured their spots on Team USA. Let’s take a closer look at Tara Prentice and Michael Norman, who will be representing our community on the world stage.
Tara Prentice’s journey to Paris
Temecula’s Tara Prentice is no stranger to the international stage. She has made significant strides in water polo, showcasing her skills and determination. Her recent achievements include netting nine goals at the 2024 World Aquatics World Championships in Doha and scoring ten goals at the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago.
Prentice’s passion for water polo took stride at Great Oak as a freshman, but it really skyrocketed when she transferred to Murrieta Valley High School after her sophomore year in 2015. As a Nighthawk she played a pivotal role in winning the 2016 DII CIF Championship and the 18U Junior Olympics Championship. Prentice would take her skills to UCLA at first, but then made the move and eventually graduated from UC Irvine in 2020 with a double major in Criminology, Law, & Society, and Psychological Sciences. While training with the US National Team, she earned a Master’s Degree in Innovation and Entrepreneurship and later completed a second Master’s Degree in Demographic and Social Analysis.
During her time in the pool at UC Irvine, Prentice became a force to be reckoned with. She was named a 2022 First Team All-American, Big West Player of the Year, and Big West UC Irvine Scholar Athlete of the Year. She broke scoring records, becoming the top goal scorer in Big West Conference and UC Irvine history with 242 goals. Her college career was marked by numerous accolades, including leading the team with 57 goals and 16 steals during a shortened pandemic season.
When she’s not dominating the pool, Prentice enjoys reading, watching soccer, spending time at the beach, and hanging out with friends and family. Her favorite food? Pizza. And her most memorable moments are the ones spent with her team—cherishing every experience, good and bad.
Michael Norman’s road to victory
Murrieta’s Michael Norman has established himself as a sprinting sensation. Born in San Diego, Norman has made waves in the track and field world since high school. He previously held the world best time in the indoor 400 meters at 44.52 seconds and has a personal best of 43.45 seconds in the outdoor 400 meters.
Norman first gained international attention as a high school senior after defeating reigning USA champion Justin Gatlin in a semi-final heat of the 200 meters at the 2016 Olympic Trials. Although he didn’t qualify for the Olympic team that year, he secured two gold medals at the World Junior Championships, setting a championship record of 20.17 in the 200 meters.
A four-time NCAA champion, Norman set collegiate records in every NCAA final he ran in 2018, including a world best time in the indoor 400 meters. He graduated from the University of Southern California in May 2019 and now competes professionally for Nike.
Norman, who now lives and trains in Los Angeles, made his pro debut in 2018, winning the 200 meters at the IAAF Diamond League in Paris with a personal best of 19.84 seconds. His 2022 outdoor season was his best to date, winning his second U.S. Track and Field Championship 400 meters title and two golds at the World Athletics Championships. The former Vista Murrieta Bronco secured his first career Olympic medal at 23, winning gold with his teammates in the men’s 4×400-meter relay at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.
Norman, who qualified for his second Olympics last Monday, said he’s reminding himself to be patient after “underwhelming” Tokyo Games, as well as a second-place finish at the trials.
“This is the start of my redemption story,” he told the media. “I am in great shape, and I know I have a lot faster times in me. I just need to execute the race the way my coach wants me to and let the rest fall into place.”
While no Paralympic athletes will represent Team USA from the local area, nine athletes from California will compete. The Paralympics, occurring every two years and alternating between summer and winter, highlight incredible talent and determination.
The 2024 Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games promise to be an unforgettable event, and our local athletes, Tara Prentice and Michael Norman, are set to make us proud. Their dedication, talent, and hard work are truly inspiring. We can’t wait to see them compete and bring home the gold. More information can be found at www.TeamUSA.com.
Stay tuned for more updates and join us in cheering for Team USA!
JP Raineri can be reached by email at sports@reedermedia.com.
