This story originally appeared in The Centre County Gazette.
The 2024 Summer Olympics begin on Friday, July 26, and with them comes a plethora of Penn State athletes and alumni who will be going for gold in Paris.
With so many different sports and events occurring, it can be hard to keep track of when each Nittany Lion will be competing. With that in mind, here’s a breakdown of when and where you can watch the pride of the blue and white at the start of this international competition.
Where To Watch
In the age of streaming, it has become much easier for fans to tune in to any event they’re interested in. Every Olympic event will be available on Peacock and NBCOlympics.com this summer.
However, there are still plenty of events that will be on network television. NBC, USA Network and E! are three channels that will also feature many Olympic events. But any competition that doesn’t happen to be on cable will still be available via NBC’s two aforementioned platforms.
Fencing
Three Penn State fencing alumni are set to compete, including two for Team USA. Margherita Guzzi-Vincent will represent the red, white and blue in the women’s épée, while Miles Chamley-Watson will compete in the men’s foil. Additionally, Samantha Catantan will represent the Philippines.
Renata Knapik-Miazga, an assistant coach for the Penn State fencing team since 2023, will make her second Olympic Games appearance for Poland in the women’s épée.
The women’s épée’s initial field of 64 will begin on Saturday, July 27, at 4 a.m. EDT, while the men’s foil will kick off on July 29 at 3:30 a.m.
Field hockey
Before she begins her fifth and final campaign for Penn State, Sophia Gladieux will first travel to Paris and play for Team USA this summer.
The skilled forward, who has scored 74 goals across her time in State College, will join her teammates for a Saturday, July 27, matchup against Argentina at 1:45 p.m.
From here, the United States will also take on Spain on July 29, Australia on Wednesday, July 31, and South Africa on Saturday, Aug. 3, each at 7:15 a.m. They’ll also face Great Britain at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 1.
This group stage will conclude when the quarterfinals begin on Monday, Aug. 5.
Men’s gymnastics
Penn State alums Stephen Nadoroscik and Sam Zakutney will represent the U.S. and Canada, respectively, in men’s artistic gymnastics.
The men’s qualification round will open at 5 a.m. on Saturday, July 27, as these former Nittany Lions will aim to advance past the initial stage.
Men’s soccer
Rising sophomore defender Mohamed Cisset will represent Mali on the pitch this summer. He and his teammates will take on Israel, Japan and Paraguay in an effort to qualify for the quarterfinal round that opens on Friday, Aug. 2.
Men’s volleyball
Alumni Matt Anderson, Max Holt and Aaron Russell will each play for Team USA in Paris, beginning with a Saturday, July 27, match against Argentina at 3 p.m. They’ll later face Germany on Tuesday, July 30, at 7 a.m. and Japan Friday, Aug. 2, at 3 p.m. before quarterfinals begin on Monday, Aug. 5.
Rugby
Former Penn Stater Kayla Canett is a member of the United States’ women’s sevens group in this year’s Olympics.
The games move much quicker for rugby players, as Team USA will face Japan at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, July 28, then turn around and battle Brazil at 2 p.m. the same day. The U.S. will then take on France at 9:30 a.m. on Monday, July 29.
Just hours after that matchup versus France, the quarterfinals will be played, before teams compete for medals the following day.
Swimming
Three current Penn State swimmers — siblings Jack and Emma Harvey and Eduardo Cisternas — will be joined by alumnus Gabe Castano in Paris’ pool.
The Harveys will represent Bermuda, Cisternas will compete for Chile and Castano will swim for Mexico.
Cisternas will compete in the 400-meter freestyle, which begins at 5 a.m. on Saturday, July 27.
The Harveys will compete in the men’s and women’s 100-meter backstrokes, respectively. The men’s backstroke heats open on Sunday, July 28, and the finals occur at 2:30 p.m. on Monday, July 29. The women’s backstroke operates similarly, but with the heats opening on Monday, July 29, and the finals taking place on Tuesday, July 30.
Finally, Castano will compete in the 50-meter freestyle. Heats open on Thursday, Aug. 1, and the finals will take place the following day at 2:30 p.m.
Track and Field
Two-time silver medalist and Penn State alum Joe Kovacs is the biggest name of the four Nittany Lion track and field athletes in this year’s Olympics. He’ll compete in the shot put at 2:10 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 2, before possibly reaching the finals on Saturday, Aug. 3, at 1:30 p.m.
While Kovacs will throw for Team USA, both Cheickna Traore and Handal Roban will run for Ivory Coast and Saint Vincent and The Grenadines, respectively.
Traore set records in Division I and Division III during his college career and now will look to find success in the 200-meter on the Olympic stage. Trials for that race begin on Monday, Aug. 5.
Roban, a rising junior in Happy Valley, will compete in the 800-meter, starting with trials on Wednesday, Aug. 7.
Women’s gymnastics
Though she never competed at Penn State, current Nittany Lions assistant coach Lynnzee Brown will represent Haiti in the women’s artistic competition.
The women’s qualification round will take place on Sunday, July 28, starting at 3:30 a.m.
Women’s soccer
The United States Women’s National Team will feature two former Nittany Lions on its roster this summer. Goaltender Alyssa Naeher will return for her third Olympic go-around, while midfielder Sam Coffey will make her Olympic debut.
Before opening ceremonies, the duo will first take the pitch on Thursday, July 25, for a 3 p.m. clash with Zambia. From there, the U.S. will face Germany at 3 p.m. on Sunday, July 28, and Australia at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, July 31.
After the group stage concludes, the quarterfinals will begin on Saturday, Aug. 3.
Women’s volleyball
Former Penn State standout Haleigh Washington will compete for the United States in Paris, and she and her teammates will begin their quest for gold on Monday, July 29, at 11 a.m. by taking on China.
They’ll return to the court two days later at the same time to face Serbia, before wrapping up their initial three matchups by taking on France at 7 a.m. on Sunday, Aug. 4. From here, Washington and company will look to qualify for the quarterfinals, which start on Tuesday, Aug. 6.
Washington’s former Penn State and 2020 Olympic teammate Micah Hancock is an alternate on the U.S. team.
Wrestling
Penn State’s storied wrestling program is sending three alumni to Paris. Zain Retherford and 2024 Hodge Trophy winner Aaron Brooks will wrestle for Team USA, while Roman Bravo-Young will compete for Mexico.
Brooks will compete in the 86 kg bracket on Thursday, Aug. 8, and Friday, Aug. 9, while Bravo-Young will wrestle in the 57 kg field on those same days. Additionally, Retherford will man the mat in the 65 kg field on Saturday, Aug. 10, and Sunday, Aug. 11.
