The Winter Olympics begin Wednesday and while we won't see any Gamecocks representing their countries in Pyeongchang, South Korea, a few South Carolina athletes have had the opportunity to do so previously.
Two members of the swimming and diving team, who are currently still in competition, traveled to Rio de Janeiro for the 2016 Summer Olympics. Senior diver Julia Vincent qualified in the 3-meter springboard for South Africa. While she did not advance to the semifinals, she has continued to make a name for herself at South Carolina, as she broke her own school record a few weeks ago.
Senior swimmer Akram Mahmoud represented Egypt in the 400-meter freestyle and 1500-meter freestyle. Although he did not get as strong of an outcome that he wanted, he said the opportunity was worth it, and he's spent his final two seasons at South Carolina prepared to get back to the Olympics.
“It was a great pleasure to be able to represent Egypt and the University of South Carolina,” Mahmoud said. “It put me under a lot of pressure, but I tried to stay mentally focused the whole time so I could be able to swim fast and represent my country and university. My goal is to compete at the 2020 and 2024 Games."
Vincent and Mahmoud have a few more opportunities to end their South Carolina careers on top as they enter championship season.
A few track athletes have also made names for themselves in the Olympics. Junior sprinter Aliyah Abrams ran the fastest time in the outdoor 400 meters for any freshman in the country two years ago, helping her qualify for the Olympics and allowing her to compete in the 400 meters for Guyana. An ankle injury made her sit out of competition last spring, but she has been working since then to get back to her quick ways this spring.
Former Gamecocks also represented the school well in 2016. 2009 graduate Natasha Hastings picked up her second gold medal in Rio, winning the 4x400 meter and just missing the podium in the 400.
All of these athletes have their eyes on their NCAA careers, but also on earning the chance to get back to the Olympics in 2020. But one Gamecock already knows she'll be in Tokyo.
South Carolina women's basketball coach Dawn Staley was named the new head coach of the USA national team in March. As she's busy working with her Gamecocks to try to bring in another national championship, she's also working with the national team. The USA National Team camp is being held this weekend in Columbia, and former Gamecock standouts Allisha Gray and Tiffany Mitchell will be there competing for a spot.
The women's basketball team lost to UConn last week, and former USA National Team coach Geno Auriemma commented on how he'll think Staley can transition into this new role.
"For her, having played and coached at the Olympics, I think it might come a little easier for her than it did for me my first go-around," Auriemma said of Staley, who was one of his assistant coaches in 2016. "But she has the respect of the players and she knows the deal ... She'll do a great job."
Even though it's a different season and different sports, these Gamecocks can use this year's Winter Olympics to motivate themselves to get back to see those five rings in two years.