How to follow our local Olympians in London
Here is a brief look at Olympic athletes with ties to the suburbs, Chicago, the state and area universities:
Men's basketball
Robert Archibald
Position: forward (Great Britain)
Age: 32
Illinois connection: played at Illinois from 1998-2002
Olympic years: 2012
Career highlights: The 32nd pick of the second round in 2002 by the Memphis Grizzlies, named third team all Big Ten in 2002 by coaches, spent two years in NBA with the Grizzlies, Phoenix Suns, Orlando Magic and Toronto Magic
Competition dates: July 28-Aug. 12
Twitter: @RobertArchibald
Anthony Davis
Position: forward; Age: 19
Illinois connection: From Chicago, attended Perspectives Charter
Olympic years: 2012
Career highlights: won the 2012 NCAA championship with Kentucky, selected No. 1 overall by the New Orleans Hornets in the 2012 NBA Draft, named 2012 NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player
Competition dates: July 28-Aug. 12
Twitter: @AntDavis23
FB: facebook.com/pages/Anthony-Davis
Luol Deng
Position: forward (Great Britain)
Age: 27
Illinois connection: Chicago Bulls
Olympic years: 2012
Career highlights: 2012 NBA all-star, No. 7 pick in 2004 NBA Draft out of Duke, went to Final Four with the Blue Devils
Competition dates: July 28-Aug. 12
Twitter: @luoldeng9
FB: facebook.com/luoldeng
On the web: luoldeng.com
Andre Iguodala
Position: forward; Age: 28
Illinois connection: from Springfield
Olympic years: 2012
Position: forward
Career highlights: Won a gold medal with Team USA in the 2010 FIBA World Championships, six-year starter with the Philadelphia 76ers, selected 9th overall out of Arizona in the 2004 NBA draft
Competition dates: July 28-Aug. 12
Twitter: @mindofAI9
Richard Oruche
Position: Guard/forward (Nigeria)
Age: 24
Chicago connection: From Bensenville, attended Fenton High School, played at NIU and University of Illinois-Springfield.
Olympic years: 2012
Career highlights: Two-time Daily Herald all-area pick. In 2004, led Fenton to its first IHSA Regional Championship appearance since 1984.
Competition dates: July 28-Aug. 12
Deron Williams
Position: guard; Age: 28
Illinois connection: 2005 Illini grad
Olympic years: 2008, 2012
Career highlights: Gold medalist in 2008, drafted No. 3 by Utah Jazz, advanced to the national title game in 2005 NCAA Tournament with the Illini, three-time NBA all-star; now with Brooklyn Nets
Competition dates: July 28-Aug. 12
Twitter: @DeronWilliams
FB: facebook.com/DeronWilliams
On the web: deronwilliams.com/
Women's basketball
Swin Cash
Position: Forward; Age: 32
Illinois connection: Chicago Sky
Olympic years: 2004 (gold), 2012
Career highlights: National champion in 2000 and 2002 at UConn, 3-time WNBA champion, 2-time WNBA MVP
Competition dates: July 28 – Aug. 11
Twitter: @SwinCash
FB: facebook.com/SwinCash
On the web: SwinCash.com
Tamika Catchings
Position: forward; Age: 32
Illinois connection: Played for two years at Stevenson High School, where she helped lead the Patriots to a state title in 1995. (Currently with Indiana Fever.)
Olympic years: 2004 (gold), 2008 (gold), 2012
Career highlights: Undefeated 1998 national championship team at Tennessee, 7-time WNBA all-star, 4-time defensive player of the year, 2011 MVP
Competition dates: July 28 – Aug. 11
Twitter: @catchin24
FB: facebook.com/Tamika.Catchings
On the web: Catchin24.com
Sylvia Fowles
Position: center; Age: 26
Illinois connection: Has played for the Chicago Sky since 2008, when she was the second overall pick in the draft.
Olympic years: 2008 (gold), 2012
Career highlights: 2008 SEC MVP, led U.S. women in scoring and rebounding at the 2008 Olympics.
Competition dates: July 28 – Aug. 11
FB: facebook.com/sylviafowles
On the web: BigSyl.com
Candace Parker
Position: forward; Age: 26
Illinois connection: Played for Naperville Central High School from 2001-04, winning Class AA state titles in 2003 and 2004. (Currently with L.A. Sparks).
Olympic years: 2008 (gold), 2012
Career highlights: 2007 & 2008 national champion at Tennessee, No. 1 draft pick in the 2008 WNBA draft, 2008 WNBA MVP
Competition dates: July 28-Aug. 11
Twitter: @Candace_Parker
FB: facebook.com/CandaceParker
On the web: CandaceParker.com
Diving
Kelci Bryant
Event: 3m synchronized springboard
Age: 23
Illinois connection: Born in Springfield, raised in Chatham. Trained at ISU.
Olympic years: 2008, 2012
Career highlights: 9-time national champion, fourth place in Beijing Olympics, Gold medalist at 2012 national winter diving championships
Competition dates: July 29
Twitter: @Kelci_Bryant
Christina Loukas
Event: 3m springboard; Age: 26
Illinois connection: Originally from Riverwoods, attended Deerfield High School. Her family owns the Cubby Bear lounge and several rooftops in Wrigleyville.
Olympic years: 2008, 2012
Career highlights: 9-time national champion in various events, 2009 NCAA Diver of the Year at Indiana, four-time Big Ten diver of the year, 2003 Illinois high school swimmer/diver of the year.
Competition dates: Aug. 5
Twitter: @ChristinaLoukas
Equestrian
Allison Springer
Age: 37
Illinois connection: Originally from Barrington, went to Barrington High School.
Olympic years: 2012
Events: Eventing (alternate)
Career highlights: Top-placing American in the 2012 Rolex Kentucky event, reserve champion horse of the year 2009
Competition dates: July 28-31
Twitter: @AllisonSpringer
On the web: AllisonSpringer.com
Charlie Jayne
Event: Show jumping (alternate)
Age: 26
Illinois connection: Originally from Elgin
Olympic years: 2008 and 2012 alternate
Career highlights: USET Maxine Beard Show Jumping Developing Rider Award in 2006, won the 2011 HITS Welcome Classic and 2010 Strongid C 2X Grand Prix.
Competition dates: Aug. 4-6
Fencing
Courtney Hurley
Event: Epee; Age: 21
Area connection: Notre Dame senior
Olympic years: 2012
Career highlights: Currently ranked No. 1 in the U.S., No. 5 world, and was 2009 and 2010 first-team all-American.
Competition dates: July 30
Kelley Hurley
Event: epee (alternate); Age: 24
Area connection: Notre Dame 2010
Olympic years: 2008, 2012
Career highlights: Two-time all-American, 2008 NCAA cchampion
Competition dates: July 30
Race Imboden
Event: foil; Age: 19
Area connection: Committed to Notre Dame
Olympic years: 2008, 2012
Career highlights: Team USA's top-ranked fencer in all three disciplines
Competition dates: July 31
Twitter: @Race_Imboden
Lee Kiefer
Event: foil; Age: 18
Area connection: Committed to Notre Dame
Olympic years: 2012
Career highlights: Currently ranked No. 1 in her age group in the U.S. and No. 5 internationally. Won individual and team gold at 2011 Pan American Games.
Competition dates: July 28
Twitter: @LeetotheKiefer
Gerek Meinhardtv
Event: foil; Age: 21
Area connection: Went to Notre Dame
Olympic years: 2008, 2012
Career highlights: Currently ranked #4 in the U.S., Bronze medalist at the 2010 Senior World Championships
Competition dates: July 31
Twitter: @GerekMeinhardt
FB: Facebook.com/GerekMeinhardt
Mariel Zagunis
Event: sabre; Age: 27
Area connection: Went to Notre Dame
Olympic years: 2004, 2008, 2012
Career highlights: Gold medalist in 2004 and 2008, Two-time senior world champion, two-time junior world champion
Competition dates: Aug. 1
Twitter: @MarielZagunis
FB: Facebook.com/MarielZagunis
On the web: MarielZagunis.com
Gymnastics
Anna Li
Age: 23
Illinois connection: Lives in Aurora, graduated from Waubonsie Valley, trains at Legacy Elite Gymnastics, a Carol Stream facility her parents own.
Olympic years: 2012
Career highlights: Won 2010 NCAA team championship at UCLA, 3-time all-Pac-10 honoree in the all-around.
Competition dates: July 28-29, 31 (an alternate, Li was injured before the games and will not compete)
Twitter: @AnnaLi_88
On the web: AnnaLi.US
Rowing
Grant & Ross James
Event: Eight; Age: 24 (twins)
Illinois connection: DeKalb
Olympic years: 2012
Career highlights: Won the eight at the 2012 Olympic Trials, won gold in the eight at the 2008 World Rowing Under 23 Championships.
Competition dates: Aug. 1
Sarah Zalenka
Event: Pair; Age: 25
Illinos connection: Born in Park Ridge, lived in Itasca, attended Lake Park High
Olympic years: 2012
Career highlights: Won gold in the four at the 2011 World Rowing Championships, Won gold in the eight and the four at the 2010 Rowing World Cup in Lucerne
Competition dates: Aug. 1
Twitter: @ZelenkaS
Sailing
Bob Willis
Event: RS-X; Age: 25
Illinois connection: From Chicago. Attended Francis Parker H.S. Began sailing at Columbia Yacht Club at age 8.
Olympic years: 2012
Career highlights: Won two Junior National Championships and placed third at Worlds. First Olympic sailor from the U.S. who is not from Florida or California.
Competition dates: Aug. 7
Twitter: @BobSails2012
On the web: BobSails.com
Soccer
Shannon Boxx
Position: midfielder; Age: 34
Area connection: Notre Dame 2009
Olympic years: 2004, 2008, 2012
Career highlights: Three-time all Big East selection, 2010 WPS champion with the FC Gold Pride, member of U.S. national team since 2003
Competition dates: July 25-Aug. 9
Twitter: @ShannonBoxx7
Amy LePeilbet
Position: defender; Age: 30
Illinois connection: Crystal Lake
Olympic years: 2012
Career highlights: World Cup
Bio: defender, Arizona State
Competition dates: July 25-Aug. 9
Emily Zurrer
Position: defender (Canada); Age: 25
Illinois connection: played at Illinois from 2005-2008
Olympic years: 2008, 2012
Career highlights: First-Team All Big Ten in 2007, awarded Co-Defensive Player of the Year in 2006, Illinois soccer's first three-time all-American, currently plays for Vancouver Whitecaps
Competition dates: July 25-Aug. 9
Twitter: @emme_z
List this under a new sport heading Taekwondo (after Soccer and before Tennis)
Taekwondo
Carolena Carstens
Event: Taekwondo 46kg (Panama)
Illinois connection: Glen Ellyn
Olympic years: 2012
Career highlights: Only 16, she has dual citizenship and will be the youngest of 128 athletes competing in this martial arts discipline. Currently ranked 14th in the world and fourth in the Pan-Am region, she began kickboxing at age 4 and started competing internationally at age 14. After finishing fourth a trials, she was extended a wild-card invitation, which is given to nations with smaller teams.
Competition dates: Aug. 8
FB: facebook.com/CarolenaCarstens
Twitter: @CarolenaPanama
Swimming
Conor Dwyer
Events: 400-meter freestyle, 800 Free relay; Age: 25
Illinois connection: Originally from Winnetka, attended Loyola Academy
Olympic years: 2012
400 freestyle personal best: 3:47.83
World record: 3:40.07 Biedermann 2009
Olympic record: 3:40.59 Thorpe 2000
Career highlights: 2010 NCAA male swimmer of the year at Florida, 7-time all-American
Competition dates: 400 free: July 28, 4x200 free relay: July 31
Twitter: @ConorJDwyer
Matt Grevers
Events: 100-meter backstroke, 400 freestyle relay; Age: 27
Illinois connection: Attended Lake Forest High School and Northwestern
Olympic years: 2008, 2012
Personal best: 52.08
World record: 51.94 Piersol 2009
Olympic record: 52.54 Piersol 2008
Career highlights: Won silver in the 100-meter backstroke in 2008
Competition dates: 100 back: July 30, 4x100 free relay: July 29
Twitter: @MattGrevers
Tyler McGill
Event: 100-meter butterfly; Age: 24
Illinois connection: Champaign
Olympic years: 2012
Personal best: 51.26
World record: 49.82 - Phelps, 2009
Olympic record: 50.58 - Phelps, 2008
Career highlights: Bronze medalist in the 100 fly at 2011 World Championships, 10-time all-American at Auburn, NCAA champ in 400 freestyle and 400 relay, 3-time Illinois state champion
Competition dates: Aug. 3
Twitter: @TyMcGill
Tennis
Donald Young
Event: singles; Age: 22
Illinois connection: Chicago
Olympic years: 2012
Career highlights: Reached his first ATP World Tour final in Bangkok, Thailand in 2011, ranked a career high No. 38 in 2012. Won the boys singles title at Wimbledon in 2007.
Competition dates: July 28-Aug 5
FB: facebook.com/pages/Donald-Young
Track and field
Lance Brooks
Event: Discus throw; Age: 28
Illinois connection: New Berlin, Ill., Millikin University graduate
Olympic years: 2012
Career highlights: Millikin record holder in the discus (57.83m), NCAA Division III all-American, finished third at 2011 USA Outdoors competitions
Personal best: 65.15m
Current world record: 69.89m
Competition dates: Aug. 7
Dawn Harper
Event: 100-meter hurdles; Age: 28
Illinois Connection: East St. Louis High School (2002)
Olympic years: 2008, 2012
Career highlights: 2008 Olympic Gold Medalist (100m hurdles), two-time U.S. outdoor champion, two time NCAA champion, 2011 World Outdoor Championships bronze medalist
Personal best: 12.47s
Current world record: 10.62
Competition dates: Aug. 8
Twitter: @DHarp100mH
Nikkita Holder
Event: 100-meter hurdles (Canada)
Age: 25
Illinois connection: attended Illinois (2005-2009)
Olympic years: 2012
Career highlights: placed fourth in 100m hurdles at 2007 Big Ten Championships, competed in two NCAA Mideast Regional Championships, represented Canada in 100m hurdles at 2009 Canada Championships
Personal best: 12.80s
Current world record: 10.62
Competition dates: Aug. 7
Twitter: @brownstone
Molly Huddle
Event: 5,000 meters; Age: 27
Illinois connection: Notre Dame
Olympic years: 2012
Career highlights: 2011 NCAA Outdoor 5,000 meter runner-up, holds the American record for the 5,000, nine-time all-American at Notre Dame
Personal best: 14.44.76
Current world record: 14:40:79
Competition dates: Aug. 7
Evan Jager
Event: 3,000 meter Steeplechase
Age: 23
Illinois connection: Jacobs High School in Algonquin
Olympic years: 2012
Career highlights: won four state titles at Jacobs, finished third in the 5,000 at the USATF Outdoor Championship in 2009, represented the United States at the 2009 IAAF World Championships in Berlin. Now competes for Nike's Oregon Track Club, attended Wisconsin-Madison one year.
Personal best: 8:06:81
Current world record: 7:53:63
Competition dates: Aug 5
Twitter: @EvanJager
Jillian Schwarz
Event: pole vault (Israel)
Illinois connection: Lake Forest High School (1997)
Olympic years: 2004 for U.S., 2012 for Israel
Career highlights: Three-time all-American at Duke competed for Team USA in 2004, and was granted dual citizenship in 2010. Now 32 years old, finished 11th at European Athletics Championships in June, and 11th at World Indoor Championships in March.
Personal best: 4.72 meters (2008 outdoor), 4.61 (2006 indoor)
Current world record: 5.06 meters (16 feet, 7.2 inches) by Isinbaeva in 2009
Olympic record: 5.05 meters (Isinbaeva 2008)
Competition dates: Aug. 4 qualifying, Aug. 6 finals
FB: facebook.com/jillian.schwartz.75
Gia Lewis-Smallwood
Event: Discus throw; Age: 33
Illinois Connection: from Champaign (Centennial H.S.), 2001 Illinois graduate
Olympic years: 2012
Career highlights: Third at 2011 USA Outdoor Championships, 2010 USA Outdoor Championships runner-up
Personal best: 63.97 meters
Current world record: 72.3 meters
Competition dates: Aug. 4
Wallace Spearmon Jr.
Event: 100 meters, 200 meters; Age: 27
Illinois connection: born in Chicago but grew up in Arkansas
Olympic years: 2008, 2012
Career highlights: two-time NCAA Outdoor 200m champion at Arkansas (2004, 2005), holds U.S. indoor 200 record at 20.10s, two-time world outdoor championships bronze medalist
Personal best: 100m (9.96s), 200m (19.65s)
Current world record: 9.69s (100m), 19.30s (200m)
Competition dates: Aug. 5 and 9
Twitter: @PrinceSpearmon
FB: facebook.com/wallacespearmonjr
Andrew Riley
Event: 110 meter hurdles (Jamaica)
Age: 23
Illinois connection: went to Illinois from 2008-2011
Olympic years: 2012
Career highlights: Four-time NCAA champion (100m - 2012, 110m Hurdles & 60m Hurdles - 2011), 12-time all-American and 12-time Big Ten champ, first person to win national titles in both 100-meter dash and 110-meter hurdles
Personal best: 13.19s
Current world record: 12.91
Competition dates: Aug. 8
Volleyball
Sean Rooney
Position: Outside hitter; Age: 29
Illinois connection: Wheaton-Warrenville South High School grad
Olympic years: 2008, 2012
Position: Outside hitter
Career highlights: 2005 NCAA championship at Pepperdine, member of USA volleyball team that won the gold medal in Beijing in 2008,
Competition dates: Aug. 12
Water polo
Melissa Siederman
Position: defender; Age: 22
Illinois connection: Hoffman Estates
Olympic years: 2012
Career highlights: Won 2011 NCAA championship at Stanford, 2011 Pan American Games gold medalist
Competition dates: July 29-Aug. 9
Wrestling
Ellis Coleman
Event: 60kg Greco-Roman
Age: 20 (turns 21 on Aug. 16)
Illinois connection: Oak Park-River Forest High School grad
Olympic years: 2012
Career highlights: 2011 New York AC International Open champion, finished second in 2012 Pan American Olympic Qualifier, known for his flying squirrel move as he leaps over opponents
Competition dates: Aug. 11
Twitter: @DaFlyinSquirrel
Jake Herbert
Event: 84kg freestyle; Age: 27
Illinois connection: Northwestern grad
Olympic years: 2012
Career highlights: 4-time all-American and two-time NCAA champ at Northwestern, 2009 Big Ten Male athlete of the Year
Competition dates: Aug. 6
Twitter: @Jakeherbert84
On the web: jakeherbert.com