Meet 6 Olympians with ties to Nashville, TN

The 2020 Olympics will be held in Tokyo in 2021 | Photo by Anthony via Pexels

The 2020 Olympics will be held in Tokyo in 2021 | Photo by Anthony via Pexels

The Tokyo Olympics have started (July 23-Aug. 8) and to get you excited about all of the athletic talent competing this year, we’ve put together a list of 6 athletes with Nashville ties to watch this summer.

Check out the schedule, plan your Olympic events in advance + don’t forget the Paralympic Games from Aug. 24Sept. 5.

🏅Alex Walsh | Swimming

Nashville native Alex is a first-time Olympian competing in the 200 individual medley event. She is a 3-time Pan American Games gold medalist.

🏅Alex Young | Track and field

Alex — who was born in Nashville + attended La Vergne High School — will be competing in the hammer throw event in his first Olympic games.

🏅Tyra Gittens | Swimming

Tyra became the most decorated female track athlete in Tennessee history during her time at Ensworth High School. She will compete for Trinidad and Tobago in the long jump.

🏅Tennys Sandgren | Tennis

As fate would have it, Tennys will represent the US men’s tennis team this year. Tennys was born and raised in Gallatin + went to UTK.

🏅Lily Williams | Track cycling

Although she hails from Tallahassee, Lily attended Vanderbilt University and competed on cross country and track teams in 2012-2016. She is set to make her Olympic debut in track cycling.

🏅Matthias Schwab | Golf

Matthias studied and played golf at Vanderbilt University, where he graduated in 2017. The pro golfer will represent his home country of Austria during the Olympic games.

ProTip: If you don’t have cable + are looking for ways to stream your favorite events, here’s how.

Poll

More from NASHtoday
Iroquois Steeplechase organizers are teasing a “bigger, bolder, and musical” event in 2026.
The Nashville Downtown Partnership’s latest annual report breaks down the numbers behind downtown’s growth in 2025.
Here’s what to know about match days at GEODIS Park as the Boys in Gold prepare for the 2026 season opener against the New England Revolution.
Both spots are open daily, whether you’re stopping by for breakfast or lunch.
Whether they love the outdoors, hands-on learning, or creative outlets, there’s something on this list for every kind of kid.
The free event returns to Nashville with a focus on weather safety and forecasting ahead of peak severe weather season.
The annual Great Backyard Bird Count attracts over one million bird lovers nationwide to help record the bird population — here’s how you can get involved in Nashville.
Some are brand new, others have been around for years — but all of these Nashville-area festivals are on the calendar for 2026.
Billy Strings? Check. Rascal Flatts? Check. It’s not a bad idea to triple-check this list and get your concert tickets before they sell out.
Volunteer opportunities are still available across Nashville, with options ranging from outreach efforts to in-person cleanups.