AAU Alumni at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games
07/27/2021
More than 150 AAU Alumni are set to participate at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games for more than five (5) different countries.
ORLANDO, Fla. - The AAU is proud to have more than 150 AAU alumni competing in this year's Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo. Five (5) different countries are represented besides the United States inlcuding Nigeria, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, and France.
Also, France carries an AAU alum and well-known basketball star, Gabby Williams. Williams is a two-time NCAA national champion and former University of Connecticut forward. From having a stellar collegiate career at UCONN to now playing for the Los Angeles Sparks, Williams is at the peak of her career. Growing up, Williams was an active member of the AAU circuit. In addition to winning championships in basketball, she also excelled in AAU Track and Field at the 2011 AAU Junior Olympic Games where she took home bronze in high jump. This will be Williams’ first ever appearance at the Games where she hopes to bring back France’s first ever gold in the Women’s Basketball event.
Kendell Williams, an Olympic medal hopeful in the women’s heptathlon, is also an AAU Track and Field alum. As an AAU member, Williams was a force to be reckoned with. She won approximately 40 AAU National Championships throughout her amateur career and still holds a total of six (6) records for AAU Track and Field. Williams went on to have a fantastic collegiate career at the University of Georgia where she became a seven-time NCAA Division I Champion. Heading into her second Olympics, Williams hopes to turn her 17th place finish in Rio to a first-place finish in Tokyo.
Not only have great athletes been produced through the AAU, but great friendships have been formed as well. Bradley Beal and Jayson Tatum are just one of the many examples of bonds formed from playing in the AAU. The NBA players grew up playing on the same AAU Basketball team. After each having a top-notch year for their teams, they are rejoining forces to bring home another gold for USA Men’s basketball.
Ariel Torres is another big name to watch at the 2020 Olympic Games. An AAU member from 2008 to 2017, he is hoping to take home the gold in karate’s Olympic debut. As an AAU athlete, Torres won first at AAU Nationals in 2009 and 2014. His professional career has carried over the winning mentality by winning gold at the Pan American Karate Championships in 2019 and the Olympic Qualification Tournament in France earlier this year. Now ranking tenth in the world for kata karate, Torres will be one to watch during his time at the Olympics.
Anastasija Zolotic, the teenager from Largo, Florida who just won gold on Sunday, July 25, is also an AAU alumna. Competing in AAU Taekwondo from the ages of eight through seventeen, Zolotic was a key member for AAU Taekwondo in South Florida. She moved on from AAU competition at the age of 17 and went on to win gold at the Lima 2019 Pan American Games. Zolotic’s gold medal at the Olympics only makes her want to work harder as she matures through the sport.
The AAU would like to wish all AAU alumni the best of luck as they participate at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic games.
A list of AAU alumni competing in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics can be found here.
Also, France carries an AAU alum and well-known basketball star, Gabby Williams. Williams is a two-time NCAA national champion and former University of Connecticut forward. From having a stellar collegiate career at UCONN to now playing for the Los Angeles Sparks, Williams is at the peak of her career. Growing up, Williams was an active member of the AAU circuit. In addition to winning championships in basketball, she also excelled in AAU Track and Field at the 2011 AAU Junior Olympic Games where she took home bronze in high jump. This will be Williams’ first ever appearance at the Games where she hopes to bring back France’s first ever gold in the Women’s Basketball event.
Kendell Williams, an Olympic medal hopeful in the women’s heptathlon, is also an AAU Track and Field alum. As an AAU member, Williams was a force to be reckoned with. She won approximately 40 AAU National Championships throughout her amateur career and still holds a total of six (6) records for AAU Track and Field. Williams went on to have a fantastic collegiate career at the University of Georgia where she became a seven-time NCAA Division I Champion. Heading into her second Olympics, Williams hopes to turn her 17th place finish in Rio to a first-place finish in Tokyo.
Not only have great athletes been produced through the AAU, but great friendships have been formed as well. Bradley Beal and Jayson Tatum are just one of the many examples of bonds formed from playing in the AAU. The NBA players grew up playing on the same AAU Basketball team. After each having a top-notch year for their teams, they are rejoining forces to bring home another gold for USA Men’s basketball.
Ariel Torres is another big name to watch at the 2020 Olympic Games. An AAU member from 2008 to 2017, he is hoping to take home the gold in karate’s Olympic debut. As an AAU athlete, Torres won first at AAU Nationals in 2009 and 2014. His professional career has carried over the winning mentality by winning gold at the Pan American Karate Championships in 2019 and the Olympic Qualification Tournament in France earlier this year. Now ranking tenth in the world for kata karate, Torres will be one to watch during his time at the Olympics.
Anastasija Zolotic, the teenager from Largo, Florida who just won gold on Sunday, July 25, is also an AAU alumna. Competing in AAU Taekwondo from the ages of eight through seventeen, Zolotic was a key member for AAU Taekwondo in South Florida. She moved on from AAU competition at the age of 17 and went on to win gold at the Lima 2019 Pan American Games. Zolotic’s gold medal at the Olympics only makes her want to work harder as she matures through the sport.
The AAU would like to wish all AAU alumni the best of luck as they participate at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic games.
A list of AAU alumni competing in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics can be found here.
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