Chicagoland Olympians

By Benjy Lipsman in News on Aug 11, 2004 4:39AM

When the Summer Olympics open this week, 13 athletes from the Chicagoland area will be taking part in the Opening Ceremony. Marching under the banners of three nations, they also represent a wide range of sports. Some are among the most well known in major sports while others compete in obscurity. But all have worked tirelessly to reach the pinnacles of their sports and have the opportunity to compete on the world stage .

Below is the complete list of Chicago area Olympians:

• Yolanda Griffith - Women's Basketball


• Tamika Catchings - Women's Basketball


• Dwyane Wade - Men's Basketball


• Jasna Reed - Table Tennis


• Ilija Lupulesku - Table Tennis


• Jonny Huang - Table Tennis (Canada)


• Tom Hoff - Men's Volleyball


• Kevin Barnett - Men's Volleyball


• Jamie Schroeder - Rowing


• Jillian Schwartz - Pole Vault


• Connie Moore - Track


• Ginny Georgantas - Softball (Greece)


• Joe Williams - Wrestling

Chicagoist wishes them all good luck in Athens.

While Chicago has never had the opportunity to host the Olympics, Chicagoist bets you didn't know that we were supposed to host the 3rd Olympiad 100 years ago. However, St. Louis stole the games from Chicago. Learn all about what transpired at the Hellenic Museum and Cultural Center's Excavating the History/Mystery of the 1904 Chicago Olympic Games exhibit, open now through November 14, 2004.