Fairfax County and Northern Virginia have a rich history of producing world-class athletes who have competed on the grandest stage—the Olympic Games. From track and field stars to elite divers and soccer players, these local athletes have proudly represented Team USA, bringing home medals and making history. Some of these athletes even competed in the Paris Summer Olympics in 2024 (and won medals!) Here's a look at some of the top Olympians from our region who have made their mark on the world.
Claire Collins
Image Courtesy US Rowing
Sport: Women’s Four Rowing
Fairfax Connection: From McLean, VA
Fun Fact: After nearly 30 years, women’s four rowing returned to the Olympic games in 2024. Claire is a multi-medalist in a variety of prestigious national and international competitions, including the World Rowing Championships.
More about Claire
Hadley Husisian
Image Courtesy US Fencing's Facebook
Sport: Fencing
Fairfax Connection: Attended Potomac School in McLean, VA
Fun Fact: In 2022, Hadley was ranked No. 1 in the world for Junior Women’s Épée while also winning a bronze medal with Team USA. She was first introduced to fencing while watching the Nickelodeon show iCarly (Season 1, Episode 22: iFence).
More about Hadley
Noah Lyles
Sport: Athletics
Fairfax Connection: From Alexandria, VA and graduated from Alexandria City High School
Fun Fact: Lyles won gold and set his personal record in the 100m sprint at 9.78 seconds during the 2024 Paris Olympics, which was the first gold medal the Team USA won in the mens 100m. Noah also competed in the 200m and won the bronze medal with a time of 19.70 seconds.
More about Noah
Torri Huske
Image Courtesy USA Swimming's Facebook
Sport: Swimming
Fairfax Connection: Grew up in Arlington, VA and graduated from Yorktown High School
Fun Fact: At the age of 19, Torri won the women's 100m butterfly world title, earning her the title of the queen of butterfly swimming. However, early in her career, she didn't enjoy swimming and preferred other sports instead. Tori won gold in the women's 100m butterfly and helped her team win silver in the women's 4x100m freestyle relay.
More about Torri
Greg Duncan
Image Courtesy USA Diving's Facebook
Sport: Diving
Fairfax Connection: Grew up in Oakton, VA
Fun Fact: At the age of 12, Greg began diving just for fun. Last year, he and his partner earned their spot on Team USA by winning the men's synchronized 3m event at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials.
More about Greg
Griffin Yow
Sport: Soccer
Fairfax Connection: Grew up in Clifton, VA
Fun Fact: His biggest role model is Lists Kylian Mbappe and is the proud owner of two pugs named Puma and Pele. In the 2024 olympics, he played an important role in advancing Team USA to the quarterfinals before falling to Morocco.
More about Griffin
Grant Hill
Sport: Men’s Basketball
Fairfax Connection: Grew up in Reston, VA; Attended South Lakes High School
Fun Fact: Grant Hill played for five USA Basketball teams, winning two gold medals and one bronze medal. In the NBA, he played for four teams during his nearly 20-year professional career and was a 7-time NBA All-Star. He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2018. After the Tokyo Olympics, Grant Hill will become the Managing Director of the USA Men’s National Team.
More about Grant Hill
Mia Hamm
Sport: Women’s Soccer
Fairfax Connection: Attended Lake Braddock Secondary School in Burke, VA
Fun Fact: In 1989, Mia Hamm played for Lake Braddock Secondary School, helping to lead the soccer team to a state championship. Today she is arguably one of the world’s most famous athletes, having won two FIFA Women’s World Cup titles and two Olympic gold medals in her career. She continues to be one of the most pivotal forces in the growth of women’s professional soccer, was a founding member of the first professional women’s soccer league in the U.S., and was the first woman to be inducted into the World Football Hall of Fame.
More about Mia Hamm
Allen Johnson
Sport: Track & Field
Fairfax Connection: Attended Lake Braddock Secondary School in Burke, VA
Fun Fact: Allen Johnson is a three-time Olympian who took home the gold medal in the 1996 Summer Games at the 110m hurdles event and is a four-time gold medalist in the IAAF World Championships in Athletics. He officially retired in 2010.
More about Allen Johnson
Alan Webb
Sport: Track & Field
Fairfax Connection: Attended South Lakes High School in Reston, VA
Fun Fact: Alan Webb represented Team USA in the 2004 Summer Olympic Games in the men’s 1500m race and still holds the American national record in the mile, with a time of 3 minutes. He retired from the sport in 2014.
More about Alan Webb
Michael Weiss
Sport: Figure skating
Fairfax Connection: Attended Woodson High School in Fairfax, VA
Fun Fact: From a family of champion figure skaters, Michael Weiss is a two-time Olympian, a two-time bronze medalist in the World Figure Skating Championships, and a three-time national champion who was inducted into the U.S. Figure Skating Hall of Fame in 2018.
More about Michael Weiss
Maame Biney
Sport: Speed Skating
Fairfax Connection: Originally from Ghana and moved to Reston, VA
Fun Fact: Maame Biney was first introduced to the ice at Reston's SkateQuest and the rest is history. She made her mark as the youngest AND first African American woman to make the U.S. Olympic women’s short-track speed-skating team.
More about Maame Biney
Melissa Belote
Image Courtesy Public Domain/Wikipedia
Sport: Women's Swimming
Fairfax Connection: Grew up in Springfield, VA; Attended JAG High School
Fun Fact: Melissa Belote, initially considered an outsider at the U.S. Final Trials, won three gold medals in her first Olympic Games. At the 1972 Olympics in Munich, she set a world record in the 200m and was the only female swimmer to win more than one individual title.
More about Melissa Belote
Do you know of other famous athletes from Fairfax County? Tell us in the comments below or join the conversation on social media using #FXVA and @VisitFairfax. Be sure to tune in to the 2024 Summer Olympic Games in the City of Love from July 26 through August 11, 2024, to see if any of our hometown athletes bring home gold!
