Paris 2024 Summer Olympics: Former, current Florida college athletes competing this year

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PARIS, FRANCE - APRIL 21: The Paris 2024 logo, representing the Olympic Games is displayed near the Eiffel Tower three months prior to the start of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic games on April 21, 2024 in Paris, France. The city is gearing up

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The Paris Summer 2024 Olympics kicked off Friday with an iconic opening ceremony showcasing the city's culture, a parade of athletes, and the lighting of the Olympic cauldron. Of the 10,500 athletes competing this year, some are college athletes from Florida.

Athletes from the University of South Florida, the University of Central Florida, and the University of Florida all traveled to Europe to compete for their share of Olympic gold medals.

University of Central Florida

Five athletes from the University of Central Florida are currently in Paris for the Olympics and one is competing in the Paralympics at the end of August.

Those competing are:

Kyle Coon - Paralympic triathlon
Malacchi Esadale - Men's rugby, Team USA
Sarai Linder - Women's soccer, Team Germany
Julie Poulsen - Four portion of rowing, Team Denmark
Viktorija Senkute - Single skulls for rowing, Team Lithuania
Kristen Thomas - Women's rugby, Team USA

University of South Florida

Six Bulls from the University of South Florida are set to compete at the Paris Olympics this summer.

Those competing are:

Zahria Allers-Liburd - 100 meter race, Team St. Kitts & Nevis
Abdul-Rasheed Saminu - 4x100 meter relay, Team Ghana
Katie Kitching - Women's soccer, Team New Zealand
Bethy Mununga - Women's basketball, Team Belgium
Evelyn Viens - Women's soccer, Team Canada
Romaine Beckford - High jump, Team Jamaica

University of Florida

The University of Florida has 41 former and current Gators in Paris competing for the gold.

Those competing in swimming are:

Amro Al-Wir - 200 Breaststroke, Team Jordan
Maha Amer - 3-Meter Springboard, Team Egypt
Julie Brousseau - 4x200 Meter Springboard, Team Canada
Caelen Dressel - 100 Butterfly, 50 Freestyle, 4x100 Free Relay, Team USA
Bobby Finke - 800 Freestyle, 1500 Freestyle, Team USA
Josh Liendo - 500 Freestyle, 100 Butterfly, 100 Freestyle, 4x100 Free Relay, 4x100 Medley Relay, Team Canada
Jonny Marshall - 100 Backstroke, Team Great Britain
Nicole Maier - 4x200 Free Relay, Team Germany
Aleksas Savickas - 200 Breaststroke, Team Lithuania
Alberto Mestre - 400 Freestyle, 800 Freestyle, Team Venezuela
Kieran Smith - 400 Freestyle, Team USA
Emma Weyant - 400 IM, Team USA
Luke Whitlock - 800 Freestyle, Team USA