It’s not the largest Olympic contingent that Long Beach has had, but the city is sending 17 athletes and coaches with local ties to the Tokyo Olympics, slated to begin this week with Opening Ceremonies on Friday evening. The city’s aquatic scene continues to be well represented with two water polo players in Max Irving and Hannes Daube, sailor Riley Gibbs, and a diver in McCormick Diver-trained Brandon Loschiavo.
Wilson, as always, remains the nation’s best prep producer of Olympians and will add another pair to their historic list with Gibbs and Irving. Shore Aquatics trained both of this year’s water polo players, which brings the local powerhouse club to a whopping 27 Olympians placed in the USA National teams since the 1996 Olympics.
The biggest change from the historic trends of the city is the emergence of the Long Beach State men’s volleyball team, which this year produced three Olympians, two alternates, and two Olympic coaches, a major highmark for the program. The Long Beach State diamond sports also are producing at a historic rate, with a trio of athletes competing in baseball and softball for Mexico this year.
Good luck to everyone from Long Beach making the trip–the562.org will be your home for Long Beach Olympic coverage from Tokyo this summer.
Athletes
Danny Espinosa, Baseball (LBSU alum)
Jonny Jones, Baseball (LBSU alum)
Taylor Crabb, Beach Volleyball (LBSU alum)
Brandon Loschiavo, Diving (McCormick Divers)
Riley Gibbs, Sailing (Wilson alum)
Suzy Brookshire, Softball (LBSU)
TJ DeFalco, Volleyball (LBSU alum)
Kyle Ensing, Volleyball (LBSU alum)
Dustin Watten, Volleyball (alternate; Wilson/LBSU alum)
Josh Tuaniga, Volleyball (alternate; LBSU alum)
Max Irving, Water Polo (Wilson alum, Shore Aquatics)
Hannes Daube, Water Polo (Shore Aquatics)
Coaches
Tyler Hildebrand, Beach Volleyball (LBSU)
LaTanya Sheffield, Track & Field (LBSU)
Matt Fuerbringer, Volleyball (LBSU)
Gavin Arroyo, Water Polo (LBSU)
Chris Oeding, Water Polo (LBCC)
