Before our eyes turn to 2028 when the Summer Olympics are returning to our backyard, we’re compelled to remember how much Long Beach representation there was in Paris. Snoop Dogg became the Games’ unofficial narrator, living every fan’s dream and bringing the event to life in a way only the D-O-Double-G could.
Adding to the media contingent, legendary athletes Tony Azevedo and Misty May-Treanor provided commentary for the water polo and volleyball competitions during NBC’s coverage.
There was also a special moment for Wilson High alum Lashinda Demus, who received a gold medal during a reallocation ceremony in Paris. Demus won silver in the 400 hurdles during the 2012 Games, but the athlete ahead of her was later disqualified for doping. The ceremony allowed Demus to become the first American ever to receive gold in that race.
In competition, there were a total of 21 athletes and coaches with Long Beach ties representing their countries in Paris, and they brought home a combined three Olympic medals.
The largest contingent of Long Beach athletes was in the pool, where the men’s water polo team won a thrilling shootout against Hungary to bring home the bronze medal. Four local athletes represented Team USA and each played a role in bringing home the seventh medal all-time for USA men’s water polo.
Wilson alum Max Irving was one of the veteran leaders for the team, and was supported by Long Beach natives Hannes Daube, and brothers Chase and Ryder Dodd. Long Beach State coach Gavin Arroyo was an assistant coach for the Americans, as that group claimed a handful of bronze medals to bring back to Long Beach.
Justine Wong-Orantes also has strong ties to the city and was the starting libero on the Team USA women’s volleyball team. She helped lead the Americans to the gold medal match where they came up short against Italy, but still brought home the team’s fourth ever silver medal.
There were also a number of young athletes competing in their first Olympic Games in Paris, and they’ll surely be hungry to get back to the biggest stage in sports when it comes to Los Angeles and Long Beach in less than four years.
