Ole Miss Rebels Ready to Represent in Tokyo for Summer Olympic Games

TOKYO – After a yearlong delay, five former Ole Miss standouts and one current volunteer coach are set to represent their home countries at the Games of the XXXII Olympiad – the 2020 Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan that were rescheduled due to the global COVID-19 pandemic.

Those six – Sam Kendricks (Team USA, track & field), Brittney Reese (Team USA, track & field), Raven Saunders (Team USA, track & field), Rafaelle Souza (Team Brazil, soccer), Ali Weisz (Team USA, shooting), and Ole Miss track & field volunteer coach Jessica Ramsey (Team USA, track & field) – are either already in Tokyo or en route over the next several days to an Olympics unlike any other. Strict COVID-19 measures are in place across Japan, and recently the decision was made to completely restrict fan attendance at all competitions following a declaration of a national state of emergency.

That said, this is still potentially a once-in-a-lifetime experience for first-timers like Weisz or Ramsey, and a chance for additional glory for returnees Kendricks, Reese, Saunders and Souza. Action is already underway for Souza, who started and played all 90 minutes in Brazil‘s 5-0 victory over China in the beginning of women’s Group F action early Wednesday morning. Competition for the rest of the Rebel delegation picks up after the Opening Ceremonies.

Fans can watch all the Olympic action live on the NBC family of networks or online at NBCOlympics.com.

Ole Miss Olympians
Sam Kendricks – Team USA – Track & Field (Men’s Pole Vault)
Jessica Ramsey (volunteer coach) – Team USA – Track & Field (Women’s Shot Put)
Brittney Reese – Team USA – Track & Field (Women’s Long Jump)
Raven Saunders – Team USA – Track & Field (Women’s Shot Put)
Rafaelle Souza – Team Brazil – Women’s Soccer
Ali Weisz – Team USA – Shooting (Women’s 10m Air Rifle / Mixed Team 10m Air Rifle)