10 Military Athletes Who Are Also Olympians: Part 1
Posted on July 29, 2016 by Katie Lange
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By Katie Lange
DoD News, Defense Media Activity
The wait for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janiero is almost over! You’re probably excited about watching at least a few of the events this year, so did you know there are a handful of U.S. military members on the 555-person roster? Somehow they manage to find time to serve our country and be world-class athletes. So, to make sure they get the accolades they deserve, here is a little about each one of them (Part 1- be sure to check back for Part 2):
Sam Kendricks, Army:
Army 2nd Lt. Sam Kendricks competes in the preliminary round of the men's pole vault on July 2, 2016, at the U.S. Olympic track and field trials in Eugene, Oregon. He placed in the prelims and went on to secure a spot on the U.S. Olympic team during the finals. Army photos by David Vergun
Army 2nd Lt. Sam Kendricks competes in the preliminary round of the men’s pole vault on July 2, 2016, at the U.S. Olympic track and field trials in Eugene, Oregon. He placed in the prelims and went on to secure a spot on the U.S. Olympic team during the finals. Army photos by David Vergun
Army Reservist 2nd Lt. Sam Kendricks, 23, of Oxford, Mississippi, didn’t just pole vault himself to Rio this year – he broke an Olympic trials record! Kendricks came in first at the event, clearing the bar at 5.91 meters (19 feet, 4.75 inches for those of us non-metric system users). He’s ranked 2nd in the world at the sport, which bodes well for putting him in medal contention.
Kendricks spent four years in the Army ROTC during college, graduating as a second lieutenant in 2015. He’s currently with the 655th Transportation Company in Millington, Tennessee. Once his Olympic experience is over, he’ll be heading to the Basic Officer Leadership Course at Fort Lee, Virginia.
Keith Sanderson, Army:
http://www.dodlive.mil/index.php/2016/07/10-military-athletes-who-are-also-olympians-part-1/
