The United States’ contingent to this year’s Tokyo Olympics features 613 athletes, including 193 prior Olympians with 56 gold medals.
A sizable number of those athletes have ties to San Diego County. East County is not without representation.
Santana High School graduate Alex Bowen (men’s water polo), Grossmont High School alumnus Nick Christie (men’s 20K race walk) and Francis Parker School grad Nick Allen (baseball) are all competing in Japan this summer.
Bowen, 27, helped the Sultans win Grossmont North League titles in 2007-08 and Grossmont Valley League championships in 2009-10. He holds the San Diego Section record with 547 goals.
The 2010 SHS graduate earned First team All-American honors all four years at Stanford University where he scored more than 200 goals. He currently plays professionally in Greece.
Christie, 29, captured first place at the U.S. Olympic Trials in 1:30:48. He qualified for Tokyo after slipping into the top 60 walkers in the world rankings. The five-time NAIA All-American has won 19 national championships ranging from one mile to 50K.
Allen, a participant in the 2016 Perfect Game All-American Classic at Petco Park while collecting a .372 hitting average with 119 runs scored and 63 RBI in 124 career games as a prep, is rated as the top defensive shortstop prospect in baseball while playing in the Oakland A’s development organization.
Allen, 22, recently turned in a 15-game hitting streak for Double-A Midland. In 50 games this season, the third-round pick (81st overall) in the 2017 MLB draft, has compiled a .319 hitting average with 31 runs scored, 31 RBI and six home runs.
According to those in the A’s organization, his development will continue in Tokyo and will shine a larger spotlight on him.
Many on the 2020 Team USA contingent got their start at the 155-acre Olympic Training Center-Chula Vista (now the Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center), including the men’s and women’s rugby sevens teams that now call the complex home.
The American men got off to a meteoric 2-0 start with victories over Kenya (19-14) and Ireland (19-17) in the opening round of competition on July 26.
The men’s competition continues through July 28 with medal rounds and the championship game, followed by opening round play in the women’s division July 28-29. The women’s playoffs and finals are scheduled July 31.
