U.S. Olympic Committee Announces 623-Member 2015 U.S. Pan American Team 2015 U.S. Pan American Team

Press Release

The United States Olympic Committee today announced the 623-member 2015 U.S. Pan American Team that will compete at the XVII Pan American Games from July 10-26 in Toronto. The current U.S. roster is comprised of 331 men and 302 women, which includes the preliminary 24-player lineup for the men’s basketball team that will be trimmed to 12 by July 15. Additionally, one male and one female replacement athlete are expected to be named in the coming days for track and field to complete the 623-member team.

“Every four years the Pan American Games afford U.S. athletes the rare opportunity to represent their country in a multi-sport setting outside the Olympic Games,” said USOC CEO Scott Blackmun. “Some of the most decorated U.S. athletes in their sports will be competing alongside athletes representing the United States for the first time, and I’m confident this group will make our nation proud. The Pan Am Games are especially important for the 10 sports that have direct Olympic qualification on the line, and we are excited to support all our athletes in every way possible.”

The 2015 U.S. Pan American squad features 111 Olympians, including 38 Olympic medalists and 20 Olympic champions. Headlining the roster is swimmer Natalie Coughlin (Vallejo, Calf.), who is one of the three most decorated women in U.S. Olympic history with 12 medals. Also highlighting the list of accomplished U.S. athletes is six-time Olympic medalist in swimming Allison Schmitt (Canton, Mich.) and five-time Olympic medalist in shooting Kim Rhode (El Monte, Calif.), who own three gold medals apiece.  

With five Olympic appearances, Rhode is also one of the most seasoned athletes on the team along with Olympic bronze medalist Khatuna Lorig (archery; Chula Vista, Calif.), Olympic silver medalist Emil Milev (shooting; Tampa, Fla.) and two-time Olympic champion Phillip Dutton (equestrian; West Grove, Pa.), who are also seeking their sixth Olympic berths. The roster also features four, four-time Olympians, including Tony Azevedo (water polo; Long Beach, Calif.), Glenn Eller (shooting; Columbus, Ga.), Steven Lopez (taekwondo; Sugar Land, Texas) and Hunter Kemper (triathlon; Colorado Springs, Colo.).

Other notable athletes on the U.S. roster include defending Olympic champions Jordan Burroughs (wrestling; Sicklerville, N.J.), Kayla Harrison (judo; Middletown, Ohio), Claressa Shields (boxing; Flint, Mich.) and Jenn Suhr (track and field; Fredonia, N.Y.), along with four members from the 2012 U.S. Olympic gold medal-winning women’s water polo team. Also highlighting the roster are two-time Olympic champions McLain Ward (equestrian; Brewster, N.Y.) and Mariel Zagunis (fencing; Beaverton, Ore.). 

“Our 2015 roster is not only our biggest team to date, but one of our best,” said Alan Ashley, U.S. chef de mission and USOC chief of sport performance. “The Pan American Games often serve as a pathway to Olympic qualification, but more than that, they bring our athletes together as one Team USA. This event is a career highlight for our athletes and staff, and we look forward to 17 days of friendly, world-class competition in Toronto.”

Team USA will be competing in every sport on the Pan American Games program, with the exception of soccer and team handball. Additionally, U.S. athletes will be seeking Olympic qualification in 10 sports, including canoe/kayak, diving, equestrian, field hockey, pentathlon, shooting, synchronized swimming, table tennis, triathlon and water polo. In addition, athletes competing in badminton, sailing, taekwondo, tennis and weightlifting can receive ranking points toward qualification, while track and field athletes and swimmers can earn minimum qualification standards for Olympic Trials.

For the first time, the entire Olympic program will be contested at the Pan American Games in 2015. The 17-day competition will feature more than 6,000 athletes from all 41 member nations of the Pan American Sports Organization competing in 37 sports, making it the largest multi-sport event ever held in Canada. The 2015 event will feature the Pan Am Games debut of golf, canoe slalom, women’s baseball and women’s rugby, while men’s softball returns after a 12-year absence.  

The 2015 U.S. Pan American Team roster may be adjusted due to injury, illness or exceptional circumstances up to the technical meetings for each sport. 

Fun facts about the 2015 U.S. Pan American Team:

• The 2015 roster features 111 Olympians – including 38 Olympic medalists and 20 Olympic champions. 
• The roster includes 12 Youth Olympians, including nine medalists. Of those athletes, two have also competed at the Olympic Games, including fencer Alexander Massialas and table tennis player Lily Zhang.
• Five athletes have served as U.S. flag bearers at either the Olympic or Youth Olympic Games, including Hannah Carson (2010 Youth Olympic Games), Khatuna Lorig (2008 Olympic Games, Bryshon Nellum (2012 Olympic Games), Richelle Stephens (2014 Youth Olympic Games), Mariel Zagunis (2012 Olympic Games).
• Three members from the team competed at the 1995 Pan American Games, including Steven Lopez (taekwondo), Jimmy Butler (table tennis) and Liz Johnson (bowling). 
• Forty-six states are represented with 159 athletes hailing from California, 48 from New York and 44 from Florida.*
• The oldest and youngest members of the team – men’s sailor Augie Diaz, 61, and table tennis player Kanak Jha, 15 – are separated by 46 years. Additionally, there are 18 athletes who are 40 and over. 
• Team USA features two sets of siblings, including identical twins Jenny and Monica Rokhman (rhythmic gymnastics) and sisters Julia and Katie Reinprecht (field hockey). The roster also includes two husband and wife duos in Kara and Russ Winger (track and field), and Emily Brunemann (open water swimming) and Michael Klueh (swimming). Rounding out the list of family ties are sailors Mark Modderman and daughter Grace Modderman.
• Forty-nine members of Team USA have children; there are 34 fathers and 15 mothers.*
• Twenty-one U.S. athletes have ties to the military, including eight shooters and five wrestlers.*