BOSTON – For the 36th straight Olympic Games (18 summer, 18 winter) dating back to 1952, Boston University will have representation, as women's swimming & diving's Julimar Avila, field hockey's Ella Gunson and women's rowing's Anna Weis (sailing) get set to compete in the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.

Fans are encouraged to check this page throughout the Games for links and updates on our Olympians. 
 

Name	Sport	Country	NBC Olympics	Misc.
Julimar Avila	swimming (200 fly)	Honduras	Link	@TerrierSwimDive (Twitter) @TerrierSwimDive (Instagram)
Ella Gunson	field hockey	New Zealand	Link	@BlackSticks (Twitter) @BlackSticks (Instagram)
Anna Weis	sailing (nacra 17)	United States	Link	@weisanna (Instagram) @USSailingTeam (Twitter) @USSailingTeam (Instagram)

BU AT THE OLYMPICS (history)

• Boston University students have combined for 42 medals with Thomas Burke (LAW'1897) the first to reach the podium after he won gold in both the 100-meter dash and 400-meter run at the first modern Olympic Games in 1896 (Athens) for the United States.
• The city of Tokyo is hosting the Summer Olympics for the second time ever, and coincidentally, BU had three athletes competing there as well back in 1964. Men's rowing alum Ted Nash (DGE'54) won bronze in the coxless four after capturing gold in the same event in 1960 (Rome), and track & field alum John Thomas (Wheelock'63) claimed the silver in the high jump. Both men represented the United States, while fellow BU Hall of Famer John Lawlor (CAS'60, GRS'63, GRS'70) represented Ireland in the hammer event.
• Avila and Gunson will try to become the first-ever Terriers to win a medal in their respective sport, while Weis will try to become the first to reach the podium in sailing since BU Hall of Famer Lynne Jewell (Wheelock'81) claimed gold in 1988 (Seoul).

JULIMAR AVILA – Honduras (swimming: 200m butterfly)

A native of Hyde Park, Massachusetts, Avila is a dual citizen of the U.S. and Honduras. Both her parents were born in Honduras along with her three older siblings. The former BU team captain was a three-time All-Conference honoree for the Terriers, including a First Team member in 2019 when she claimed points in the 50 free, 100 fly, 200 fly and 400 free relay at the Patriot League Championships. She is making her first appearance at the Olympics.

EVENT SCHEDULE
TUESDAY, JULY 27
Women's 200m Butterfly - Heat 2
Avila swam a time of 2:15.36 to beat her entry time by three seconds and more impressively the Honduras national record by nearly two seconds to become the first-ever Honduras swimmer to advance out of the prelims at the Olympics.
Recap 1 | Recap 2 | Watch Replay (NBCOlympics) (start around 33:50)

Women's 200m Butterfly - Semifinals 1
On Wednesday morning in Tokyo, Avila swam a time of 2:16.38 in her final race at the Olympics.
Recap | Watch Replay (NBCOlympics) (start around 31:35)

MEDIA COVERAGE
GoTerriers.com - The Making of an Olympian
Boston Globe - Avila took the plunge in Walden Pond on her journey to swim for Honduras in the Olympics
Boston Herald - From Weston to BU to Japan: Avila chases Olympic glory
Weston Town-Crier - Avila's Olympic journey embodies teamwork and the spirit of the games

ELLA GUNSON – New Zealand (field hockey)

A native of Whangarei, New Zealand, Gunson followed up on her 2012 Olympic Games (London) appearance for New Zealand by leading the Terriers in goals (9), assists (7) and points (25). She was named the 2012 America East Midfielder of the Year and an All-Conference First Team honoree. At the 2012 Olympics, New Zealand earned its highest-ever finish (fourth) after coming up just short to Great Britain in the bronze medal game, 3-1 and to the Netherlands in a semifinal shoot out, 2-1 (2-2 draw). She is making her second appearance at the Olympics.

EVENT SCHEDULE
Saturday, July 24: def. Argentina, 3-0
Earning the start, Gunson helped No. 6 New Zealand stun No. 2 Argentina in pool play. NZ scored all three goals in the second half with two coming via penalty corner. 
Recap | Watch Replay (NBCOlympics)

Monday, July 26: def. Japan, 2-1
Earning the start, Gunson helped No. 6 New Zealand remain perfect at the Olympics with a 2-1 win over host and No. 13 Japan. After allowing an early goal, NZ struck twice late in the first half.
Recap | Watch Replay (NBCOlympics)

Tuesday, July 27: lost to Spain, 2-1
Gunson earned her third start, as New Zealand dropped its first game at the Olympics. Spain scored the first two goals and held off a late rally.
Recap | Watch Replay (NBC Olympics)

Thursday, July 29: lost to Australia, 1-0
Gunson earned her fourth start, as New Zealand dropped a 1-0 decision. Australia scored the lone goal in the third quarter.
Recap | Watch Replay (NBCOlympics)

Friday, July 30: lost to China, 3-2
Besides starting her fifth game, Gunson scored her first goal of the Olympics in the 20th minute for an early 1-0 lead. China eventually broke a 2-2 deadlock in the 54th minute.
Recap | Watch Replay (NBCOlympics)

Monday, Aug. 2: eliminated by the Netherlands in the quarterfinals, 3-0
In the first knockout round game, New Zealand's Olympic medal campaign came to an end ,as starter Ella Gunson and her teammates fell to the world's No. 1 squad, the Netherlands, 3-0.
Recap | Watch Replay (NBCOlympics)

MEDIA COVERAGE
Black Sticks' YouTube - Built for Greatness: E. Gunson
Northern Advocate - Doing it for mum: Why Whangarei Black Stick E. Gunson became a constable

ANNA WEIS – United States (sailing: Nacra 17)

Before moving to Boston, the sailor Weis (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) was the U.S. Singlehanded National Champion in 2016. She joined the women's rowing team for the 2017-18 season and helped the Terriers' second varsity eight boat win silver at the Patriot League Championship while in the No. 6 seat. She later took a break from BU to focus on her Olympic campaign and will race in the Nacra 17 event with her skipper Riley Gibbs after they won gold at the 2019 Pan-American Games.

EVENT SCHEDULE
Wednesday, July 28
Through three races, Anna Weis and Riley Gibbs are currently in ninth place out of 20 boats.
Race 1 - 9th // Race 2 - 7th // Race 3 - 12th
Recap | Watch Replay (NBCOlympics) 

Wednesday, July 28-Thursday, July 29
Through six races, Anna Weis and Riley Gibbs are currently in 10th place out of 20 boats.
Race 4 - 6th // Race 5 - 11th // Race 6 - 13th
Recap | Watch Replay (NBCOlympics)

Friday, July 30-Saturday, July 31
Through nine races, Anna Weis and Riley Gibbs are currently in 10th place out of 20 boats.
Race 7 - 9th // Race 8 - 12th // Race 9 - 5th
Recap | Watch Replay (NBCOlympics)

Saturday, July 31-Sunday, Aug. 1
Anna Weis and Riley Gibbs had their best day of the Olympics with two top-five finishes to advance to the media round race. Currently in ninth place out of 20 boats (10 total advance), they are mathematically out of contention for a medal but will have the opportunity to finish as high as seventh in the competition. 
Race 10 - 13th // Race 11 - 4th // Race 12 - 5th
Recap | Watch Replay (NBC Olympics)

Tuesday, Aug. 3
Anna Weis and Riley Gibbs carried the momentum from their strong performance over the weekend to a third place finish in the medal round race, which featured 10 of the 20 participating boats. The duo finished the competition ninth overall.
Medal Race - 3rd // Overall - 9th
Recap | Watch Replay (NBC Olympics)

MEDIA COVERAGE
NBC 10 Boston - How sailor A. Weiss trained through the pandemic
NBC Miami - Broward native ready to set sail for Team USA at Tokyo Olympics
Boston Globe - A sailor put school at BU on hold to train for the Tokyo Olympics. Now, she's forced to navigate an uncharted course
TeamUSA - After detours on path to Tokyo, sailor A. Weis isn't concerned about a one-year delay
Scuttlebutt Sailing News - When it all comes together
U.S. Sailing YouTube: Women's Equality Day - A. Weiss
U.S. Sailing YouTube: Q&A with A. Weiss and R. Gibbs