Three Former Spartans Competing in Paris Olympics
7/23/2024 11:46:00 AM | General, Track and Field, Women's Basketball
Tori Franklin and Heath Baldwin represent the U.S. in Track & Field, while Shay Colley will play for Canada women's basketball.
Michigan State will have three former athletes competing in the 2024 Paris Olympics. Tori Franklin (triple jump) and Heath Baldwin (decathlon) will be competing for the United States in track & field, while Shay Colley will represent Canada in women's basketball.
The Big Ten will also be well represented in Paris. Of the 593 U.S. athletes heading to Paris this summer, 446 (75%) competed collegiately across 172 institutions. In total, 116 current/former B1G athletes will represent Team USA in Paris; the Big Ten is one of only three conferences in the nation that has 100% school representation on the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team.
Tori Franklin | Chicago, Ill.
Tori Franklin - Triple Jump
- Franklin made her second Olympic Team after finishing 25th in the 2020 Tokyo Games.
- Earned a bronze medal in the 2022 World Championships.
- Holds the Michigan State indoor (13.56m (44-6) - 2014) and outdoor (13.41m (44-0) - 2013) school records in the triple jump.
- Three-time Big Ten Champion.
The first time you go to the Olympics is very stressful in general. You're young, new and it's the Olympics! And when you add all that was going in the world, and not having family or friends there to support you can be very difficult experience; it was for me at least. This time around, I feel so much more prepared, more relaxed, more confident and extremely excited to know that my family and friends will be in the stands watching. I can't wait to soak it all in.Tori Franklin on making her second Olympic games.
Heath Baldwin | Kalamazoo, Mich.
Heath Baldwin - Decathlon
- Baldwin won the U.S. Track & Field Championships/Trials with a score of 8,625 points. This will be his first Olympics.
- Chose to wear Michigan State uniform and represent Sparty prior to signing a professional deal with Nike.
- First Spartan Olympian in the decathlon since Paul Terek in 2004.
- Holds the Michigan State record in the heptathlon (6,238 - 2024) and decathlon (8,470 - 2024)
- Runner up at the 2024 NCAA Indoor Championships in the heptathlon.
When I got back to East Lansing, I was sitting in my room and I was like, ‘oh, yeah. I’m actually going to the Olympics. That’s pretty wild.’ It took a couple days but once I got back here and started getting back into training on the track and everything it started to feel a little more real.Heath Bardwin on making his first Olympic games.
I think I’ve had a lot of good coaches and people around me here [at MSU] that have helped me out a lot. I’ve got a really good strength coach, and I’ve had a couple of really good jumps coaches that have worked with me. I think I’ve felt really comfortable with all of them and I’ve been able to be myself and figure things out on a more personal level with them which has also really helped me out a bunch. I love the people here and the community, and I’ve gotten great support from the track program.
Shay Colley | Brampton, Ontario
Shay Colley - Women's Basketball
- Competing in her second Olympics with Team Canada.
- Team Canada qualified for their fourth-straight Olympic Games, finishing third in one of four FIBA Women's Olympic Qualification Tournaments last February.
- Colley played three seasons at Michigan State with her last season coming during the 2019-20 campaign.
It’s always an honour to represent my country (Canada) at any international competition! Although this is my second Olympics, it still feels like my first. Japan being my first, we really missed the fans and the excitement they bring to the game. So having that this time will be fun! I’m excited to play against the best players in the world.Shay Colley on representing Team Canada in her second Olympics.
Schedule of Events - Paris Olympics - Track & Field
Fri. 8/2
Women's Triple Jump Qualification - Franklin did not qualify for the final with a jump of 14.02m.
Decathlon Day 1 - First event at 4:05 a.m. ET, ends at 2:50 p.m. ET
Sat. 8/3
Decathlon Day 2 - Baldwin win finished 10th with 8,422 points
Schedule of Events - Paris Olympics - Canadian Women's Basketball
Group B - Canada, Nigeria, Australia, France
Pool Play
Mon. 7/29
France 75, Canada 54
Thurs. 8/1
Australia 70, Canada 65
Sun. 8/4
Nigeria 79, Canada 70