Four medals came out of the Longhorns in the various Olympic track and field events. Out of five past and current athletes sent by the program, three medaled and one still has an opportunity to step onto the podium.
Julien Alfred and Ryan Crouser made their way to the top of the podium with the weight of history in their names.
Runner Alfred graduated from Texas in 2023 and became the first medalist for the small Caribbean nation Saint Lucia a year later. Alfred defeated favorite Sha’Carri Richardson of the United States, who finished second in the 100-meter sprint. With the win, Alfred could officially call herself the fastest woman in the world.
But that wasn’t all for her.
Alfred returned to the track for the 200-meter dash, earning a second medal for her and her country. The sprinter won silver in the race, falling behind Gabby Thomas, a Harvard graduate pursuing her master of public health at UT.
While Alfred was in her first games, Crouser, the shot put champion, was in his third. In his three times competing in the Olympics, he won the gold medal in all — making him the first to do so in the event in the history of the Olympic Games.
Leo Neugebauer competed for multiple days before earning his silver medal in the decathlon for Germany. The recent Texas graduate was the University’s male representative in the Big 12 Athlete of the Year nominations but ultimately lost the title to Houston basketball’s Jamal Shead.
The NCAA heptathlon and decathlon champion led the field on the first day of competition with 4,650 points. On the second day, the German star ran the 110-meter hurdles in 14.51 seconds, threw the second-farthest throw in his group in discus with 53.33 meters, and cleared five meters in the pole vault to maintain his lead at 7,410 points.
But on the last day of the tournament, the competition between him and Norway’s Markus Rooth increased. With Neugebauer falling short of his rival in the two final events, the javelin throw and the 1500-meter race, Rooth earned the gold and Neugebauer the silver.
Ackelia Smith was the last Longhorn to complete her series at Stade de France, finishing seventh in her first appearance in the Olympic triple jump with her final attempt of 14.42 meters. Out of the Olympic track and field group, Smith is the only one returning to Austin in the fall to start her junior year.
Texas alumna Tara Davis-Woodhall qualified first in the women’s long-jump groups and will have her shot at the gold medal on Aug. 8 in the event finals.
