Military

How To Watch US Military Members and Vets in the Olympics: A Day-by-Day Viewing Guide

July 28, 2021David Bruce
US military Olympics

Sgt. Samantha Schultz will be competing in the modern pentathlon. The six-time national champion earned her spot for Tokyo at the 2019 Pan American Games, where she took home a silver medal. Photo courtesy of DVIDs.

Below is Coffee or Die Magazine’s guide to watching the 19 US military members and veterans competing for the US in the Tokyo Olympics. Check our day-by-day guide of when they are competing and in what events.


TV Viewing Note: NBC and its cable and online affiliates are broadcasting the Olympics. The times listed are in US Eastern Standard Time, which is 13 hours behind Tokyo. Generally, after late-night events, NBC replays or recaps events during coverage the next day on NBC, which has extensive broadcast hours during the day in the US. Other events may be covered live or replayed on NBC’s online affiliates. The streaming service Peacock has an archive of many full events.


July 28, 2:35 p.m.Women’s Sailing 470 (Two-Person Dinghy, July 28-Aug 2)


Nikole Barnes, Coast Guard lieutenant junior grade


Hometown: St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands


Barnes will be the first US Coast Guard officer to compete in the Olympics, along with her sailing partner Lara Dallman-Weiss.


Olympics watch guide
Lt j.g. Nikole “Nikki” Barnes of US Coast Guard Sector Miami, right at the tiller, trains with her sailing partner Lara Dallman-Weiss for the USA Women’s 470 Summer Olympics on March 1, 2020, Miami, Fla. Photo courtesy of US Coast Guard.

July 29, 8:30 p.m.3,000-Meter Steeplechase


Benard Keter, Army specialist


Hometown: Nakuru, Kenya


Keter placed fourth in the 2019 Pan American Games in Lima, Peru, and is an NJCAA 3,000-meter steeplechase national champion. 


Spc. Benard Keter is making his Olympic debut in the 3,000-meter steeplechase. The NJCAA champion grabbed his ticket to Tokyo after placing second at the Olympic trials during a record heat wave for the area. Photo courtesy of DVIDS.

July 30, 8:40 p.m.Pole Vault


Sam Kendricks, Army first lieutenant


(UPDATE, JULY 29  – Kendricks withdrew from competition due to a positive COVID-19 test)


Hometown: Oxford, Mississippi 


Kendricks won a bronze medal in the pole vault event in the 2016 Olympics.


July 31, 3 a.m.Women’s 10-Meter Air Rifle, 50-meter Rifle, Three Positions


Sagen Maddalena, Army specialist (smallbore rifle)


Hometown: Groveland, California


Maddalena is a four-time NRA First Team All-American in air rifle. 


Spc. Sagen Maddalena, a Groveland, Calif., native and a marksmanship instructor and competitive shooter for the US Army Marksmanship Unit, earned a spot on Team USA’s women’s 50-meter smallbore team after the Olympic trials at Fort Benning, Ga., May 26, 2021. Photo courtesy of DVIDS.

Aug. 1 (times TBD)Greco-Roman Wrestling (times vary by weight class)


John Stefanowicz, Marine Corps staff sergeant


Hometown: Jacksonville, North Carolina 


Stefanowicz is a two-time gold medalist at the Pan American Wrestling Championships. 


Ildar Hafizov, Army sergeant


Hometown: Tashkent, Uzbekistan 


Prior to enlisting in the US Army, Ildar Hafizov competed for Uzbekistan in the 2008 Olympics.


Alejandro Sancho, Army specialist


Hometown: Miami, Florida


Sancho defeated former Olympian Ellis Coleman in the US Olympic trials to secure his spot at the Olympics. 


Sgt. Ildar Hafizov, left, and Spc. Alejandro Sancho will represent the United States at the Summer Olympics in Tokyo. Photo courtesy of DVIDS.

Aug. 1, 10:30 p.m.Men’s 50-Meter Rifle


Patrick Sunderman, Army sergeant (50-meter rifle, three positions)


Hometown: Farmington, Minnesota 


Sunderman is a West Virginia University graduate and a former member of the West Virginia National Guard.


Aug. 5, 12 a.m.Men’s Modern Pentathlon


Amro El Geziry, Army sergeant


Hometown: Colorado Springs, Colorado


El Geziry competed in the 2008, 2012, and 2016 Olympics for Egypt. This is his first event representing the United States. 


Aug. 6, 1:30 a.m. — Women’s Modern Pentathlon


Samantha Schultz, Army sergeant


Hometown: Littleton, Colorado


Schultz won the silver medal in the 2019 Pan American Games in Lima, Peru. 


Aug. 24 to Sept. 5Paralympic Swimming 


Elizabeth Marks, Army sergeant first class


Hometown: Prescott Valley, Arizona


Elizabeth Marks was injured in Iraq in 2010 and spent much of her time rehabilitating in a pool. She won four gold medals at the 2016 Invictus Games.


Aug. 24 to Sept. 5 — Paralympic Shooting


Kevin Nguyen, Army staff sergeant (10-meter, 50-meter)


Hometown: Westminster, California


Nguyen took home the gold in the mixed 50-meter rifle prone event in the 2019 Pan American Games.


John Joss, Army sergeant first class (50-meter)


Hometown: Corsicana, Texas


John Wayne Joss is the current national record holder in the R6, mixed 50-meter free-rifle prone SH1. 


 


These US military members and veterans have already competed:


Women’s Skeet Results


Amber English, Army first lieutenant


Hometown: Colorado Springs, Colorado


Finish: Gold medal, set a new Olympic record


1st Lt. Amber English skeet gold medalist Tokyo 2020 Olympics
First Lt. Amber English, a 31-year-old logistics officer in the Army Reserve, set a new Olympic record July 26, 2021, and will leave the Tokyo Games with the gold medal in women’s skeet shooting. US Army photo by Maj. Nathaniel Garcia.

Men’s 10-Meter Air Pistol Results


Nick Mowrer, Army staff sergeant


Hometown: Butte, Montana


Finish: 13th


Mowrer is an eight-time national record holder.


 


Women’s 10-Meter Air Pistol Results   


Sandra Uptagrafft, Army staff sergeant


Hometown: Phenix City, Alabama


Finish: 49th


Uptagrafft took gold at the 2019 Pan American Games in Lima, Peru. 


Five-time Pan American Games medalist Staff Sgt. Sandra Uptagrafft earned her spot for the Tokyo Games at the 2019 Pan American Games. Photo courtesy of DVIDS.

Women’s 10-Meter Air Rifle Results


Alison Weisz, Army specialist


Hometown: Belgrade, Montana


Finish: 14th


In 2018, Weisz placed second at the Championship of the Americas. 


Weisz also competed in the mixed-team air-rifle event, finishing sixth with William Shaner.


 


Men’s Skeet Results


Philip Jungman, Army sergeant


Hometown: Caldwell, Texas


Finish: 15th


Philip Jungman is an instructor for the US Army Marksman Unit Shotgun Team.


 


Women’s Middleweight Boxing Results


Naomi Graham, Army staff sergeant


Hometown: Fayetteville, North Carolina


Finish: Graham was eliminated in the round of 16 by Zenfira Magomedalieva of Russia.


A two-time US national champion, Graham is the first female service member to represent USA Boxing in the Olympic Games.


Staff Sgt. Naomi Graham throws a right to the chin of Briana Che during a USA nationals bout the first week of December in Salt Lake City, Utah. Graham rose through the ranks of USA Boxing after picking up the sport five years ago. She currently ranks No. 3 in the world in the women’s middleweight division. Photo by Maj. Nathaniel Garcia.

NBC Universal Media has several options for watching the 2021 Tokyo Olympics throughout the NBC family of networks. 



  • NBC

  • NBC Sports

  • Olympic Channel

  • CNBC

  • USA

  • Golf Channel


NBC’s Peacock will provide select livestreamed coverage. 


Read Next: Army Lieutenant Sets New Shooting Record, Wins Olympic Gold for Team USA



David Bruce
David Bruce

David Bruce is a retired federal law enforcement officer. Throughout his career, he served mostly in counterterrorism roles and tactical instructor positions. As a task force officer for the Boston Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF), he spent more than five years investigating domestic and international terrorism cases. Prior to his assignment on the JTTF, he served as the lead instructor for the Boston Office of the Federal Air Marshal Service teaching anti-hijacking tactics, firearms, and tactical surveillance. In 2019, David graduated from UMass Amherst with a degree in journalism. Before embarking on a 25-year career in law enforcement, he served in the US Army as a paratrooper/combat medic in the 82nd Airborne Division.

More from Coffee or Die Magazine
Coffee Or Die Photo
From the Team Room to Team Room Design: An Operator’s Creative Journey

BRCC partners with Team Room Design for an exclusive T-shirt release!

Coffee Or Die Photo
Get Your Viking On: The Exclusive 30 Sec Out BRCC Shirt Club Design

Thirty Seconds Out has partnered with BRCC for an exclusive shirt design invoking the God of Winter.

Grizzly Forge BRCC shirt
Limited Edition: Grizzly Forge Blades on an Awesome BRCC Shirt

Lucas O'Hara of Grizzly Forge has teamed up with BRCC for a badass, exclusive Shirt Club T-shirt design featuring his most popular knife and tiomahawk.

BRCC Limited Edition Josh Raulerson Blackbeard Skull Shirt
From Naval Service to Creative Canvas: BRCC Veteran Artist Josh Raulerson

Coffee or Die sits down with one of the graphic designers behind Black Rifle Coffee's signature look and vibe.

Medal of Honor is held up.
Biden Will Award Medal of Honor to Army Helicopter Pilot Who Rescued Soldiers in Vietnam Firefight

Biden will award the Medal of Honor to a Vietnam War Army helicopter pilot who risked his life to save a reconnaissance team from almost certain death.

dear jack mandaville
Dear Jack: Which Historic Battle Would You Want To Witness?

Ever wonder how much Jack Mandaville would f*ck sh*t up if he went back in time? The American Revolution didn't even see him coming.

west point time capsule
West Point Time Capsule Yields Centuries-Old Coins

A nearly 200-year-old West Point time capsule that at first appeared to yield little more than dust contains hidden treasure, the US Military Academy said.

  • About Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Careers
Contact Us
Contact Us
© 2024 Coffee or Die Magazine. All Rights Reserved