In Paris, the Olympics are underway and the Paralympics open August 28. Nebraska has had numerous Olympians and Paralympians over the years. Here are a few of them:
Lewis Anderson
Anderson was the first ever Olympian from Nebraska. He competed in the 1912 Stockholm Olympics in the 1500m. He ran a reported 4:21 in the 1500m, but did not medal and it is unclear where he finished. He was also slated to run in the 5000m but did not for unknown reasons. Before the Olympics, Anderson ran for the University of Nebraska, and in 1909 he placed third at the Western Intercollegiate Cross-Country Meet.
Carol Frost
Carol Frost of Cedar Rapids was a thrower for the University of Nebraska. She was a two time AAU Champion and in 1967 won a gold medal at the Pan-American Games in discus, and placed 14th in discus at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City. Her best discus throw was 174’ 6”. She was inducted into the Nebraska High School Sports Hall of Fame in 1996.
Frank Thompson
Frank Thompson of Alliance was a member of the US Olympic Shooting Team. He competed in the 2012 London Olympics and the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics. He placed 8th in 2012 and 21st in 2016 in skeet.
“Cheri Madsen”, by US Embassy Canada, licensed under CC 2.0
Cheri Madsen
Paralympian Cheri Madsen of Nebraska City is a member of the Omaha tribe. She has won two gold, five silver, and three bronze medals in wheelchair racing, making her one of if not the most decorated Paralympians from Nebraska. She competed in the 1996, 2000, 2016, and 2020 Paralympics.
Brent Rasmussen
Brent Rasmussen of Omaha graduated from UNO in 2001. He played baseball for the Mavericks and later played for the Omaha Royals. In 2002 he was struck by a car while attempting to aid someone on the side of the road. In 2003 he joined the Nebraska Barons Wheelchair Softball Team and broke many records as well as leading the team to four national titles in six years. He competed in Sitting Volleyball in the 2004 Athens Paralympics, where the team placed sixth. He also holds medals from other sitting volleyball championships.
Allison Aldrich
Allison Aldrich of Schuyler competed in Sitting Volleyball as a Paralympian. She won Bronze at the 2004 Athens Paralympics, won silver at the 2008 Beijing Paralympics, and won silver again at the 2012 London Paralympics. Outside of the Olympics she has helped the United States Women’s Sitting Volleyball team win other international competitions such as the Eurocup and World Organization Volleyball for Disabled (WOVD).
Brad Vering
Brad Vering of Howells wrestled for the University of Nebraska and won the NCAA Championship at 197 pound weight class in 2000. He competed in the 2004 Athens Olympics and the 2008 Beijing Olympics. He placed eleventh in 2004 and twelfth in 2008 in Greco-Roman wrestling Light-Heavyweight class. He also competed and won first place in the 2007 Pan-American Games in Greco-Roman Wrestling.
“2022 Photo of Jordan Larson” by Lega Pallavolo, licensed under CC 4.0
Jordan Larson
Jordan Larson of Hooper is one of the few Olympians to win the “trifecta” of gold, silver, and bronze medals. She won silver at the 2012 London games, bronze in Rio de Janeiro in 2016, and gold in Tokyo in 2020. Before that she led the Husker volleyball team to a national championship in 2006. This year Larson is competing in her fourth Olympics as captain of the US Women’s Volleyball team; her teammates include fellow former Husker and two-time Olympian Kelsey Robinson Cook.
-Christian Newth, July 2024
