Mocs Alumni Shine at the 2024 Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games
Summary
Four alumni from Florida Southern College participated in the 2024 Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games, achieving notable performances. Dylan Travis represented Team USA in 3×3 basketball, Ludovico Viberti swam for Italy, Kyle Micallef competed for Malta in freestyle swimming, and Jenson Van Emburgh played table tennis for the USA. Each athlete demonstrated exceptional skill and determination despite facing competitive challenges, with aspirations for future events, particularly the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
The 2024 Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games showcased an impressive representation from Florida Southern College, with four alumni—Dylan Travis, Ludovico Viberti, Kyle Micallef, and Jenson Van Emburgh—making history as the largest contingent from the institution to compete in the same year. Dylan Travis participated in the debut of 3×3 basketball, where Team USA secured a seventh-place finish with a record of 2 wins and 5 losses, accruing 116 points in the men’s pool rounds. The team faced a challenging start, narrowly losing to Serbia (22-14) and further matches against Poland (19-17), Lithuania (20-18), and Latvia (21-19). A turnaround occurred when Travis assisted in a victory against France (21-19) and later contributed to defeating China (21-17). Despite the final setback to the Netherlands (21-6), Travis expressed gratitude for the experience: “It has been a crazy last couple of years, and I couldn’t be more thankful. Traveling the world and playing a sport you love is unmatched.” Ludovico Viberti, a national champion in the 100 breaststroke, represented Italy and exhibited exceptional performance through the heats and semifinals. On the first day of competition, he finished fifth in heat three, advancing with a time of 59.93 seconds. In the semifinals, he achieved a personal best of 59.38 seconds but was ultimately eliminated after a close swim-off against Germany’s Melvin Imodu. Viberti acknowledged the emotional impact of his near miss: “Overall, I am very happy with my performance, but the goal was to reach the final. It hurts to not achieve that, but I keep my head up and was able to learn so much.” Kyle Micallef, a recent graduate and representative of Malta, competed in the 50-meter freestyle event, where he finished second in his heat with a time of 22.98 seconds, just behind Fiji’s David Young. Despite not qualifying for the semifinals, he and Viberti supported one another throughout their respective competitions. Completing the group was Jenson Van Emburgh, who represented the United States in Paralympic table tennis. Ranked third prior to the games, he defeated Sylvian Noël in the Round of 16 but fell short against Jang Yeong-jin in a closely contested quarterfinal (3-2). Reflecting on his experience, Van Emburgh commented, “I was fighting. I tried, but it didn’t work. Yet, I am excited to take on Los Angeles in 2028.” Overall, the performances of these four Mocs alumni highlighted their commitment, resilience, and the pride of representing their countries on such a prominent international stage.
The 2024 Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games marked a significant milestone for Florida Southern College as it showcased the participation of four alumni in a single Olympic year, setting a record for the institution. Each athlete demonstrated remarkable talent and determination in their respective sports, underscoring the college’s commitment to athletic excellence. The competition featured newly introduced events, while established sports continued to exhibit the high level of competition characteristic of the Olympics.
The participation of Dylan Travis, Ludovico Viberti, Kyle Micallef, and Jenson Van Emburgh in the 2024 Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games not only highlighted their individual achievements but also illustrated Florida Southern College’s strong athletic program. Each athlete faced unique challenges but exhibited resilience and a commitment to their sports. Looking ahead, their experiences serve as motivation for future competitions, including the upcoming Los Angeles Games.
Original Source: fscsouthern.com
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