The race for the White House escalated during a summer full of surprises. In an unprecedented election, the presidential contest faced a turning point at the first debate on June 27, where a poor performance by incumbent President Joseph Biden raised concerns about his age and health. Although Biden admitted that he did poorly, he remained adamant that he would stay in the race.
“I’m the nominee of the Democratic Party,” Biden stated in a fundraising email. “No one’s pushing me out. I’m not leaving.”
However, by late July, Biden stepped off the ballot, giving way for Vice President Kamala Harris to sweep away the Democratic nomination. On August 22, Harris accepted the nomination at the Democratic National Convention.
During her acceptance speech, she called on Americans to look towards the future.
“It is now our turn to do what generations before us have done,” Harris said. “Guided by optimism and faith, to fight for this country we love, to fight for the ideals we cherish and to uphold the awesome responsibility that comes with the greatest privilege on Earth — the privilege and
pride of being an American.”
Supporting Harris is Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, who officially joined the ticket on August 6. As Governor, Walz, a former schoolteacher
and high school football coach, played a crucial role in securing free breakfast and lunch for Minnesota students. Walz also led Minnesota to become the first state to pass legislation
protecting rights to abortion following 2022’s Dobbs decision.
USD sophomore Elaina Phiel explained why she is voting for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz.
“I want to vote to ensure not
Toreros compete in Paris 2024
Brooke Raboutou secures silver for Team USA
PRIYA COOPER SPORTS EDITOR
Toreros from USD competed in women’s climbing, rugby and soccer, as well as men’s basketball and skateboarding during the 2024 Olympic Games hosted in Paris this past summer. Most of the Torero competitors are alumni who had the honor of representing their home countries, including the U.S. and others, on the world’s biggest stage. Brooke Raboutou recently graduated from USD in 2023 and received a silver medal for climbing in Paris this year. In addition to medaling, she is the first American woman to receive
a medal in the climbing category.
Rabaoutu studied psychology and marketing at USD, is twentythree years old and is originally from Boulder, Colorado. Her many feats include being the youngest person in the world to climb 5.14b (expert level climbing range) at age 11 and being the first U.S. climber ever to qualify for the Summer Olympic Games.
She started climbing at the age of one and comes from a family of professionals. Both of Raboutou’s parents are former world champion competition climbers and leading outdoor sport climbers. Her brother, Shawn Raboutou, is a professional rock climber specializing in bouldering.
Raboutou attended the
of San Diego in 2018 before taking time off to prepare for the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, where she finished in fifth place in the combined event. After her accomplishments in
only my own future but the future of America,” said Phiel. “While I do not agree with all of their policies, I agree with [Harris’s] idea of America and how she treats people. I am voting to ensure that I have the right to vote.
I can ensure that I have control over my reproductive rights and, hopefully, eventually have more equality as a whole. [Walz] has a stellar track record as Governor and has served the country.”
On the other side of the aisle, former President Donald Trump faced an assassination attempt at a rally in Butler, PA, where a bullet grazed his ear. The gunman, 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, was killed on scene by Secret Service snipers.
Although the event led to a brief lead in the polls, the appointment of Ohio Senator J.D. Vance as Trump’s running mate received mixed reviews. Senator Vance first achieved fame due to his bestselling memoir “Hillbilly Elegy,” which detailed his upbringing in a low-income family in Ohio navigating issues of opioid use and domestic abuse.
USD junior and president of the USD College Republicans, Corey Jernigan, expressed his opinion on the selection of Vance as running mate.
“Personally, I would have
Kamala Harris and Donald Trump captivate audiences at rallies.
Photo courtesy of @thedemocrats and @realdonaldtrump/Instagram
Raboutou breaks barriers in sport climbing.
Photo courtesy of @brookeraboutou/Instagram
University
liked to see someone like Thomas Massie, Ron Paul or Jim Jordan, but I understand they are currently very important in their roles in government,” Jernigan stated. “JD Vance started his career criticizing Trump and has ties to the CIA, and there would have been stronger and more trustworthy running mates to choose from. However, he is the pick for VP, and [the USD College Republicans] support the Trump campaign’s choices.”
As of August 27, the race is close, with national polling data from The Economist showing Harris with a two-point lead.
No matter the outcome of the election, USD Assistant Vice President for Student Life Dr. Byron Howlett believes it is important to remain respectful to all.
The Civil Discourse Ambassador Program by Student Affairs hopes to increase civic engagement and meaningful dialogue.
“It is a priority for the division of Student Affairs to really help ensure that students have the skill set to engage in constructive and simple dialogue,” Howlett explained. “A lot of what we see, the opposite, is uncivil and unconstructive dialogue. And we know that at USD, we’re better than that. Toreros are better than that, and we have the opportunity to role model that for the community.”
Howlett explained the significance of civic engagement for first-time student voters.
“For the majority of students, this will be their first election and we want to help students to better navigate everything
that’s involved with elections. We’re taking a very nonpartisan approach. This is not about Donald Trump or Kamala Harris for us. We’re removing ourselves from the partisanship of it, but we want to go even deeper than the partisanship and get folks to think about [their] own values and own beliefs. How do you communicate respectfully to one another?”
Regarding the next steps of the election, Howlett explained the critical dates for students to look out for.
“There’s at least one scheduled debate between the presidential candidates, that’s September 10. For USD, there’s a couple of benchmark dates that we want people to be aware of. September 17 is National Voter Registration Day and USD Votes is going to be doing a lot of preparation for that and getting the message
out to students about that. And there is going to be an event happening in Warren Auditorium called ‘The Right to Vote.’”
The University plans to provide multiple opportunities for
civil engagements in the election process, with USD Votes helping Toreros register to vote. With less than three months to Nov. 5, the clock is ticking for students to help pick the next President.
The use of artificial intelligence (AI) has become increasingly popular in classrooms, especially due to programs such as ChatGPT. Released by OpenAI in November 2022, ChatGPT proves that a computer chatbot is able to complete the same tasks as humans. Teachers and educators have been working to combat the use of AI in classrooms and promote academic integrity. However, AI has become even more of a resource to students since developing.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, many universities have nullified the need for standardized testing scores, which has led to a substantial increase in the number of applicants to most schools. Institutions are still seeing record applicant pool numbers, and the first-year applications have increased since the pandemic. Due to this, students have had to strategize on how to stand out as an applicant, and many have done this with the help of college counselors.
Recently, new educational breakthroughs have unraveled in the realm of AI, with many companies
jumping at the chance to transform their programs.
Khan Academy, a website offering video lessons and practice tests for students, unveiled Khanmigo, which serves as an AI tutor. Khanmigo is used to guide students’ learning process, similar to a tutor.
USD sophomore Isabella Mariano utilizes AI programs like ChatGPT when faced with a question, but has noticed that occasionally she is presented with an incorrect answer.
“I think that ChatGPT is useful, but I have encountered once or twice that I was given a wrong answer and Chat had to correct itself.”
Khanmigo attempts to fix this issue by using a calculator to solve math problems, rather than using AI’s predictions.
Additionally, they are using research on math performance and examples to understand how a student may arrive at a problem, if that is where the issue arises.
“I definitely double check my work now because I’m afraid that there will be mistakes from ChatGPT,” said Mariano. “I prefer to use it as a starting point rather than the final answer.” College coaches have become an asset to many students, especially due to
The USD Vista
the increase in the competitive nature of applying to university.
USD sophomore Ella Kocourek noted that most of her friends used college coaches when applying to college during the 2023-24 school year.
“In my friend group of seven, six of us used college coaches and tutors when we applied to schools,” said Kocourek. “I don’t know if I had an advantage, but it relieved a lot of the stress that comes with college applications and a lot of questions that I had were answered”
This is why people like Senan Khawaja, CEO of Kollegio, a free AI-driven college coaching company, have decided to use AI as a tool to try and level the college admissions playing field.
The program is available to all students applying to universities and offers the ability to curate a list of colleges an applicant wants to apply to, review essays and create an extracurriculars list.
Kollegio accepts the fact that they are not a college application generator, but rather a supplement to a college coach.
“Kollegio will never write your application for you.”
The program will offer editing suggestions and review
the essay as a whole to determine if it is appropriate to be sent to a university. Kollegio will not complete a college application for a student, but it certainly relieves the burden of having to make one’s application perfect in the eyes of college admissions, and offers this opportunity to all students, not just the ones who can afford it.
Universities have found it necessary to implement AI policies in order to determine when AI use is ethical or when it is classified as cheating or plagiarism.
The University of San Diego does not explicitly state their policy regarding AI and its use in college admissions, however,
the Office of Undergraduate Admission has commented.
“While USD does not have an official stance on this matter, the Office of Undergraduate Admissions welcomes free and equitable tools that provide college prep and application assistance.”
The use of AI in college admissions may just change the entire process, as schools seek to ensure their applications are written completely by students. However, this may be the factor that will finally give a fair chance to all students looking to enter into university, and allow them to be unburdened by financial obligations or situations that may limit them.
USD Votes helping students register to vote. Photo courtesy of @usdvotescampaign/Instagram
ChatGPT is commonly used by students in the classroom.
Photo courtesy of Unsplash
HAILEY HOWELL FEATURE EDITOR
Many students are anticipating the move to campus, ready to experience life in San Diego and meet new people. Even though it’s easy to connect with people in the classroom and through clubs, there is another great way to meet others and try new activities – USD recreation classes.
If students are new to campus or haven’t signed up for a “rec” class, you may not know much about all the possible opportunities USD offers. This semester, there are over 50 possible recreation classes that allow students to try a new activity or to continue a passion they love. Some of the classes give training certifications for scuba diving and first aid, and others include activities such as surfing and wakeboarding. Different styles of dance, such as social ballroom and ballet, are also offered, as well as fitness classes featuring yoga, martial arts, cardio, kickboxing and pilates.
USD junior Shea Salamack has taken two different recreation classes – one of which was self defense. She explained that she was inspired to take the recreation class once she saw that it was offered on campus. Salamack said one of her favorite aspects was the small class size, which made it an even better experience.
“Before coming to USD, I had always wanted to take a selfdefense class,” Salamack said. “I recognized the importance of having a self-defense skill set, especially as a woman, and arrived at USD with little knowledge of that area. When I saw a Krav Maga class listed on the USD rec program, I
ARTS & FEATURE
Ready for ‘rec’ How to get more involved on campus
knew it was the perfect chance to expand my knowledge, have fun and enhance my personal safety,” Salamack said.
She also explained that she had the opportunity to create a great connection with her teacher.
“Each person was able to receive individualized feedback on self-defense methods, enhancing our learning ability.”
Kaylee McCoy, a USD senior, shared her experience after taking the open water scuba certification class. She explained that she met great people while taking the certification classes and is still close with them today.
“I had an amazing experience in the classes in the pool and ocean. Our scuba instructor from Ocean Enterprises was amazingly helpful, patient and fun,” McCoy said. “I also was learning to dive around some amazing people that made my experience that much more fun and rewarding. I have become really good friends with my scuba partners from that class and have continued on to dive with them in San Diego, New Zealand, Catalina and beyond!”
McCoy also mentioned that she would recommend the class to students who are interested or are debating enrolling since USD students have a great opportunity.
USD sophomore Adelaide Walton described her love for both recreation classes she took; Fitness Weight Training for Women and the Self Care Sunday Yoga class. She first enrolled in the weight training class in the fall of 2023 with the hopes of staying active and having the opportunity to meet new people.
“This class specifically caught my eye because it was limited to women only; the concept of a group of women working out together, encouraging and supporting one another greatly appealed to me,” Walton said. “I
absolutely loved this class, and I would always look forward to it. Ms. Lisa Taylor was full of energy and pushed us to do our best. I took this class with my future roommate, and I feel that it brought us closer together… Although it could be challenging, I think that taking the class was a good way to get exercise whilst having fun with the other girls.”
Last semester, she decided to switch up her schedule and take yoga classes on Sundays.
“I was enrolled in more classes during the second semester compared to the first, so I wanted to find a recreational activity that would force me to slow down amongst a busy schedule,” Walton said.
Even though the class was much different from the one she had taken previously, it provided
some memorable moments.
“Ms. Marilyn Green always encouraged us to self-reflect and prioritized our mental well-being,” Walton said. “I would often go to the beach on Sundays with my friends, and we would return to campus to participate in our late afternoon yoga class… I also recall how we were able to do the class in the Garden of the Sea one afternoon, which was incredibly peaceful while the sun began to set.”
If you are interested in getting involved in recreation classes or just want to take a look at the possibilities, students can visit the USD Campus Recreation page. The site gives students the ability to read descriptions of different classes, see the available class schedules, look at pricing and more. This page will also give undergraduate students access to sign up for classes with or without credit in the Fall 2024 semester using the registration portal. The first recreation classes begin on September 4 – so get ready to discover a new passion and meet new people.
USD Campus Recreation offers many different classes to help students to stay active. Photo courtesy of @usdcampusrec/Instagram
Judo and jiu-jitsu campus
An introduction worth your time
Why you should visit your professors’ office hours in your first week
ZOE ROGERS OPINION EDITOR
Going into the first year of college can easily be one of the most stressful times in a student’s academic career. Upon stepping onto campus, each first-year is filled with a new set of overwhelming and unfamiliar emotions. These emotions include excitement for the school year, fear of living away from home for the first time and curiosity about the new people and experiences they will encounter.
While balancing the new social dynamic that university offers, first-years must also simultaneously learn to maintain an adequate GPA. Living and attending school in an entirely new environment while also staying afloat in academics can be a new challenge many students have never faced. Complicated roommate situations or struggling to find a routine that works for them are distractions that can keep students from acquiring the highachieving grades they desire.
Only once the four-week mark passed did I find myself finally in the groove of my first year at USD. Then, I was able to juggle and balance my social, personal and academic lives all
at once. Staying organized and caught up in all your classes is essential to stay afloat in college, so it’s important to take steps that help you succeed.
Staying on top of your classes can be achieved in numerous ways, but the most important and beneficial way is to visit your professor’s office hours during the first week of classes. During the last week of summer going into my first year, I felt apprehensive about the upcoming school year and wondered how to ensure my success in my classes. A close friend told me that a good way to relieve my stress would be to visit my professors during the first week of school; even a quick visit can change your trajectory in the class.
When I first heard this advice, I initially thought it was a pointless idea, but I wondered how much I would truly benefit from a brief conversation with my professors. So, I decided to listen to my friend’s advice and visit all five of my professors during their office hours throughout the first week of school.
The first thing you should do when entering your professor’s office hours is introduce yourself. Stating your name, where you’re from, what year you’re in and even why you are interested in taking the class can help set you up for success.
This allows your professor to get to know you, and it initiates a connection. Additionally, this signals to your professor that you will likely meet with them again, you take initiative, you’re interested in the class and you’re a student who will be present.
Making a good impression on someone only takes 30 seconds, and starting a conversation with your professor can go a long way. It can also create a friendlier dynamic that is not entirely based on the class. Often times, office hours allow you to learn about your professor’s personal lives. Sometimes professors bring up hobbies and interest, instead of strictly course content mentioned on the syllabus. While it can be intimidating, you will gain so much from this brief interaction.
On top of this, if you have accommodations, communicating them with your professor through office hours early on is a great idea. It’s important for the professor to know how your accommodations apply to the class and understand what they can do to help accommodate your learning style.
I try to stay in constant communication with my professors about my accommodations and whether I’m planning on taking the upcoming exam with the
Disability and Learning Differences Resources Center (DLDRC). Establishing a personal relationship with my professors during office hours makes it easier for me to get my professors signatures on the paperwork needed to take my exams in the DLDRC office.
Creating a connection with your professor can significantly benefit you throughout the semester, so the earlier you establish this relationship, the stronger it will be by the end of the semester. Not forming a solid familiarity with your professor could make the class less interesting and more challenging to follow if you lack a connection with the class.
The more comfortable you are with visiting your professor, the more likely you are to succeed, mainly because it will be easier to ask clarifying questions about the class material and syllabus.
I remember going to my professor’s office hours for her help with creating a thesis on my essay. We created a thesis statement, brainstormed points I could use in my essay and formed a strong argument.
My professor and I discussed various points and criteria I needed to cover during her office hours. Afterward, I went to the library and began crafting my essay. In the end, I was able
to create a seven page essay referencing the class content, and I even ended up getting an A.
After first introducing myself to my professors, I found myself becoming more comfortable attending their office hours and asking for extra help with writing essays or studying for upcoming exams. This has helped me to feel significantly more prepared in the class. Being in communication with my professors helped me feel confident in my academics.
Forming a relationship with your professor is one of the most important things you can do in your college career. Professors are well-versed in their academic field and are a great way to receive professional advice.
If you are debating on a career path or a job you may have your eye on, it would be beneficial to ask your professor’s opinion. In the future, if you ever need a letter of recommendation when applying for a job, your old or current professors are the perfect people to ask.
Overall, I suggest cultivating a relationship with your professor because you never know how much it will benefit you in the future.
To find your professors’ office hours, check your syllabus, or visit your professors’ department page on https://www.sandiego.edu/
Connecting with your professor doesn’t have to be scary.
ARTS & CULTURE
Brat summer to brat semester
ELLIE SKJERSAA ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR
From a social media trend to a progressive moment for women and the queer community to a political campaign strategy, Charli XCX’s new album, “Brat,” has taken the world by storm. British pop icon and 365 party girl, Charli XCX, released the album on June 7, 2024, which fueled the brat summer trend. Although her previous albums have encapsulated a similar hyperpop, grunge and messy girl genre, her new album, “Brat,” has received more praise and attention than those that came before.
This album has been transformative for many USD students because it addresses the realities of what it means to be feminine and encourages listeners to embrace their uniqueness in a world that is attached to conformity. Although a vague and ambiguous phrase, Charli has cleared any confusion when she defined “brat” in a Tiktok video.
“You’re just like that girl who is a little messy and likes to party and maybe says dumb things sometimes,” Charli said.
Although this is her definition, the term has been relatively up to interpretation. Some students have noticed themes in the album that they feel also encapsulate a person who is “brat.”
“When I first heard the term
‘brat summer,’ I thought it was a take on girlboss,” said USD senior Grace Guenther. “Now it has made more sense to me as a push toward individuality, freedom to express oneself and confidence, especially in regards to femininity.”
This album has been specifically empowering as it encourages people not to conform to the normative expectations of society.
“I feel like there’s a stigma around women that are confident and aren’t considered driven by the male gaze, and this album has opened the doors for women to be more expressive and loud in their fashion choices and opinions,” Guenther said.
Although Charli’s fans are primarily women, others have recognized how impactful Charli XCX’s new album is. USD senior Hugh Ireland explained that her new album differs from her previous releases.
“When you don’t fit that perfect patriarchal view of a man, you are forced to have an
EDITOR
The new Marvel movie, “Deadpool and Wolverine,” was announced back in 2022 by actor Ryan Reynolds, who stars in the film. At this point, it was released to the public that the character Wolverine, famously portrayed by Hugh Jackman, would be joining the third installment. The commotion caused by this was palpable as the “Deadpool” franchise had a large audience in the past, with both previous movies scoring over an impressive 80% on rotten tomatoes.
After two years of suspense, the annual San Diego ComicCon event finally had news to deliver. Marvel held its usual panel on July 28, 2024 at the event. This panel is one of the most anticipated among fans because of the impacting news it tends to deliver. They announced several new projects like the upcoming movies
“Capitan America: Brave New World” and “The Fantastic Four: First Steps.” It also touched on topics of already ongoing projects like the new movie,
expiration date to your youth, an expiration date to who you are and how you express yourself,” USD senior Hugh Ireland explained.
He argues that aging is a vastly different experience for those who do not fit into the stereotypical depiction of a straight man.
“Aging is a very normal thing, but, for some reason, it’s villainized amongst feminine people versus
when losing their childhood and the anxiety of living in a rapidlychanging world, Charli’s lyrics can be relatable to anyone.
Not many albums succeed in transcending beyond the music itself. However, “Brat” has undoubtedly expanded to critique societal norms and, in turn, has become deeply intertwined with the political world.
After Joe Biden announced he would be dropping out of the presidential race, Kamala Harris stepped up to the plate. On the same day, Charli XCX tweeted, “kamala IS brat.” Since then, Harris’ campaign has effectively used the “brat brand” for its own advantage.
Guenther explains that this has been fundamental for the Democratic Party because it has allowed Harris to align herself with the iconic nature of the album and with younger audiences.
Because a person who is “brat” is someone who is individualistic and embraces their identity, people have
started to view Harris as a beacon of hope for a progressive future.
However, others feel that Harris’ brat campaign is a calculated and subtle tactic to attract minority groups to vote for her.
“In the American world, everything has a profitable mindset to it,” said Ireland. “So, bringing in something like ‘Brat,’ it’s like, okay, perfect, I’m gonna get these 18 to 24-year-old gay people to vote for me. That’s what Kamala is doing. Your target market is queer people because they aren’t going to vote for Trump. You want to get them to vote for you and not vote third party.”
Regardless of Harris’ true intentions, it is undeniable that Charli XCX, although British, has played a vital role in her campaign success.
As summer comes to an end, only time will tell the lasting impact the album will have on people across the world.
“I think that this has been an unapologetic album that has allowed Charli to be herself,” Guenther said. “A part of me thinks this has been a long time coming and has opened the doors for people to be more unapologetic about being feminine, individual, unique, expressive and confident, so I don’t think it’s just a trend.”
Although trends come and go, many students hope that the album continues to be a topic of discussion because brat is much more than what meets the surface.
“Deadpool and Wolverine.”
By far, the news that took all the attention around ComicCon and social media was the announcement of the comeback of actor Robert Downey Jr. (RDJ), previously known for portraying Iron Man, as Doctor Doom. RDJ will appear in two confirmed upcoming movies, “Avengers: Doomsday” and “Avengers: Secret Wars.”
This announcement caused commotion around the world after his previous tragic ending on “Avengers: Endgame,” and led to mixed opinions on whether it is a good idea to bring back the same actor. Third-year student Maritza Santoyo gave her opinion on the announcement.
“I think it’s a bit weird that RDJ is returning as a villain because his character is already dead,” Santoyo said. “Why does he need to come back? They could have used this opportunity to cast someone new that could bring the villain role to life. We have seen RDJ as an amazing super hero and I want my views of him to stay like that and not view him as a villain.”
By the time the Comic-Con panel released the news, the
third “Deadpool” movie had already been screening for three days in the United States. It is now understood that the release was a major success, making the movie the highest-grossing R-rated film ever. The movie brought in $1.086 billion in just 23 days, giving it this title. Its huge success started at the opening of the movie in July, grossing $444 million globally. This led the Marvel community to believe that the company would have a “comeback” and return to the times when movie after movie was considered a hit.
Sophomore Chris Pelletier recently watched the movie and gave his opinion on it. “I liked the movie. I appreciated the light heartedness and comedic expression,” Pelletier said. “It wasn’t as heart wrenching as the other Marvel movies. I think that’s what I like about ‘Deadpool’.”
Although the internet is still divided over if RDJ was the right person for this role, it seems there is a consensus that the new Deadpool movie was a success and the Marvel panel during Comic-Con was surprising, as per usual.
Fans with a signed copy of Charli XCX’s vinyl, “Brat.” Photo courtesy of @charli_xcx/Instagram
SPORTS
USD Olympians earn success
From Olympians, Page 1
Paris this summer, Raboutou is now a two-time Olympian and a one-time Olympic medalist.
Steph Rovetti was the Director of Operations for USD Women’s Basketball from 2016 to 2019. Rovetti was able to showcase her skills on the international stage as part of the USA Women’s Rugby Sevens team. Before her time at USD, she played basketball at both Brigham Young University and Cal State University Fresno State. Rovetti earned a bachelor’s degree in Public Health from BYU and a master’s in Public Administration from Fresno State.
Rovetti finished in the top four at the 2023 HSBC World Rugby Women’s Sevens Series, Team USA, securing a spot in the 2024 Summer Olympics. The USA Women’s Rugby Sevens team made history this year by securing a bronze medal at the Olympic Games Paris 2024. This is the first-ever medal for the U.S.
Alumni bring home medals for Torero Athletics
in Rugby’s Sevens team, which they won in the final seconds of the game to beat Australia 14-12.
Other USD alumni were able to represent their home country at the Summer Olympic Games this year. USD alumni Isaiah Piñeiro graduated from the University of San Diego in 2019 after transferring from Portland State. During his redshirt junior year, Piñeiro earned First-team All-WCC honors, leading the team in both scoring and rebounding, while shooting 49.1% from the field and 78.3% from the free throw line. In his redshirt senior year, he earned First-team AllWCC recognition, becoming the all-time leader for single-season points, with 677 points total while playing in 36 season games.
Piñeiro was able to represent Team Puerto Rico in the 2024 Paris Olympics. He started his national team career in 2019 when he was placed on the preliminary 17-man roster for Puerto Rico for the 2019 FIBA
Basketball World Cup. Pineriro helped Puerto Rico end a 20-year Olympic drought by defeating Lithuania 79-68 securing its spot in the Paris Olympic Games.
Puerto Rico was in the same starting bracket as the U.S. during the group stage of the 2024 Summer Olympic Games and lost to the U.S. 104-83 during the friendly stage leading to their elimination and allowing the U.S. to move forward, where they eventually ended up winning the gold for men’s basketball.
Michaela Foster, a 2022 USD alumna, also represented the University of San Diego at the Paris Olympics. Before returning home to New Zealand, Foster played soccer at the University of San Diego for four years. After graduation, she balanced various jobs while playing for the New Zealand national team. She was named a traveling reserve for New Zealand at the Paris Olympic Games after making her FIFA Women’s World Cup debut
Summer Olympic Games highlights
PRIYA COOPER SPORTS EDITOR
The United States was incredibly successful at this year’s Summer Olympic Games hosted in Paris, France. The Games spanned from July 26 to August 11, and the U.S. took 126 medals home. Team USA medaled in 34 of the 48 sports disciplines and was highlighted
Team USA takes 40 gold medals home
10,000-meter races at a single Olympic Games. Noah Lyles claimed the title of U.S. Olympic champion in the 100-meter, the first to do so since 2004. Lyles also placed third in the 200meter event and earned bronze.
Swimming was the second most decorated sport in the Summer Games this year.
Swimmer Katie Ledecky made history this year by adding four more medals to her collection,
overall, three gold and one silver.
Biles now has the most Olympic medals won by an American gymnast (10 total), and she is the most decorated gymnast in World Championships history. As the 2024 Olympics ended, Biles, being one of Team USA’s favorite competitors, has already started talking about whether she plans to retire or continue competing in the sport.
“Not many people in the world can do it to this level,” Biles said in an interview with NPR.
“Once we’re out here, the floor is our stage, so it just feels so freeing for us, because we’re in our element, we’re having fun, we’re doing what we love to do, but at a certain point, as we get older, it does get a little bit more scary. We’re more aware of what we’re doing, what can happen,” she said.
The U.S. was also successful in multiple team events, with many placing and three getting gold. The national teams for women’s soccer and basketball, as well as men’s basketball, all dominated and took home gold medals. Women’s soccer faced Brazil in the final match and came up 1-0, while the men’s basketball team played the host team, France, and ended with a 98-87 final, declaring them U.S. World Champions.
The U.S. Women’s Basketball Team won its eighth consecutive and 10th overall Olympic gold medal, setting a record for one of the longest Olympic gold medal streaks. It surpassed the U.S. Men’s National Team’s seven consecutive Olympic gold medals in basketball.
Team USA took the bronze
medal in women’s rugby sevens for the first time since the Summer Olympic Games in 2016. The team fell short of the gold medal match and lost to New Zealand, so they went on to play Australia for third place. They ultimately won bronze, with the final score being 14-12.
American Rugby player Ilona Maher, who had a large social media presence during the Games, commented on how it felt being an athlete at the Olympic Games and the emotions around being able to represent the United States.
“The Olympic Games Paris 2024 has been a dream come true, and I’m incredibly proud of what Team USA has achieved
here,” said Maher. “The energy, the support, and the spirit of the Olympic Games are unmatched, and it’s an honor to represent the United States on such a grand stage. I’m grateful for every moment and appreciative of all the effort and support from the Paris 2024 Organizing Committee.”
The next Summer Olympic Games are set to take place in 2028, hosted in Los Angeles, California. Construction for the 2028 Olympic Games has already begun in many of the areas, including on campuses such as UCLA, where international athletes will be housed and compete against each other once more to earn the title of World Champion.
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Photo courtesy of @michaelaleighfoster/Instagram
Simone Biles holds the record for the most medals.
