By: Julie Jag, Rio 2016 Contributor for GoDucks.com
Ariana Washington had her fun. At the Opening Ceremonies for the Rio Olympics, the University of Oregon sprinter posed for pictures with fellow Team USA athletes ranging from flag-bearer Michael Phelps to Golden State Warriors basketball player Draymond Green.
"That was the best experience ever," Washington later tweeted.
With several thousand athletes participating in the Parade of Nations set to the hip-moving beats of Brazil's music, Friday night's festivities were a party on a global scale. They were colorful celebration at the famous Maracana Stadium, in which green and yellow appropriately took a starring role.
Left to right: Jenna Prandini, English Gardner, Devon Allen, Sam Crouser, Ariana Washington,
Deajah Stevens and Phyllis Francis pose before the opening ceremonies.
Oregon qualified more athletes for Rio than in the past three Summer Games combined, so it was appropriate that the Ducks spread their wings a little. But before the night was over, they flocked together for one OU team photo.
This year's Oregon contingent includes 20 athletes and two coaches representing six countries in 15 disciplines. They also represent 22 completely different passions, personalities and peccadilloes. Here are few things you might not have known about this group of UO Olympians.
Devon Allen, 110m hurdles, USA
You probably knew he's a wide receiver for the football team, but did you know that he has the second fastest time in the world this year in the hurdles? When he won the trials, he became the first college player to do so since 1980. He's also a huge gamer (on his Xbox and on the field). First competition: Aug. 15, 4:30 p.m., first round.
Zoe Buckman, 1,500m, Australia
One of the quietest members of the team, she was named In 2011 at age 21 the Emerging Athlete of the Year in Australia. The native Australian rebounded from a calf injury last season to make her second Olympics (she reached the semifinals in London 2012). First competition: Aug. 12, 4:30 p.m., first round
Johnathan Cabral, 110m hurdles, Canada
Cabral has built his own drones and computers. A training partner of Allen's, he won California state titles in the 110 and 300 in nation-leading times while attending high school in Ventura, Calif.. First competition: Aug. 15, 4:30 p.m., first round
Matthew Centrowitz, 1,500m, USA
He has "Like father, like son" tattooed across his chest. His father, Matt, is also a two time Olympic middle-distance athlete who is far less fond of tattoos. First competition: Trials, Aug. 16, 6:30 a.m., first round
Sam Crouser, javelin, USA
Reaching the Olympics is starting to become the norm in the Crouser family. Sam's uncle Brian was an Olympian in the javelin in 1988 and 1992. and his cousin is Olympic teammate shot putter Ryan Crouser. First competition: Aug. 17, time TBD, qualifying
Ashton Eaton, decathlon, USA
He keeps his medals, likely including the gold he won in London, in a box along with those of his wife, Brianne Theisen-Eaton, until they have a place to display them. She's Canadian, so he said they root for "Team North America." First competition: Aug. 17, 5:30 a.m., 100m dash
Phyllis Francis 400/4x400, USA
New York native became the first woman to win a 400-meter NCAA title for the University of Oregon (indoor, 2014), breaking Olympian Francena McCorory's record from 2010. Holds the fifth fastest time in the world for 2016 and the third fastest time run this year of any Olympic woman. First competition: Aug. 13, 7:30 a.m., first round
English Gardner, 100m/4x100 relay, USA
As a junior in high school, Gardner tore her ACL playing flag football. It was a fundraiser for breast cancer, and her mother had been recently diagnosed. She narrowly missed the Olympics in 2012, but ran the fourth fastest time in the US Trials in 2016 to secure her spot. First competition: Friday, 7:55 a.m., preliminary round
Cyrus Hostetler, javelin, USA
Hostetler was cut from the US Olympic Training Center near San Diego in 2015 despite being one of six former Olympians out of 22 athletes. He wrote in his blog (cyrushostetler.com) it was because he was told he had no medal potential. He aims to prove that wrong this month. First competition: Aug. 17, TBD, qualifying
Claire Michel, triathlon, Belgium
Inspired by a newspaper clipping she found of her mother swimming in the 1976 Olympics, Michel tried to reach the Games in two other sports before turning to triathlon in 2012 and qualifying to race for Belgium -- the country in which she was born -- in May. First competition: Aug. 20, 7 a.m., final
Chamberlain Oguchi , men's basketball, Nigeria
In an Olympic tune-up against the Americans on Monday -- a 110-66 loss -- Oguchi led all scorers for either team. He was part of the 2012 Nigerian Olympic team that went 1-3 in pool play, losing to the United States, 156-73. First competition: Sunday, 6:30 p.m., pool play vs. Argentina
Alexi Pappas, 10,000m, Greece
Pappas writes a monthly poetry column for "Women's Running" magazine, has starred in and produced her own semi-autobiographical movie, "Tracktown" and turned down full-ride offers to pursue a writing master's degree from Columbia, USC and UC-Irvine to run professionally. She declared in May she would run for Greece, having easily reached the Olympic time standard. First competition: Friday, 9:30 a.m., final
Jenna Prandini , 200m/4x100 relay USA
Prandini's mother, Theresa, was her first track and field coach, in elementary school. Jenna went on to win five California state high school championships and was also a standout volleyball player at Clovis High. First competition: Aug. 17, 5:30 a.m., first round
Galen Rupp, 10k/marathon, USA
Rupp will be the first American to attempt the long-distance "double" since Beaverton's Dan Browne did it, without medaling, in Athens in 2004. Unlike Browne, Rupp will benefit from a full week of rest. First competition: Aug. 13, 5:25 p.m., 10k final
Deajah Stevens, 200m, USA
Stevens, who hails from New York, has attended three high schools, a junior college and now Oregon, where she found quick success. Her mother, Lakia Perkins, and little sister Ameera will likely be in Rio to cheer her on after successfully running a GoFundMe campaign. First competition: Aug. 15, 5:35 a.m., first round
Zach Test, rugby, USA
Test red-shirted his freshman year on the Ducks football team, with the understanding he would also play rugby. He never played a snap as a wide receiver and shortly thereafter transferred to Loughborough in England to focus entirely on rugby. He was named the best men's sevens player in the world in 2011 by "Rugby Mag." First competition: Tuesday, 9 a.m., pool play vs. Argentina.
Brianne Theisen-Eaton, heptathlon, Canada
Theisen-Eaton should have fond memories of Rio. She first bonded with her eventual husband, Olympic decathlete Ashton Eaton, at a World Championship in Brazil in 2008 when she was a freshman in college. First competition: Friday, 5:35 a.m., 100m hurdles
Carlos Trujillo, marathon, Guatemala
Carlos and his twin brother were originally turned away from running for the Ducks by then- coach Martin Smith. So they joined the club running team instead. When Carlos attempted to get the Olympic qualifying standard of 2:19:00 at the Eugene Marathon on May 1, he had the entire country of Guatemala behind him. The country could take up to three athletes, but only one had reached the Olympic standard at that point. First competition: Aug. 21, 5:30 a.m., final
Ariana Washington, 4x100 relay, USA
Washington will look back at the past two months someday with awe. In her first season of college competition, she won two NCAA championships and was selected for the U.S. Olympic team. A social media butterfly, she recently posted that she has a thing for baby-pink shoes. First competition: Aug. 18, 7:20 a.m., first round
Chris Winter, steeplechase, Canada
Raised in Vancouver, Winter designed his wife's wedding ring. He was on the Canadian national podium in his event for three years straight (from 2012-14) and he collects coffee mugs when he travels. First competition: Aug. 15, 6:25 a.m., first round
