From the Maracanazinho to Aquatic Stadium to Olympic Stadium, athletes with local ties could be found throughout Rio this past summer. Many athletes from across the St. Louis area succeeded in the 2016 Summer Olympic Games.

Gwen Berry, a McCluer High School alumna, represented the U.S. in the women’s hammer throw. She finished in 14th place after not qualifying for the finals. Even though she was disappointed by the result, she loved the experience.

“It was tough being in a different country- you don’t have the comfort that you have in the States,” Berry said. “However, every athlete has to deal with that, and it was an experience of a lifetime. I wouldn’t trade it for the world. The track meet was amazing and I loved the energy.”

Berry credits her high school and college coaches for pushing her to the next level and making her believe that she could become a world-class athlete. She also enjoys being an inspiration to the kids that look up to her.

“Honestly, that’s the best part about it. The people who make you feel great and who idolize you is the sweetest thing,” Berry said. “We had kids write to us in Rio. Kids on my airplane wrote notes to me and one of my teammates, and it put a tear on my face because you can’t replace that feeling.”

Australian Kevin Lisch, a former basketball player at Saint Louis University, played on the Australian men’s basketball team which finished fourth in the competition. Junior Josh Horwitz took notice of Lisch’s local roots.

“I enjoyed seeing him play because when I watched Australia, I was rooting for him because I knew that he went to school in St. Louis,” Horwitz said. “It was cool that I was able to root for someone that didn’t play for the U.S.”

McCluer South-Berkeley High School graduate Mike Rodgers raced on the men’s 4×100 track and field relay team for the U.S. His competitors included Jamaica’s biggest celebrity, Usain Bolt, and Canada’s up-and-coming  superstar Andre De Grasse. Focusing on high school football, Rodgers did not initially pursue his talent in track.

“In high school, I didn’t imagine myself becoming an Olympian because I was not playing an Olympic sport at first,” Rodgers said. “I did not get seriously into track until my junior year [of high school]. In my freshman and sophomore year, I was just trying to stay in shape for football.”

Rodgers credits his high school coach, Rod Staggs, on having a major impact on both his career and on him as a person. Now that Rodgers is back from Rio, he wants to help other kids understand his journey.

“I want to give back and talk to the kids and let them know that an Olympian can come out of St. Louis,” Rodgers said. “I want to let them know that there is a whole other level after high school and that it could be done.”

Former Ladue Ram and current U.S. Women’s Soccer Captain Becky Sauerbrunn helped the team advance to the knockout stage of the tournament. Sophomore Carolina Alisio has met Sauerbrunn multiple times including last year when Sauerbrunn attended a Ladue soccer game in Kansas City.

“[Sauerbrunn] communicates with her teammates very well. She directs them well in order for everyone to succeed,” Alisio said. “She doesn’t play for herself; she plays for the whole team, and that’s what soccer is really about.”

In her career, Sauerbrunn has won the FIFA Women’s World Cup and a 2012 Olympic gold medal in London. She currently plays in the National Women’s Soccer League. Alisio looks up to Sauerbrunn because she sees the numerous great possibilities that can come from being a Ladue athlete.

“Since she came from Ladue, she really inspires me to push harder because I see that she comes from where I’m from, and it shows that things can happen,” Alisio said. “That pushes me to work harder and play my best every game.”

Other athletes such as volleyball player Troy Murphy, runner Colleen Quigley, skeet shooter Morgan Craft, triple jumper Fabian Florant, high jumper Donald Thomas and weightlifter Fernando Reis all have ties to the St. Louis area and competed in the Olympic Games. Missouri ranks 16th in states that produced the most Olympians for the 2016 Rio Games with 11 athletes.

The city of St. Louis made me a tougher person. It isn’t the greatest city and we have a lot of turmoil,” Berry said. “Kids go through a lot and I think [growing up in St. Louis] made me a better person as far as knowing what I want to do in life: never giving up, and not stopping.”