Full Olympic Results / Purdue Olympic History
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Purdue University represented in outstanding fashion at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro over the last two weeks, claiming four medals and posting several other outstanding performances. Former Boilermaker diver David Boudia brought home his third and fourth career Olympic medals, while Amanda Elmore earned a gold medal.
Elmore's gold is the first by a Purdue female and 14th ever for a Boilermaker, following Boudia on the 10-meter platform in London in 2012. Elmore was a member of the United States women's eight rowing team, which topped the field with a time of 6:01.49, besting second-place Great Britain by more than two seconds.
Boudia and current Purdue diver Steele Johnson teamed to claim the first medals of the 2016 games for the Boilermakers as they earned silver in the synchronized 10-meter diving. Their 457.11-point performance and runner-up finish is the best-ever for the U.S. at the event in the Olympics. Boudia became the seventh American male with three Olympic diving medals, and the first since Greg Louganis won five from 1976 to 1988. Mark Lenzi (3-meter in 1992 and 1996) was Team USA's last male diver to medal in consecutive Olympics. Since synchronized diving was added to the Olympic program in 2000, Team USA has medaled only twice in the men's events. Boudia has been part of both.
#ThankyouRio for an amazing #Olympic Games! So thankful for the thousands of volunteers that served us so well! pic.twitter.com/OQxLZxNlXI
-- David Boudia (@davidboudia) August 21, 2016
The pair returned to compete in the individual 10-meter platform competition the following week, where Boudia would claim his second medal of the Games and fourth of his Olympic career. Both Boudia and Johnson advanced through the preliminary round, but only Boudia would make the finals as Johnson fell just six points short of the final round. Johnson finished 13th in the semifinal, totaling 447.85 points. After finishing 10th in the semfinals, Boudia turned things around in the finals, posting 525.25 on his way to third place and a bronze medal.
Boudia became the first American man to medal on 10-meter in consecutive Olympics since Greg Louganis won gold in 1984 and 1988. When Boudia won silver in the synchronized event last week, he became Team USA's first male diver to medal in consecutive Olympics since Mark Lenzi (3-meter) in 1992 and 1996. He was the only American diver to medal in an individual event in Rio.
"I walked away from this Olympic Games with two medals," Boudia said. "Two-for-two. This one's bronze. It's pretty special to be able to share this with USA Diving, my wife, my daughter, my family. It's pretty cool, at my last two Olympics, I've done four events and have four medals."
Blessed to have such an incredibly supportive family here in Rio to cheer me on! #Olympics pic.twitter.com/HUJAa1EVR7
-- Steele Johnson (@Steele_Johnson) August 15, 2016
Kara (Patterson) Winger is the first-ever three-time women's Olympian for the Boilermakers after competing in the javelin last week. Despite a solid opening throw of 61.02 meters (200-02), Winger was edged out for the 12th and final spot in the finals as Great Britain's Kathryn Mitchell threw 61.63 meters on her last attempt.
Favorite #Olympics yet, despite personal outcome. Thank you, #Rio2016 ! 👁â¤️🇧🇷 #goinghome #gratitude #pondering pic.twitter.com/6LQBLfVqLq
-- Kara Winger (@karathrowsjav) August 20, 2016
Rising Purdue junior Carmeisha Cox ran the third leg of the women's 4x400-meter relay for the Bahamas, helping her team to an 11th-place finish and new national record. Her split of 50.91 was the fastest on her team and the second-fastest third leg in the heat. Her relay missed a spot in the finals by 0.34 seconds.
Finally in the track & field, Boilermaker volunteer assistant Kurt Felix placed ninth in the men's decathlon, representing his home country of Grenada. Felix posted 8,232 points over 10 events, marking a personal-best performance.
After a century-long absence from the Olympic Games, golf returned to the lineup where Paula Reto was able to represent her home country of South Africa. She was outstanding in the second and third rounds of competition, shooting a combined seven-under over the 36-hole stretch, and finished four-under, 280, and tied for 16th in the Olympic field.
Such an incredible experience. Want to thank our Captain @garyplayer and everyone that made this trip possible. 🙏🇿🇦 pic.twitter.com/7w4ZEzJdhJ
-- Paula Reto (@paularetoSA) August 20, 2016
Aya Traore became the first Boilermaker women's basketball player to compete in the Olympic Games, representing her home country of Senegal. Over five games, she averaged 7.0 points and 2.4 rebounds, including a 12-point performance against Serbia and nine points and four rebounds vs. China.
Incoming Purdue freshman Jinq En Phee qualified for her first career Olympics for Malaysia, heading to Rio to compete in the 100-meter breaststroke. She placed 33rd in the preliminary round, posting a time of 1:10.22 on the 50-meter long course, which would convert to approximately 1:01.45 at the Boilermaker Aquatics Center.
The group of eight current and former Boilermakers was Purdue's largest contingent for one Olympic Games, surpassing the group of five in 2008.