Chicago and the Olympics: A local lens on global games

Olympic Games unfold on a global stage, but for Chicagoans, the competition always feels personal. From neighborhood gyms and public pools to ice rinks and park district fields, athletes with Chicago roots continue to rise to the highest level of international sport, carrying the city’s grit and work ethic with them wherever the Games are held.

At the most recent Summer Olympics, Chicago and the surrounding suburbs were well represented across a wide range of sports. NBA star Anthony Davis, a South Side native, once again stood as a symbol of the city’s basketball legacy, following in the footsteps of generations of Chicago players who learned the game on cracked asphalt courts and neighborhood gyms.

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In the pool, Palos Heights native Ryan Murphy continued his run as one of the most decorated American swimmers of his generation, adding to a résumé that already includes multiple Olympic medals. Track and field also had a strong local showing, with Downers Grove’s Sandi Morris competing in pole vault and Evanston’s Tori Franklin representing Team USA in the triple jump, events that demand both power and precision.

The Chicago area’s influence extended to volleyball, where Bartlett native Kelsey Robinson Cook brought veteran leadership to the U.S. women’s team, and Naperville’s Jordyn Poulter contributed her experience at the setter position. In gymnastics, Deerfield’s Paul Juda earned his place among the nation’s elite, while the region’s fencing, wrestling, rowing and BMX athletes reflected the breadth of Olympic dreams being pursued across Illinois.

Chicago’s Olympic presence is not limited to summer sports. As attention turns toward the Winter Games, the city’s hockey heritage comes sharply into focus. Lake Forest native Hilary Knight and Palatine’s Kendall Coyne Schofield remain among the most recognizable faces in women’s ice hockey, both having grown up skating on Midwest ice before becoming international stars. Their continued pursuit of Olympic gold underscores how a city better known for its basketball courts and baseball diamonds has quietly become a pipeline for elite winter athletes as well.

As each new Olympic cycle approaches, Chicagoans will once again scan rosters for familiar hometowns and cheer a little louder for athletes who once called this city home. The venues may be thousands of miles away, but when Chicago athletes compete, the city is right there with them, proud, invested and always ready to claim its place in the Olympic story.  

Chicago Area Athletes Eyeing the 2026 Winter Games: 

Looking ahead to the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina, Chicago and Illinois athletes are again making headlines — particularly in ice hockey:

Illinois Stars on Team USA’s 2026 Women's Ice Hockey Team

Several hometown heroes are set to compete for gold in Italy:

• Hilary Knight (Lake Forest) – A veteran and one of the most decorated women’s hockey players.
  

• Kendall Coyne Schofield – Fast and fierce forward with deep Chicagoland ties.
  

• Abbey Murphy – Rising star on the ice.

• Tessa Janecke – Young talent ready to make her Olympic mark.
  

These athletes are part of Team USA’s bid to climb to the top of the Olympic podium and Chicago fans will be cheering them on.