While the 2024 Paris Olympics are officially underway, two Olympians from Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) member-school Howard University will compete in Paris later this summer.
Jessika Gbai represents Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) in the 200-meter dash in the 2024 Olympics, while Sydney Satchell is a member of the United States women’s sitting volleyball team in the 2024 Paralympic Games.
“The Summer Games are always exciting to watch, but it’s extra special when two of our alumnae are Olympians,” Dr. Harry L. Williams, president & CEO of TMCF, said. “I’ll be closely following Jessika and Sydney as they represent Howard University on an international stage.”
Gbai and Satchell are part of a long history of historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) athletes competing as Olympians.
“Facing historic underfunding and societal injustice, our member-schools have consistently produced Olympians for decades,” Dr. Williams said. “It’s only one example out of many of HBCUs doing more with less.”
The women’s 200-meter dash begins Aug. 4 at 4:55 a.m. EST. Sitting volleyball play begins for Team USA against China in the preliminary round on Aug. 30 at 6 a.m. EST.
