MO State HS Sports

Three Former Tigers Compete in 2020 Olympic Games

Tigers in the Olympics

COLUMBIA, Mo. — Four Mizzou alumni are set to compete in the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games beginning Friday, July 23. Competing individually, Track & Field alumnae Karissa Schweizer will represent the United States and Swimming & Diving alumni Mikel Schreuders and Fabian Schwingenschlögl will represent Aruba and Germany, respectively. Baseball alumnus Ian Kinsler will compete in the games along with his team representing Israel.

Mizzou Track & Field volunteer assistant Jillian Weir will also be competing in Tokyo. The Oregon alumnae will represent Canada in the hammer throw.

Karissa Schweizer (2015-18)

Schweizer makes her first Olympics appearance after qualifying in both the 5,000m and 10,000m races at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials. She is just the fifth American woman to qualify for the two events in the same Olympic cycle.

The most decorated athlete in school history, Schweizer holds six program records in the indoor mile, indoor 3,000m, indoor and outdoor 5,000m, outdoor 1,500m and outdoor 10,000m. 

Schweizer ended her collegiate career as a six-time NCAA Champion, including winning back-to-back national championships in both the indoor and outdoor 5,000m. She also holds the collegiate record in the 10,000m.

Running professionally for Bowerman Track Club, Schweizer continued to dominate the field, setting a new American record in the indoor 3,000m by over seven seconds. In July 2020, she and teammate Shelby Houlihan both broke the American record in the outdoor 10,000m with Houlihan edging her out by just three seconds. The Urbandale, Iowa, native also holds a top-10 American mark in the 1500m.

Watch Schweizer in Tokyo:

Friday, July 30 — 5,000m Round 1

Monday, Aug. 2 — 5,000m Final

Saturday, Aug. 7 — 10,000m Final

Mikel Schreuders (2015-19)

Schreuders makes his second Olympics appearance for Aruba, swimming in the 100m and 200m freestyle. He previously competed in the 2016 Rio Olympic Games in the 200m freestyle.

The Aruba native finished his career in black and gold as the school record holder in the 200m freestyle. His senior season, Schreuders was the SEC champion in the event, setting a new conference meet and garnering All-SEC first team honors. He was also part of the 2019 conference champion 400 medley relay team.

A three-time first team All-American, Schreuders also holds top-three program times in the 100m freestyle and 50m freestyle.

Watch Schreuders in Tokyo:

Sunday, July 25 — 200m Freestyle Round 1

Monday, July 26 — 200m Freestyle Semifinal

Tuesday, July 27 — 200m Freestyle Final, 100m Freestyle Round 1

Wednesday, July 28 — 100m Freestyle Semifinal

Thursday, July 29 — Men’s 100m Freestyle Final

Fabian Schwingenschlögl (2015-17)

Schwingenschlögl makes his first Olympics appearance for Germany, swimming the 100m breaststroke, mixed 4x100m medley relay and 400x100m medley relay.

The German native is the 2016 NCAA champion and 2017 national runner-up in the 100m breaststroke. Schwingenschlögl is the Mizzou program record in the event and in April 2021, he set the German record, becoming the first German man to finish in under 59 seconds.

An eight-time first team All-American, Schwingenschlögl also holds program top 10 times in the 200m breaststroke, 100m butterfly 200m individual medley relay.

Watch Schwingenschlögl in Tokyo:

Saturday, July 24 — 100m Breaststroke Round 1

Sunday, July 25 — 100m Breaststroke Semifinal

Monday, July 26 — 100m Breaststroke Final

Thursday, July 29 — Mixed 4x100m Medley Relay Round 1

Saturday, July 31 — Mixed 4x100m Medley Relay Final

Friday, July 30 — Men’s 4x100m Medley Relay Round 1

Sunday Aug. 1 — Men’s 4x100m Medley Relay Final

Ian Kinsler (2002-03)

Kinsler transferred to Mizzou from Arizona State in 2002, suiting up for the Black and Gold for one season. Taking home All-Big 12 second team honors during his lone season, Kinsler batted .335 in 2003 and was third on the team with six home runs and 45 RBI. He was a part of the 2003 NCAA Tournament team that began a seven-year tournament berth streak for the Tigers.

Drafted by the Texas Rangers that summer, Kinsler made his major league debut in 2006. During his 13-year career, he was a three-time all star and two-time gold glove winner. He was inducted into the Mizzou Athletics Hall of Fame in 2012.

Watch Team Israel in Tokyo:

Thursday, July 29 — Game 1 vs. South Korea

Friday, July 30 — Game 2 vs. United States

This article is provided by University of Missouri Athletics