8 Engineers Competing in the Paris 2024 Olympics

It's well known that engineering plays a significant role in developing the sports equipment that Olympic athletes rely on. But did you know that quite a few engineers are themselves Olympic athletes?  

What was once perceived as a dichotomy of “brains versus brawn” is being proven false by numerous athletes in STEM who, alongside their scientific pursuits, are vying for the glory of an Olympic medal.  

For those of us struggling to even get a jog in after work, this takes away a convenient excuse that we instead chose intellectual pursuits (Netflix). That doesn't make it any less enjoyable to watch in awe and admiration at those who can boast of having both strength and smarts. 

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What does it take to qualify for the Olympic Games?  

Making it to the Olympics is a rigorous process. The Olympic trials on their own are an incredible challenge. If you make it through all the training hours, competitions, social life sacrifices, diet restrictions, and financial challenges aspiring Olympic athletes face, the official procedures are as follows:

• Get entered for the Games by the National Olympic Committee (NOC). Athletes are often scouted at national competitions by their country’s NOC, and this can be key to their success in getting a shot at the Games.
• Meet the basic eligibility requirements and comply with the Olympic Charter. The criteria vary by sport and are determined by the athletes’ sport federation and the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
• Achieve the Olympic qualifying standards. Depending on the sport, this is measured by an athlete’s performance in terms of speed, distance, etc.

Making it through those steps can mean getting a chance at going for the gold. Qualifying for the Olympic Games is next level. Athletes must face the best of the best and come out on top: You need a top three finish to join Team USA at the Olympics. Many try—few succeed.

 

Can you have a full-time job and be an Olympic athlete? 

The existence of this article is proof that it’s possible to pursue a full-blown engineering career and also make it to the Olympics. Some of the athletes on this list work full-time alongside their training. This is no doubt an impressive undertaking, but it's also prudent to have a backup plan—because the math is harsh. The Olympics take place every four years. Of hundreds of thousands of hopefuls dreaming of a top spot, the reality is that only a handful of those elite athletes will see their dreams come true. Having a career or degree to fall back on is a wise decision. 

Here are 8 engineers who are competing in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
 

1. Kelsey Bing

GNC Engineer at Joby Aviation
Team USA Women's Field Hockey

This Stanford graduate earned her bachelor's and master's in mechanical engineering. Now working part time at Joby Aviation as a GNC engineer, she’s also the star goalkeeper of the U.S. women’s national field hockey team. Bing and her team qualified for the Paris 2024 Olympics at the FIH Olympic Qualifiers in Ranchi, India.

 

2. Connor Mantz

Mechanical Engineering Graduate
Team USA Track and Field

BYU mechanical engineering graduate Connor Mantz won first place at the 2024 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials, qualifying for the 2024 Paris Olympics. The full-time professional athlete ran much of the race with his former BYU teammate and current training partner, Clayton Young.

 

3. Clayton Young

Mechanical Engineer at Stryker
Team USA Track and Field

Finishing right behind his teammate Mantz in second place during the Olympic Trials was Clayton Young. Also a former BYU marathoner and mechanical engineering graduate, Young works part time at global medical device company, Stryker.

 

4. Isalys Quinones

Quality Lead Environmental Engineer at QNOPY Inc.
Team Puerto Rico Women's Basketball

This Dartmouth graduate earned her bachelor's in environmental engineering and will be representing Puerto Rico in the Paris Olympics. And it’s not her first rodeo—Quinones was part of the first-ever Puerto Rican women’s Olympic basketball team at the 2020 Tokyo Games. According to Dartmouth News, the full-time engineer is looking to play professionally in France after the Olympics—and she still plans to keep her engineering job, too.

 

5. Canyon Barry

Systems Engineer at L3Harris
Team USA 3x3 Men's Basketball

Balancing his full-time job at aerospace and technology company L3Harris with his athlete lifestyle, Canyon Barry is heading to Paris after helping his team qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympics. Barry, who is the son of NBA Hall of Fame guard Rick Barry, holds a master's in nuclear engineering from the University of Florida.

 

6. Salif Mane

Civil Engineering Graduate
Team USA Track and Field

Just this year in May, Salif Mane earned his bachelor's in Civil Engineering from Fairleigh Dickinson University. A month later, the Bronx, N.Y., native secured his U.S. championship win with his triple jump that outperformed the rest of the field by almost two feet at the Olympic trials. Mane will represent Team USA in the Paris Games in August.

 

7. Nicolas (Nic) Fink

Assistant Project Manager at QUEC
Team USA Swimming

Professional swimmer Nic Fink didn't just qualify for the Olympics—he did it twice. The full-time employee at Quanta Utility Engineering Services (QUEC) holds a master’s degree from the Georgia Institute of Technology in electrical and electronics engineering. He’s also a five-time world champion in breaststroke swimming events and will be competing in the Paris 2024 Olympics.

 

8. Hans Henken

Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering Graduate
Team USA Sailing

Before he can address his dreams of engineering space transportation designs, Hans Henken is checking the Olympics off his list. This full-time professional sailor will race a two-handed high-performance skiff in Paris this year, but may have his sights set on NASA afterwards. He holds a bachelor's and master's in aeronautical and astronautical engineering from Stanford University.

Sarah Alburakeh is a strategic content editor.