Tokyo Olympics: 2 Boulder Athletes Made The Cut

BOULDER, CO — Two Boulderites are among 18 Coloradans on the ground in Tokyo, preparing for the start of the Olympics.

The games, which kick off with Friday's opening ceremony, run through Aug. 8 in Japan's capital city.

Boulderites Morgan Pearson and Brooke Raboutou will be competing in Tokyo.

Brooke Raboutou

Raboutou, a 20-year-old champion rock climber, went to Fairview High School. She became the youngest person in the world to climb a 5.12b climbing grade at age 11, and she's the first U.S. climber ever to qualify for the Olympic Games.

Raboutou is the daughter of former climbing world cup champions Didier Raboutou and Robyn Erbesfield-Raboutou, who allowed their daughter to begin climbing at age 1.

The 20-year-old told U.S. Magazine that her mother has always been her hero.

"She's always taught be there's nothing that I can't do because I'm a girl or woman," the young champion said.

Morgan Pearson

Pearson, 27, is a triathlete who went to the University of Colorado Boulder, where he was recruited by USA Triathlon's Collegiate Recruitment Program. He then won the overall title at the USA Triathlon Age Group Sprint National Championships in 2017.

"He is experiencing a breakout 2021 season, winning bronze in Yokohama on May 15 and silver in Leeds, England, on June 6, to become the first U.S. male ever to earn multiple World Triathlon Championship Series medals," Pearson's Team USA profile read.

Pearson's older brother died in March, and Pearson said he competes in memory of his sibling.

"Hopefully when I’m at the Olympics, he’ll be there with me,” Pearson said in his team profile.

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The list of Colorado athletes at the Tokyo Olympics also includes:

• Samantha Achterberg (modern pentathlon) from Colorado Springs
• Christopher Blevins (cycling) from Durango
• Kendall Chase (rowing) from Evergreen
• Colin Duffy (climbing) from Broomfield
• Amro ElGeziry (modern pentathlon) from Colorado Springs
• Amber English (shooting) from Colorado Springs
• Adeline Gray (wrestling) from Lakewood
• G'Angelo Hancock (wrestling) from Fountain
• Lucas Kozeniesky (shooting) from Colorado Springs
• Kevin Mather (archery) from Lakewood
• Eric Newby (wheelchair rugby) from Bailey
• Jordyn Poulter (volleyball) from Aurora
• Samantha Schultz (modern pentathlon) from Colorado Springs
• Will Shaner (shooting) from Colorado Springs
• Jessica Thoennes (rowing) from Highlands Ranch
• Haleigh Washington (volleyball) from Colorado Springs

The Coloradans are among the 621 members of the country's Olympic team at the Tokyo games.

>> A full schedule for the Tokyo games can be found here.