5 Super Athletes With Ties To The Lymes

Sports have a way of teaching invaluable life lessons — building character, fostering teamwork and strengthening the bonds within a community. In the Lymes area, these values have shaped some truly remarkable athletes from different eras, whose accomplishments continue to inspire.

Patch has teamed up with T-Mobile to spotlight five standout athletes whose achievements have left a lasting mark on our community. While this list is just a snapshot, there are countless others who have helped shape the rich sports culture in our area.

1. Liam Corrigan (Rowing)

An accomplished rower and two-time Olympian, Corrigan earned a gold medal in the Four-Men at the 2024 Paris Olympics and placed fourth in the Eight-Men at the Tokyo Games in 2020. Hailing from Old Lyme, Corrigan discovered rowing in high school, which led to a distinguished career that includes a silver medal at the 2023 World Championships. A Harvard graduate with further studies in financial economics at Oxford, Corrigan is celebrated not only for his athletic achievements but also for his academic pursuits.

2. Drake Gavin (Basketball)

A standout athlete from Old Lyme, Gavin made his mark as a guard at the University of New England, where he played 25 games in the 2018-19 season, averaging 5.5 points and 2.3 rebounds per game. Before college, he excelled at Old Lyme High School, earning conference Player of the Year honors and a spot on the all-state first team.

3. Austin Hack (Rowing)

A celebrated rower and two-time Olympian, Hack grew up in Old Lyme, where he first developed his passion for the sport. Representing the United States, Hack competed in the men’s eight event at both the 2016 Rio Olympics and the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. A Stanford University graduate with a degree in Political Science, Hack honed his skills under coach Craig Amerkhanian.

4. Jennifer Ross (Running)

Ross made her mark in cross country and track during her time at Old Lyme High School. In 2009, she led the cross country team to a Class S State Title and Shoreline Championship while also earning individual titles in both events. Her achievements extended to outdoor track, where she earned All-New England honors in the 3,200m in 2011. A multi-sport athlete, Ross also excelled in tennis, earning All-Shoreline recognition.

5. Anna Johnson (Swimming)

A talented diver from East Lyme, Johnson excelled both athletically and academically during her time at Pepperdine University. Competing in multiple meets each year, Johnson has consistently earned recognition, including All-PCSC honors and MPSF All-Academic accolades. She placed in the top ten in both the 1-meter and 3-meter dives at the PCSC Championships across her collegiate career. A graduate of East Lyme High School, Johnson was a three-time state qualifier and won the Eastern Connecticut Conference diving title as a junior.

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