Tokyo Olympics: Phillips Rower Competes For U.S. Team

ANDOVER, MA — Andover residents will have multiple to root for during the Tokyo Olympics, which officially begin Friday after a one-year pandemic delay.

Olivia Coffey, 32, rowed for Phillips Academy in Andover and will be part of the U.S. women's rowing team. Coffey will compete in the women's eight rowing event, which begins Saturday.

This will be Coffey's first Olympic appearance for the team, which is hoping to win its fourth consecutive Olympic gold. Coffey has five World Championship medals with U.S. women's rowing team, including a women's eight gold medal in 2018.

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A Watkins Glen, New York native, Coffey rowed for Harvard University after graduating from Phillips Academy. She was an alternative for the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Coffey's father Calvin Coffey won a silver medal rowing men's pair at the 1976 Montreal Olympics.

The 2020 Tokyo Olympics was postponed last March as the coronavirus pandemic emerged around the world. And it's still possible the games might be postponed again.

Coronavirus cases are on the rise in Japan and Tokyo is in a state of emergency due to the virus. The head of the Olympics organizing committee, Toshiro Muto, said this week it's possible the games could be called off before Friday if cases continue to rise, according to Reuters. Two Team USA members, a gymnastics alternate and tennis player Cori Gauff have already tested positive for the virus.

Apart from Coffey, there are 19 athletes from Massachusetts competing in the Tokyo games:

• Rashida Ellis of Lynn, boxing
• Michael Hixton of Amherst, diving
• Eli Dershwitz of Sherborn, fencing
• Andrew Mackiewicz of Westwood, fencing
• Andrew Reed of Wayland, rowing
• Austin Hack of Springfield, rowing
• Conor Harrity of Weston, rowing
• Alexander Richards of Watertown, rowing
• Regina Salmons of Methuen, rowing
• Gevvie Stone of Newton, rowing
• Kristi Wagner of Weston, rowing
• Madison Hughes of Lancaster, rugby
• Kristi Kirshe of Franklin (born in Natick), rugby
• Kristie Mewis of Hanson, soccer
• Samantha Mewis of Weymouth, soccer
• Lindi Schroeder of Andover, artistic swimming
• Wadeline Jonathas of Worcester, track and field
• Heather MaClean of Peabody, track and field
• Gabrielle Thomas of Florence, track and field