In what may be her final appearance as an Olympic athlete, University of Arizona graduate student Delaney Schnell said she has two goals in mind when she lands in Paris for the 2024 Olympic Games: win another medal and have fun while doing it.

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No stranger to the world stage, Schnell earned a silver medal in the 10-meter synchronized platform dive at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics alongside her teammate, Jessica Parratto, and placed fifth in the individual event. The duo will dive together again in Paris for the synchronized event after qualifying in June. Schnell also qualified for the individual platform dive. 

"It's hard not to hold the expectation to be on the podium again," she said. "Hopefully, I will be on the podium for individual as well. But when you put those expectations on yourself, I think it can make it harder to do something. So, I really just want to enjoy this one. It's going to be my last meet with my coach, and I just want to make sure that no matter the results that my memory is having the most fun at this competition."

Representing the United States and her fellow Wildcats on the world stage will always be exciting, said Schnell, who has worn the stars and stripes on her uniform since competing as a pre-teen.

"It's an honor because there's only so many people in the world that get to do that, and it feels pretty cool to be part of that exclusive club," she said.

While fun may be her goal, Schnell takes her preparations very seriously. A week of training for the Olympics normally consists of twice-daily practice in the water two or three times a week, as well as weightlifting and preventative rehabilitation with athletic trainers to maintain her physical health.

Physical preparation is important, but Schnell said one of the secrets to her success is maintaining mental focus.

"Diving is very physical, but it's also a big mental game," she said. "You are throwing yourself off three-story buildings and you also have to manage your adrenaline. There has been a lot of mental training and learning how to be a better athlete, mentally."

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Schnell's talent and dedication to diving led to an impressive collegiate career at the U of A. She was named the Pac-12 Women's Freshman Diver of the Year, earned three the Pac-12 Diver of the Year titles, holds university records in platform and 3-meter dives, won six Pac-12 diving championships and won an NCAA national championship in 2023.

Now a graduate student pursuing a degree in speech, language and hearing sciences, Schnell said she hopes to one day work as a speech-language pathologist and work with adults with traumatic brain injuries. Though she could be done with Olympic competition after Paris, Schnell said diving will remain a part of her life forever. She will stay in Tucson through the end of the year and plans to work with her coaches to give back to the community that has supported her Olympic goals since the beginning. She also hopes to one day return to the world stage as a coach.

Wildcats in Paris

Schnell is not the only Wildcat competing in this year's Olympics. Current and former Wildcat athletes and coaches will represent 10 different countries – the U.S., Germany, Luxembourg, Lithuania, Mexico, Azerbaijan, Italy, Guam, Australia and the Philippines – in six different sports: beach volleyball, swimming and diving, track and field, basketball, soccer and golf.

The U of A has produced 122 Olympians, 56 women and 66 men, who have made 187 appearances at the Olympic Games. Those Olympians have earned 74 medals: 36 gold, 24 silver and 14 bronze.

"We are proud that so many current and former Arizona Wildcats will be competing on the biggest stage in the world at this summer's Olympic Games," said Athletic Director Desireé Reed-Francois. "These athletes have all earned their way to Paris, persevering through highs and lows and pushing themselves to absolute extremes. They represent what Arizona Athletics is all about: determination, integrity and excellence. We will be cheering them on from Tucson and around the world as they compete and represent their home countries and the University of Arizona."

Men's Beach Volleyball

Chase Budinger (Team USA) played three seasons for the U of A men's basketball team and was named the Pac-10 Rookie of the Year in 2007. After leaving Arizona, Budinger was the 44th overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft. He played seven seasons in the NBA, with the Houston Rockets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Indiana Pacers and Phoenix Suns.

Swimming and Diving

Ralph Daleiden (Luxembourg) will be a junior during the 2024-2025 season and has qualified for the NCAA Championships in the 50-meter, 100-meter and 200-meter freestyle events in each of his first two seasons. He will compete in the 100-meter freestyle event in Paris.

Dwight Dumais (Team USA) is the assistant coach for USA Diving and the head diving coach at the U of A. He was named Pac-12 Diving Coach of the Year in 2022 and 2023. Dumais was a five-time All-American diver at Stanford, and previously coached USA Diving at the 2017 World Championships in Budapest.

Jorge Iga (Mexico) will compete in the 100-meter and 200-meter freestyle events in Paris. He swam for the U of A from 2017-2020 and earned Honorable Mention All-American honors in 2018 in the 400-meter and 800-meter freestyle relays.

Thomas Lukminas (Lithuania) is an incoming freshman who will join the Wildcats for the 2024-2025 season. He will represent Lithuania in the 800-meter free relay.

Maryam Sheikhalizadehkhanghah (Azerbaijan) will be a sophomore at the U of A during the 2024-2025 season and will compete in the 50-meter freestyle event in Paris. Sheikhalizadehkhanghah previously represented Azerbaijan in the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, competing in the 100-meter freestyle.

Giancarla Trevisan (Italy) competed for the U of A from 2014-2016 and was a top performer in the 400-meter events. Trevisan will represent Italy in the 4x400-meter relay.

Track and Field

Joseph Green (Guam) was a member of the 2023-2024 U of A track and field team and set the Guamanian men's indoor record in the 60-meter event. He will compete in the 100-meter event in Paris.

Karolina Pahlitzsch (Germany) ran track and field at the U of A from 2017-2019, competing in 400- and 800-meter race and hurdle events and finishing in third place in the 400-meter hurdles at the 2019 Pac-12 Championships. Pahlitzsch previously represented Germany in the 4x400-meter relay at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo and will compete in the same event in Paris.

Edgar Rivera-Morales (Mexico) lettered at the U of A from 2010-2013 and competed in the high jump. As a Wildcat, he earned NCAA indoor and outdoor All-American recognitions in 2011 and 2012 and was the 2012 Pac-12 Championship runner-up. Paris will be Rivera-Morales' third Olympics. He previously competed in Rio de Janeiro in 2016 and at the 2020 Olypmics in Tokyo.

Men's Basketball

Steve Kerr (Team USA) was a member of the U of A men's basketball team from 1984-1988 and is currently the head coach of the Golden State Warriors. He is the head coach for Team USA's men's basketball team. As a Wildcat, Kerr was twice named first-team all-conference and earned All-American honors his senior year. After a 15-year career in the NBA that included five NBA championships, Kerr has led Golden State to four national titles. He was named NBA Coach of the Year and named one of the "Top 15 Coaches in NBA History" as part of the organization's 75th anniversary celebration.

Josh Green (Australia) played for the Wildcats during the 2019-2020 season, averaging 12 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.5 steals per game before being selected 18th overall in the 2020 NBA Draft by the Dallas Mavericks. Green previously represented Australia in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, winning a bronze medal.

Women's Soccer

Twila Kilgore (Team USA) is the assistant coach for Team USA's women's soccer team. She played soccer for the U of A from 1998-2001 and is tied for sixth in program history for career games started, with 72. She was Arizona's Rookie of the Year at the conclusion of the 1998 season after totaling four goals. Kilgore is the first American-born woman to earn U.S. Soccer's Pro Coaching License, and previously worked with the Houston Dash and at Pepperdine and served as the head coach at UC Davis from 2014-19.

Women's Golf

Bianca Pagdanganan (Philippines) played the final two seasons of her college career at the U of A after transferring from Gonzaga University after the 2017 season. Pagdanganan helped the Wildcats capture the NCAA Team Championship in 2018. She also made first team All-Pac-12 and finished third individually at the 2019 NCAA Championship.

The opening ceremony of 2024 Olympics in Paris will take place Friday, July 26, at 10:30 p.m. (PT) on NBC, Peacock and Telemundo. For the latest on U of A student-athletes and alumni in the 2024 Olympics, visit the Wildcats in Paris website.