Pence honors Indiana Olympians before Colts game
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) – Olympians that competed in the summer games in Rio were honored for their achievements Sunday before the Colts game
Governor Mike Pence gave the 20 Olympians who were born, trained, or competed for the state of Indiana with an Indiana Bicentennial Commemorative Medal.
The athletes represented team USA in events from basketball, cycling, diving, and track and field.
One of team USA medals came from diver Steele Johnson who is a Purdue student and Indy native.
Johnson says he hasn’t let the fame get to him — but he did have a star struck moment with the lead singer from his favorite band, Memphis May Fire.
“I’ve been a huge fan and he watched the event on TV and reached out to me on twitter. Even since then he’s tweeted me a couple times like his son diving off the couch and his wife being mad that the son is now crying because he dove off the couch,” said Johnson.
Johnson says his goal is to compete in the next two summer Olympics.
Below is a list of all the Hoosier Olympians:
- Amber Campbell – competed in the women’s hammer throw (track & field)
- Steele Johnson – silver, men’s synchronized 10m platform (diving)
- Amy Cozad – competed in the women’s synchronized 10m platform (diving)
- Jessica Parratto – competed in the women’s 10m platform (diving)
- Michael Hixon – silver, synchronized 3m (diving)
- Lee Kiefer – competed in the women’s individual foil (fencing)
- Gerek Meinhardt – bronze, men’s team foil (fencing)
- Amanda Elmore – gold, women’s coxed eight (rowing)
- Lilly King – gold, women’s 100m breaststroke; gold, women’s 4x100m medley relay (swimming)
- Cody Miller – gold, men’s 4x100m medley relay; bronze, men’s 100m breaststroke (swimming)
- Blake Pieroni – gold, men’s 4x100m freestyle relay (swimming)