Four Ready to Represent Tulane at 2024 Paris Olympics
Jul 25, 2024 | General, Women's Basketball, Track & Field, Sailing
NEW ORLEANS – Tulane University will be represented by women's basketball's assistant coach Rena Wakama, incoming track and field student-athlete Tharushi Karunarathna, 2024 sailing graduate Thad Lettsome, and men's tennis alumni Dominik Koepfer at the 2024 Paris Olympics beginning this week.
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All four representatives for the Green Wave will participate in the Opening Ceremony of the 2024 Olympic Games on Friday, July 26. The festivities will be held at The Seine River and Trocadero. Fans can watch the Opening Ceremony on NBC or Peacock beginning at 12:30 p.m. CT.
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Wakama will serve as the head coach for the Nigerian National Women's Team in Pool B. She will lead the team through three games in pool play beginning on July 29 in an effort to reach bracket play starting on August 7.
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Karunarathna will represent Sri Lanka competing in the women's 800m with the first round taking place on August 2. The semifinals for the 800m will be held August 4 followed by the finals on August 5.
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Lettsome will be one of two athletes leading his country as the flag bearers for the British Virgin Islands in the Opening Ceremony. He will begin competing in the men's one person dinghy (ILCA 7) laser on August 1 racing to reach the medal races on August 6.
Koepfer will represent Germany on the clay courts in Paris competing in both the singles and doubles brackets. He will open against Milos Raonic of Canada in singles play before taking the court with his partner Jan-Lennard Struff in doubles.
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Schedules to follow:
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Rena Wakama – Nigeria Women's Basketball
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Tharushi Karunarathna – Sri Lanka
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Thad Lettsome – British Virgin Islands
Dominik Koepfer – Germany
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All four representatives for the Green Wave will participate in the Opening Ceremony of the 2024 Olympic Games on Friday, July 26. The festivities will be held at The Seine River and Trocadero. Fans can watch the Opening Ceremony on NBC or Peacock beginning at 12:30 p.m. CT.
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Wakama will serve as the head coach for the Nigerian National Women's Team in Pool B. She will lead the team through three games in pool play beginning on July 29 in an effort to reach bracket play starting on August 7.
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Karunarathna will represent Sri Lanka competing in the women's 800m with the first round taking place on August 2. The semifinals for the 800m will be held August 4 followed by the finals on August 5.
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Lettsome will be one of two athletes leading his country as the flag bearers for the British Virgin Islands in the Opening Ceremony. He will begin competing in the men's one person dinghy (ILCA 7) laser on August 1 racing to reach the medal races on August 6.
Koepfer will represent Germany on the clay courts in Paris competing in both the singles and doubles brackets. He will open against Milos Raonic of Canada in singles play before taking the court with his partner Jan-Lennard Struff in doubles.
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Schedules to follow:
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Rena Wakama – Nigeria Women's Basketball
| Date | Time (CT) | Opponent | TV/Broadcast |
| July 29 | 4 a.m. | Australia | Peacock |
| August 1 | 10:15 a.m. | France | Peacock |
| August 4 | 6:30 a.m. | Canada | Peacock |
| August 7* | 4 a.m., 7:30 a.m, 11 a.m., 2:30 p.m. | Quarterfinals | Peacock |
| August 9* | 10:30 a.m, 2 p.m. | Semifinals | NBC/USA/Peacock |
| August 11* | 4:30 a.m., 8:30 a.m. | Bronze & Gold Medal Games | NBC/USA/Peacock |
Tharushi Karunarathna – Sri Lanka
| Date | Time (CT) | Event | TV/Broadcast |
| August 2 | 12:45 p.m. | 800m Round 1 | Peacock |
| August 3 | 4:10 a.m. | 800m Repechage Round | Peacock |
| August 4* | 1:35 p.m. | 800m Semifinals | NBC/USA/Peacock |
| August 5* | 2:45 p.m. | 800m Finals | NBC/Peacock |
Thad Lettsome – British Virgin Islands
| Date | Time (CT) | Event | TV/Broadcast |
| August 1 | 5:15 a.m. | Men's One Person Dinghy – ILCA 7 | Peacock |
| August 2 | 8:35 a.m. | Men's One Person Dinghy – ILCA 7 | Peacock |
| August 3 | 5:15 a.m. | Men's One Person Dinghy – ILCA 7 | Peacock |
| August 4 | 5:05 a.m. | Men's One Person Dinghy – ILCA 7 | Peacock |
| August 5 | 7:40 a.m. | Men's One Person Dinghy – ILCA 7 | Peacock |
| August 6 | 8:43 a.m. | Men's One Person Dinghy – ILCA 7 – Medal Races | Peacock |
Dominik Koepfer – Germany
| Date | Time (CT) | Event/Result | TV/Broadcast |
| July 28 | 1:30 p.m. | Singles - 1st Round/def. Raonic (CAN) 6-7, 7-6, 7-6 | Peacock |
| July 29 | 9 a.m. | Singles - 2nd Round/def. Arnaldi (ITA) 3-6, 6-2, 6-1 | Peacock |
| July 29 | 1 p.m. | Doubles - 1st Round/def. Croatia 6-3, 6-7, 10-5 | Peacock |
| July 30 | 10 a.m. | Doubles - 2nd Round/def. Portugal 6-2, 6-2 | Peacock |
| July 31 | 5 a.m. | Singles - 3rd Round vs. Novak Djokovic (SRB) | Peacock |
| July 31 | approx. 9Â a.m. | Doubles - Quarterfinals vs. Australia | Peacock |
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Players Mentioned
/ Sailing
Press Conference: MBB Ron Hunter - 9/23/25
Tuesday, September 23
Tulane Tuesday: HC Jon Sumrall - 9/23/25
Tuesday, September 23
Tulane Tuesday: S Bailey Despaine - 9/23/24
Tuesday, September 23
Tulane Tuesday: OL Shadre Hurst - 9/23/25
Tuesday, September 23
