Photo: Kirby Lee ~ USA TODAY NETWORK
High school in Grand Rapids brought out a variety of talents in Alena Olsen. She excelled both academically and in extracurricular activities, particularly as a featured violin soloist and as a competitor in soccer and volleyball. Her true calling, however, didn’t emerged until she discovered rugby while attending the University of Michigan.
During her time at U of M, Alena was named a two-time Collegiate All-American, and was selected for the Collegiate Rugby Championship Dream Team in 2016. Her growing skills and successes on the field led to further achievements in both national and international rugby competitions.
PODCAST:
August 5, 2024 ~ Team USA‘s Women’s Rugby Sevens Team won their first medal ever, after beating Australia 14-12 in the bronze medal game last week. Lloyd and Jamie talk with Caledonia native and University of Michigan graduate Alena Olsen about the emotion of winning an Olympic medal, and the efforts behind trying to make rugby more popular in the U.S. Photo: Andrew P. Scott ~ USA Today Network
(CONTINUED) Alena’s career reached new heights in 2019 when she joined the USA Rugby Sevens Team. Her contributions helped the team secure a second-place finish overall, marking the best-ever result for a team from the United States.
This year, Alena achieved another significant milestone by winning a bronze medal with the USA Rugby Sevens Team at the Paris Olympics, the first Olympic rugby medal for Team USA.
Off the field, Alena is a passionate advocate for environmental causes. Of note is her associations with EcoAthletes, where she spearheaded the “Going for Green” campaign, resulting in the planting of over 5,000 trees in Africa.
SOCIAL MEDIA:
VIDEO:
July 31, 2024 ~ Filipino-American rugby star Alena Olsen talks about the efforts and determination behind earning a slot on the U.S. Rugby Sevens Team at the Paris Olympics. Listen as Alena shares the emotional highs and lows of the Olympic selection process, her role in promoting rugby among Filipinos, and her deep connection to her cultural roots.
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