Summer Rappaport held up her end of the bargain for Villanova University, competing in her first Olympic triathlon at the Tokyo Olympics, writes Ed Barkowitz for The Philadelphia Inquirer.

Rappaport, a 2013 Villanova graduate, continued the university’s trend of having at least one Villanova track and field athlete compete in every Olympics since 1948.

She got off to a great start, holding a third and fourth position in swimming at the woman’s triathlon.

Rappaport was seventh in cycling and stayed with the front group initially before dropping back. 

Rappaport was the first American to make the triathlete Olympic team, finishing fifth in August 2019.

Of course, then she waited a year because of the pandemic.

Rappaport finished sixth, second and ninth in three triathlon competitions this year.

“I started competitive swimming at age 9 after watching the Sydney Olympics in 2000,” Rappaport said. “Although my sport changed as I was introduced to new opportunities, I’ve spent my entire life working for the [chance] to compete at an Olympic Games. So to be in the final approach to the Games, 23 months after I qualified, is thrilling and means the world to me.”

Read more at The Philadelphia Inquirer about Summer Rappaport.

Summer Rappaport describes her journey to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

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