“Once an Olympian, always an Olympian,” said Olympic Gold Medalist Mary Wineberg who won her medal in the 2008 Beijing Olympics. She is now Vice President of the Cincinnati Public Schools Board. Wineberg worked with Mayor Aftab Purval and Vice Mayor Jan-Michele Lemon Kearney to honor Cincinnati’s 2024 Olympians and Olympians from previous games. The celebration was held on September 19 on Cincinnati’s Fountain Square.
The ceremony began with a procession led by the Cincinnati College Preparatory Academy Marching Band and the acrobatic dancers, the Q-Kidz. Both organizations are from the West End.
In addition to Kearney, Wineberg and Pureval (who broadcast his message virtually on Fountain Square’s jumbotron), Rep. Cecil Thomas, Hamilton County Commission President Alicia Reece, Councilmember Scotty Johnson, Councilmember Seth Walsh, and Councilmember Anna Albi participated in the festivities.
Olympians of former games David Payne, Julie Isphording, Duke Ragan and Chris Bazon with Rep. Cecil Thomas. Credit: Michael Mitchell 
Q-Kidz march out. Credit: Michael Mitchell 
Olympic medalist Annette Echikunwoke (center) with Q-Kidz. Credit: Michael Mitchell 
Olympic medalist from former games, Julie Isphording (left) and Mary Wineberg. Credit: Michael Mitchell 
Jordan Thompson with Councilmember Anna Albi. Credit: Michael Mitchell 
Hamilton County Commissioner President Alicia Reece speaks. Credit: Michael Mitchell 
Everyone celebrates on Fountain Square. Credit: Michael Mitchell 
Cincinnati College Preparatory Academy Marching Band, Credit: Michael Mitchell 
Olympian Nina Castagna. Credit: Michael Mitchell 
Marty and Janet Lavelle, parents of Rose Lavelle, Olympic medalist. Credit: Michael Mitchell 
A future Simone Biles. Credit: Michael Mitchell 
Silver medalist Annette Etchikunwoke with Councilmember Scotty Johnson.
Our 2024 hometown Olympians are as follows:
- Jordan Thompson, Silver Medal in Women’s volleyball
- Annette Echikunwoke, Silver Medal in Women’s hammer throw (and first U.S. citizen to win an medal in this competition)
- Nina Castagna, Women’s Rowing Eight
- Carson Foster, Bronze Medal in the Men’s 400-meter individual medley swimming and Silver Medal in the Men’s 4×200 freestyle relay swimming
- Rose Lavelle, Gold Medal in Women’s soccer
- Miles Robinson, Men’s soccer
- Piper Kelly, Women’s speed climbing
- Max Holt, Bronze Medal in Men’s volleyball
In addition to Gold Medalist Mary Wineberg, other Olympians from past games who celebrated were Chris Bazon, David Payne, Duke Ragan, and Rau’shee Warren.
Mayor Pureval said of the Olympians, “We are so proud of you and the way you represented our city on the world stage.”
Hamilton County Commission President Alicia Reece added, “It takes a lot of work to make the Olympics Team. It is special for people from our city to represent the best in the world competing in the largest scale in the World.”
A future Simone Biles is Davian Brooks