Behind a school record of 32 competing current and former athletes, the University of Tennessee was well-represented in the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
Across a multitude of sporting events, six former athletes brought home medals on the playing surface while one did so as part of a coaching staff.
Here’s a look at those who returned to their respective countries with an Olympic medal.
USA Assistant Coach Kara Lawson, Gold
The only non-competing member of the list, Lawson earned the gold medal as part of the coaching staff for Team USA’s run to defeat France in women’s basketball. Lawson assisted head coach Cheryl Reeve in the process.
Lawson now has Olympic gold medals as a player and a coach, after taking home the gold in the 2008 Olympic Games while playing under Anne Donovan.
During her time at Tennessee, Lawson guided the Lady Vols to three NCAA Final Fours, four SEC regular-season crowns and a league tournament title, before becoming a first-round pick in the WNBA in 2003. Now the head women’s basketball coach at Duke University, Lawson has found much success in her post-playing career as well.
Christopher Bailey, Gold
The lone competing Volunteer to earn gold status was Bailey, serving as the first leg of Team USA’s relay squad. Punching in a 44.45-second opening frame, Bailey handed off the baton to fellow athletes Vernon Norwood, Bryce Deadmon and Rai Benjamin. The team collectively ran a 2:54.43 time, setting a new Olympic record in the men’s 4x400m relay.
Bailey began his career at Mississippi Valley State, before transferring to Tennessee for his final three collegiate seasons. He earned many accolades during his time, including four All-American designations and a 2021 Indoor First Team All-SEC selection.
He became the 11th gold medalist for Tennessee track and field and the first in his event.
Erika Connolly, Silver
In the pool, Tennessee sent 17 athletes to compete across various swimming and diving events. Sporting Team USA, Connolly grabbed a silver medal in the 4x100m women’s freestyle relay in Paris to become the first Lady Vol swimmer to ever record three Olympic medals — joining Melvin Stewart as just the second swimmer to do so.
In the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Connolly recorded a silver medal finish in the 4x100m medley relay and a bronze finish in the 4x100m free relay.
Connolly starred at Tennessee as a highly decorated athlete by the time of her departure. Across four seasons, she racked up 22 All-America certificates and 18 SEC titles alongside two SEC Female Swimmer of the Year awards.
Kelsey Robinson Cook, Silver
An outside hitter on Team USA, Robinson Cook secured the silver medal in volleyball.
She began her career at Tennessee before finishing up at Nebraska. During her time playing for the Lady Vols, she recorded two All-American nods while being named 2011 SEC Player of the Year.
Competing on Team USA since 2014, Robinson Cook has now completed the Olympic trifecta — earning each of the three placement medals for America.
Cierra Burdick, Bronze
A relatively new event to the Olympics, Burdick led Team USA to a bronze medal in 3×3 women’s basketball.
Burdick is the first player in Lady Vol history to take home a medal in the event since it was added in the 2020 Tokyo Games.
Following a First Team All-SEC season at Tennessee, Burdick became a WNBA second-round pick in 2015.
Mona McSharry, Bronze
McSharry took to the water as a member of Team Ireland. Hailing from Grange, Ireland, McSharry took home a bronze medal in the 100m breaststroke with a time of 1:05.59.
A recent graduate from Tennessee, McSharry capped off her final collegiate season with 23 total All-American honors, including the 2021 SEC Female Swimmer of the Year award. She currently holds the Tennessee record in the 100m and 200m breaststroke.
McSharry is just the second-ever Ireland swimmer to earn a medal in the Olympics and just the second Lady Vol to ever win an Olympic medal in an individual event, joining Christine Magnuson.
Uroš Plavšić, Bronze
Plavšić and Team Serbia looked destined for a higher-place finish before Team USA sparked late. Led by multi-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokić, Team Serbia fell short of the gold medal game, settling for a third-place finish with bronze.
A 2023 graduate of Tennessee, Plavšić led the Vols to three NCAA Tournament appearances during his tenure.
Plavšić joins Ernie Grunfeld and Allan Houston as the only Vols to win an Olympic medal on the basketball court.
