By Beth Schnitzer and Alexa “Lexi” Westley–
(Editor’s Note: Beth Schnitzer of SpritzSF and her niece Alexa “Lexi” Westley recently traveled to Paris for the 2024 Summer Olympic Games. Both brought thoughts of the San Francisco Bay Times with them, even packing Bay Times t-shirts and flags in their luggage and displaying them at sports venues throughout the City of Lights.
Westley is a talented athlete in her own right, having just graduated from the University of Wisconsin where she was a star member of the track & field team. She runs the 5k and 10k, and could be a contender at the LA28 Olympic Games!
Even attending the Games can require athletic skill, running from event to event, not to mention all of the tempting social offerings that a city like Paris has on offer. As you can see here, both amazing women did their best to cram as much activity as possible into their Paris 2024 adventure.)
By the Numbers
11 days
17 sports events
2–3 events per day
9 medal events
8 different sports
5 nights of track and field medal
round events
6 Team USA events—all wins:
Men’s basketball vs Puerto Rico;
Women’s basketball vs Nigeria;
Women’s Volleyball vs Brazil;
Men’s 4×400 relay track and field gold
medal;
Women’s 4×100 relay track and
field;
Women’s 4×100 relay track and field
Highlights
Watching Simone Biles win individual gymnastics all around.
Watching Noah Lyles win in a photo finish during the 100m track and field.
Watching Sydney McLaughlin win the 400m hurdles and 4×400 relay, given she went to Union Catholic High School where Bette Schnitzer (1929–2022, aka “S,” Schnitzer’s mother) started the girls’ track and field program in the 1960s!
Watching the first openly trans or nonbinary person Nikki Hiltz compete in the women’s 1,500m final.
Seeing the badminton women’s finals between South Korea and China—a sport we never witnessed in a competitive setting.
Equestrian individual jumping at Versailles—truly stunning setting.
25 Olympic pins traded
34 metros taken to and from venues
90 miles walked to & from metros to venues
# of croissants we tried: 3
# of patisseries and bakeries we checked out: 8
and the # of miles Lexi ran in the early morning hours before heading out to events? 30!
Au revoir, Paris. Bay Times readers, we hope to see you at LA28!
https://la28.org/en.html
Beth Schnitzer is the Co-Founder and President of SpritzSF
(https://spritzsf.com/). Alexa “Lexi” Westley is a recent graduate of the University of Wisconsin. Check out Lexi’s Instagram page at https://bit.ly/3YQr61K
From Paris to the Castro
Published on August 22, 2024
Recent Comments