Taylor Ritzel

Sport: Rowing

Nation: United States of America

DOB: September 4, 1988

Career Highlights: A former high school swimmer, Ritzel will represent the U.S. at the Olympics for the first time. She will compete on the eights crew that is trying to defend its Olympic gold medal. The Americans, who finished with a silver medal in 2004 in Athens, are the six-time defending world champions in the event, with Ritzel competing in 2010 and 2011. Ritzel was also part of the eights crew that set a world record earlier this year. The 2010 Yale graduate was a three-time first-team All-American, winning the varsity eight at the 2008 and '10 NCAA championships and taking fourth in 2009. At the under-23 worlds, Ritzel won gold in the eight in 2010 after taking second the year before. Ritzel is the granddaughter of former Denver Broncos coach Red Miller.

Olympic History: None