A composite of two images shows rugby player Kristi Kirshe holding the ball and running in a game on the left, and Paralympic rower Ben Washburne smiling at the camera while her rows on the right.

Kristi Kirshe ’17 and Ben Washburne ’23 will represent the U.S. at the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris

Kristi Kirshe ’17 and Ben Washburne ’23 will represent the U.S. at the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris

Two Ephs will be making their mark at the Olympic and Paralympic Games this summer in Paris. Kristi Kirshe ’17 will compete with the USA Women’s Rugby sevens team at the 2024 Olympic Games. Competition is scheduled to begin on July 28 with the semifinals and medal matches played on July 30. Ben Washburne ’23 will row with Team USA’s PR3 Mixed Four with Coxswain for the 2024 Paralympic Games. The Paralympic Games Paris 2024 are scheduled to run August 28 to September 8, with Para rowing events beginning August 30.  

Kristi Kirsche ’17—Rugby

This is Kirshe’s second Olympic games—she was also selected to the squad for Tokyo 2020. She spoke with the Berkshire Eagle about preparing for Paris. She was also profiled by the Boston Globe and ESPN prior to her first Olympic games. View Kristi Kirshe’s Team USA profile.

While on the women’s soccer team at Williams, Kirsche set multiple goal and scoring records, was a two-time All-American, three-time first teamer, and was named the 2016 NESCAC player of the year. She was also on the Williams team that won the NCAA Division III national championship in 2015. Kirshe began playing rugby after graduation at the suggestion of a friend.

UPDATE: Kristi Kirshe and the US women’s rugby sevens team won a bronze medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics on June 30, 2024, the country’s first-ever medal in rugby sevens. In a post-win interview with the Boston Globe, Kirshe described the history-making moment as “ethereal.”

Ben Washburne ’23—Rowing

This is Washburne’s first olympic competition. In an interview with US Rowing, he said he first learned about Para rowing during his junior year at Williams. In a related interview with WDHN, Washburne said he hopes his previous experience on the course that will be used in Paris will serve as an advantage for Team USA. View Ben Washburne’s Team USA profile.

Washburne was on the crew team at Williams and was selected to the 2023 All-NESCAC Second Team. The Ephs also took home the Division III team title at the 2023 IRA National Championships. Most recently, Washburne won gold in the PR3 mixed four with coxswain at the 2023 Para Rowing Regatta to Paris. 

 

 

Kristi Kirshe photo courtesy of Mike Lee KLC Fotos for USA Rugby; Ben Washburne photo courtesy of Ben Washburne.

Updated as of August 1, 2024.