• Source: U.S. Army World Class Athlete Program

The U.S. Army World Class Athlete Program (WCAP) is a military unit whose primary mission is to support nationally and internationally ranked soldiers in participating on the U.S. Olympic team. The program is headquartered at Fort Carson, Colorado.




Objectives


According to the U.S. Army, WCAP provides active duty, National Guard and reserve soldiers the opportunity to train and compete at national and international sports competitions with the ultimate goal of selection to the U.S. Olympic team and U.S. Paralympic team, while maintaining a professional military career and promoting the U.S. Army.




Selection


Any soldier-athlete (Active Duty, National Guard, Reserve) may apply for selection provided:

Soldier is in good military standing
The sport the soldier is applying for is an Olympic sport
Soldier has completed Advanced Individual Training (enlisted) or Officer Basic Course (officer)
Soldier meets sport specific entry standards, which normally consists of attaining a high national ranking or being selected to a U.S. National Team for international competition
WCAP is not a developmental program; it targets athletes who have achieved world class status in their sport





































WCAP Olympians






= 2024

=
During the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France five soldier-athletes represented WCAP and the US Army in the XXXIII Olympiad.

Capt. Sammy Sullivan, Rugby Sevens
Master Sgt. Dennis Bowsher, Modern Pentathlon
Sgt. 1st Class Spenser Mango, Wrestling coach
Staff Sgt. Leonard Korir, Track and Field
Spc. Kamal Bey, Greco-Roman Wrestling
A further three individuals partook in the 2024 Paralympic Games:

Sgt. 1st Class Elizabeth Marks, Swimming
Sgt. 1st Class John Wayne Joss III, Shooting
Staff Sgt. Kevin Nguyen, Shooting




= 2022

=
During the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, China five soldier-athletes represented WCAP and the US Army in the XXIV Olympiad.

Sgt. Emily Sweeney, Women's Singles Luge
Sgt. Benjamin Loomis, Nordic Combined
Sgt. Jasper Good, Nordic Combined
Spc. Hakeem Abdul-Saboor, Two and Four-Man Bobsled
Spc. Frank Del Duca, Two and Four-Man Bobsled




= 2020

=
During the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan twelve soldier-athletes represented WCAP and the US Army in the XXXII Olympiad.

Staff Sgt. Naomi Graham, Boxing
Staff Sgt. Sandra Uptagrafft, Shooting
1st Lt. Amber English, Shooting
Staff Sgt. Nickolaus Mowrer, Shooting
Sgt. 1st Class Elizabeth Marks, Paralympic Swimming
Staff Sgt. Kevin Nguyen, Paralympic Shooting
Staff Sgt. John Joss, Paralympic Shooting
Sgt. Ildar Hafizov, Wrestling
Spc. Alejandro Sancho, Wrestling
Sgt. Amro Elgeziry, Modern Pentathlon
Sgt. Samantha Schultz, Modern Pentathlon
Spc. Benard Keter, Track and Field




= 2018

=
During the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea seven soldier-athletes represented WCAP and the US Army in the XXIII Olympiad.

Maj Christopher Fogt, Two and Four-Man Bobsled
Sgt. 1st Class Nate Weber, Four-Man Bobsled
Sgt Nick Cunningham, Two and Four-Man Bobsled
Sgt Justin Olsen, Two and Four-Man Bobsled
Sgt Emily Sweeney, Women's Singles Luge
Sgt Taylor Morris, Singles Luge
Sgt Matthew Mortensen, Doubles Luge




= 2016

=

The program sent four Kenyan-born soldier-runners to compete at the Rio 2016 Summer Olympics.

Sgt. Hillary Bor, 3,000 m steeplechase
Spc. Paul Chelimo, 5,000 m run won the silver medal
Spc. Shadrack Kipchirchir, 10,000 m run
Spc. Leonard Korir, 10,000 m run
as well as

Staff Sgt. John Nunn, 50 km racewalk




= 2012

=
The program sent seven athletes and four coaches to the London 2012 Summer Olympics.

Sergeant First Class Dremiel Byers, Greco-Roman wrestling, 120 kg
Sgt. 1st Class Keith Sanderson, rapid fire pistol
Sgt. 1st Class Daryl Szarenski, pistol
Staff Sgt. John Nunn, 50 km racewalk
Spc. Justin Lester, Greco-Roman wrestling, 66 kg
Sgt. Spenser Mango, Greco-Roman wrestling, 55 kg
Spc. Dennis Bowsher, Modern Pentathlon




= 2010

=

During the 2010 Vancouver Winter Games three soldier-athletes and one coach represented WCAP and the US Army in the XXI Olympiad.

SGT Jeremy Teela (Biathlon)
-10k Sprint
SGT John Napier (Bobsled)
-4-man USA Sled II Pilot
1LT Christopher Fogt (Bobsled)
-4-man USA Sled II Brakeman
SGT William Tavares (Team USA Bobsled Coach)




= 2008

=
During the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics two WCAP athletes and one coach represented WCAP and the US Army in the XXIX Olympiad:

MAJ Michael Anti (Shooting)
-50m Rifle Competition
SSG Dremiel Byers (Greco-Roman Wrestling)
-Heavyweight
SSG Keith Sanderson (Shooting)
-Rapid Fire Pistol competition
MAJ David Johnson (Team USA Shooting Coach)




Other notable WCAP alumni



CPT Boyd Melson (Boxing)
-2004 World Military Boxing Championships, gold medal (69-kg. weight class)
SSG Jenna Burkert- 2021 World bronze medalist, Olympic Alternate, 4x World Team member.




References






Sources


Pearce, Kelly (27 November 1996). "Army brings elite athlete program to Fort Carson". Colorado Springs Gazette Telegraph.
WCAP Selection Standards
Eligibility and Application Procedures for the Army World Class Athlete Program
US Army WCAP Official Website
US Army Olympians
Seven Soldiers, Alums, Make Team USA for Olympic Winter Games
Army Regulation 215–1 Morale, Welfare, and Recreation




External links


Army WCAP official website
Family and MWR official website
WCAP Track & Field team roster
Army WCAP Official Image Archive
Official Army WCAP Imagery
Army WCAP official video
US Army Installation Management Command
United States Olympic Committee
Olympic Games official website
2012 London Olympic Games official website Archived 28 February 2013 at the UK Government Web Archive

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